CHAPTER VI.

1806.

Menaces of Prussia--Offer for restoring Hanover to England--Insolent

ultimatum--Commencement of hostilities between France and Prussia--

Battle of Auerstadt--Death of the Duke of Brunswick--Bernadotte in

Hamburg--Davonet and Bernadotte--The Swedes at Lübeck--Major Amiel--

Service rendered to the English Minister at Hamburg--My appointment

of Minister for the King of Naples--New regulation of the German

post-office--The Confederation of the North--Devices of the Hanse

Towns--Occupation of Hamburg in the name of the Emperor--Decree of

Berlin--The military governors of Hamburg--Brune, Michaud, and

Bernadotte.

The moment now approached when war was about to be renewed in Germany,

and in proportion as the hopes of peace diminished Prussia redoubled

her threats, which were inspired by the recollection of the deeds of the

great Frederick. The idea of peace was hateful to Prussia. Her measures,

which till now had been sufficiently moderate, suddenly assumed a

menacing aspect on learning that the Minister of the King of England had

declared in Parliament that France had consented to the restitution of

Hanover. The French Ministry intimated to the Prussian Government that

this was a preliminary step towards a general peace, and that a large

indemnity would be granted in return. But the King of Prussia, who was

well informed, and convinced that the House of Hanover clung to this

ancient domain, which gave to England a certain preponderance in

Germany, considered himself trifled with, and determined on war.

Under these circumstances Lord Lauderdale was recalled from Paris by his

Government. War continued with England, and was about to commence with

Prussia. The Cabinet of Berlin sent an ultimatum which could scarcely

be regarded in any other light than a defiance, and from the well-known

character of Napoleon we may judge of his irritation at this ultimatum.

--[The severity with which Bonaparte treated the press may be

inferred from the case of Palm the publisher. In 1808 Johann

Phillip Palm, of Nuremberg, was shot by Napoleon's order for issuing

a pamphlet against the rule of the French in Germany.]--

The Emperor, after his stay of eight months in Paris passed in abortive

negotiations for peace, set out on the 25th of September for the Rhine.

Hostilities commenced on the 10th of October 1806 between France and

Prussia, and I demanded of the Senate that a stop should be put to the

Prussians recruiting. The news of a great victory gained by the Emperor

over the Prussians on the 14th of October reached Hamburg on the 19th,

brought by some fugitives, who gave such exaggerated accounts of

the loss of the French army that it was not until the arrival of the

official despatches on the 28th of October that we knew whether to mourn

or to rejoice at the victory of Jena.

The Duke of Brunswick, who was dangerously wounded at the battle of

Auerstadt, arrived on the 29th of October at Altona.--[This Prince

was in the seventy-second year of his age, and extremely infirm.]--His

entrance into that city afforded a striking example of the vicissitudes

of fortune. That Prince entered Altona on a wretched litter, borne by

ten men, without officers, without domestics, followed by a troop of

vagabonds and children, who were drawn together by curiosity. He was

lodged in a wretched inn, and so much worn out by fatigue and the pain

of his eyes that on the day after his arrival a report of his death very

generally prevailed. Doctor Unzer was immediately sent for to attend the

unfortunate Duke, who, during the few days that he survived his wounds,

saw no one else except his wife, who arrived on the 1st of November. He

expired on the 10th of the same month.

--[For the mistimed but rather pathetic belief of the old dying Duke

in the courtesy with which he and his States would be treated by the

French, see Beugnot, tome 1. p. 80: "I feel sure that there is a

courier of the Emperor's on the road to know how I am."]--

At this juncture Bernadotte returned to Hamburg. I asked him how I

was to account for his conduct while he was with Davoust, who had left

Nuremberg to attack the Prussian army; and whether it was true that he

had refused to march with that general, and afterwards to aid him when

he attacked the Prussians on the Weimar road. "The letters I received,"

observed I, "state that you took no part in the battle of Auerstadt;

that I did not believe, but I suppose you saw the bulletin which I

received a little after the battle, and which stated that Bonaparte said

at Nuremberg, in the presence of several officers, 'Were I to bring

him before a court-martial he would be shot. I shall say nothing to

him about it, but I will take care he shall know what I think of his

behaviour. He has too keen a sense of honour not to be aware that he

acted disgracefully."--"I think him very likely," rejoined Bernadotte,

"to have made these observations. He hates me because he knows I do not

like him; but let him speak to me and he shall have his answer. If I

am a Gascon, he is a greater one. I might have felt piqued at receiving

something like orders from Davoust, but I did my duty."

--[The complaints of Bernadotte's conduct on the 14th of October

1806. when he gave no assistance to Davoust in repulsing the main

body of the Prussians at Aneratadt, are well known. Jomini says

that Davoust proposed to Bernadotte to march with him, and even

offered him the command of the two corps. Bernadotte refused, and

marched away to Dornburg, where he was of no use, "his obstinacy,

difficult to explain, nearly compromised both Davoust and the

success of the battle;" See also Thiers (tome vii. p. 172), who

attributes Bernadotte's conduct to a profound aversion for Davoust

conceived on the most frivolous grounds. Bernadotte had frequently

given cause of complaint to Napoleon in the two campaigns of 1806

and 1806. In the movement on Vienna Napoleon considered he showed

want of activity and of zeal. These complaints seem to have been

made in good faith, for in a letter to Bernadotte's brother-in-law,

Joseph, Napoleon suggests that health may have been the causes (Du

Cases, tome i. p. 322). Bernadotte was equally unfortunate in

putting in his appearance too late at Eylan (see Duc de Rovigo's

Memoirs, tome ii. p. 48), and also incurred the displeasure of

Napoleon at Wagram (see later on).]--

In the beginning of November the Swedes entered Lübeck; but on the 8th

of that month the town was taken by assault, and the Swedes, as well as

the rest of the corps which had escaped from Jena, were made prisoners.

A troop of Prussians had advanced within four leagues of Hamburg, and

that town had already prepared for a vigorous resistance, in case

they should attempt an entrance, when Major Amiel attacked them at

Zollenspieker and made some prisoners. Hamburg was, however, threatened

with another danger, for Major Amiel expressed his intention of entering

with all his prisoners, notwithstanding the acknowledged neutrality of

the town. Amiel was a partisan leader in the true sense of the word; he

fought rather on his own account than with the intention of contributing

to the success of the operations of the army. His troop did not consist

of more than forty men, but that was more than sufficient to spread

terror and devastation in the surrounding villages. He was a bold

fellow, and when, with his handful of men, he threw himself upon

Hamburg, the worthy inhabitants thought he had 20,000 troops with him.

He had pillaged every place through which he passed, and brought with

him 300 prisoners, and a great many horses he had taken on his road. It

was night when he presented himself at the gates of the city, which he

entered alone, having left his men and booty at the last village. He

proceeded to the French Embassy. I was not there at the time, but I

was sent for, and about seven o'clock in the evening I had my first

interview with the Major. He was the very, beau ideal of a bandit,

and would have been an admirable model for a painter. I was not at

all surprised to hear that on his arrival his wild appearance and huge

mustachios had excited some degree of terror among those who were in the

salon. He described his exploits on the march, and did not disguise his

intention of bringing his troops into Hamburg next day. He talked of the

Bank and of pillage. I tried for some time to divert him from this idea,

but without effect, and at length said to him, "Sir, you know that this

is not the way the Emperor wishes to be served. During the seven years

that I have been about him, I have invariably heard him express his

indignation against those who aggravate the misery which war naturally

brings in her train. It is the express wish of the Emperor that

no damage, no violence whatever, shall be committed on the city or

territory of Hamburg." These few words produced a stronger effect than

any entreaties I could have used, for the mere name of the Emperor made

even the boldest tremble, and Major Amiel next thought of selling his

booty. The Senate were so frightened at the prospect of having Amiel

quartered upon them that to get rid of him they determined to purchase

his booty at once, and even furnished him with guards for his prisoners.

I did not learn till some time afterwards that among the horses Major

Amiel had seized upon the road were those of the Countess Walmoden. Had

I known this fact at the time I should certainly have taken care to have

had them restored to her. Madame Walmoden was then a refugee at Hamburg,

and between her and my family a close intimacy existed. On the very

day, I believe, of the Major's departure the Senate wrote me a letter of

thanks for the protection I afforded the town.

Before the commencement of the Prussian campaign, while anxiety was

entertained respecting the designs of the Cabinet of Berlin, my task

was not an easy one. I exerted all my efforts to acquaint the French

Government with what was passing on the Spree. I announced the first

intelligence of an unexpected movement which had taken place among the

Prussian troops cantoned in the neighbourhood of Hamburg. They suddenly

evacuated Lauenburg, Platzburg, Haarburg, Stade, Twisenfelth, and

Cuxhaven. This extraordinary movement gave rise to a multitude of

surmises. I was not wrong when I informed the French Government that,

according to every probability, Prussia was about to declare hostilities

against France, and to enter into an alliance with England.

I much regretted that my situation did not allow me more frequent

opportunities of meeting Mr. Thornton, the English Minister to the

circle of Lower Saxony. However; I saw him sometimes, and had on two

different occasions the opportunity of rendering him some service. Mr.

Thornton had requested me to execute a little private business for

him, the success of which depended on the Emperor. I made the necessary

communication to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, adding in my letter

that Mr. Thornton's conduct towards the French who had come in any way

in contact with him had ever been just and liberal, and that I should

receive great pleasure in being able to announce to him the success of

his application. His request was granted.

On another occasion Mr. Thornton applied to me for my services, and I

had once more the pleasure of rendering them. He wished to procure

some information respecting an Englishman named Baker, who had gone to

Terracina, in the Campagna di Roma, for the benefit of sea-bathing.

He was there arrested, without any cause assigned, by order of the

commandant of the French troops in Terracina. The family of Mr. Baker,

not having heard from him for some months, became very uneasy respecting

him, for they had not the least idea of his arrest. His relations

applied to Mr. Thornton, and that gentleman, notwithstanding the

circumstances which, as I have stated, prevented our frequent

intercourse, hesitated not a moment in requesting me to furnish him with

some information respecting his countryman. I lost no time in writing

to M. Alquier, our Ambassador at Rome, and soon enabled Mr. Thornton to

ease the apprehension of Mr. Baker's friends.

I had every opportunity of knowing what was passing in Italy, for I

had just been invested with a new dignity. As the new King of Naples,

Joseph, had no Minister in Lower Saxony, he wished that I should

discharge the function of Minister Plenipotentiary for Naples. His

Ministers accordingly received orders to correspond with me upon all

business connected with his government and his subjects. The relations

between Hamburg and Naples were nearly nil, and my new office made no

great addition to my labours.

I experienced, however, a little more difficulty in combining all the

post-offices of Hamburg in the office of the Grand Duchy of Berg, thus

detaching them from the offices of Latour and Taxis, so named after the

German family who for a length of time had had the possession of them,

and who were devoted to Austria.

After some days of negotiation I obtained the suppression of these

offices, and their union with the postoffice of the Grand Duc de Berg

(Murat), who thus received letters from Italy, Hungary, Germany, Poland,

part of Russia, and the letters from England for these countries.

The affair of the post-offices gained for me the approbation of

Napoleon. He expressed his satisfaction through the medium of a letter

I received from Duroc, who at the same time recommended me to continue

informing the Emperor of all that was doing in Germany with relation to

the plans of the Confederation of the North. I therefore despatched

to the Minister for Foreign Affairs a detailed letter, announcing that

Baron Grote, the Prussian Minister at Hamburg, had set off on a visit to

Bremen and Lübeck. Among those who accompanied him on this excursion was

a person wholly devoted to me; and I knew that Baron Grote's object was

to offer to these towns verbal propositions for their union with the

Confederation of the North, which the King of Prussia wished to form

as a counterpoise to the Confederation of the Rhine, just created

by Napoleon. Baron Grote observed the strictest secrecy in all his

movements. He showed, in confidence, to those to whom he addressed

himself, a letter from M. Haugwitz, the Minister of the King of Prussia,

--[In July 1806, after Austerlitz, Napoleon had formed the

"Confederation du Rhin." to include the smaller States of Germany,

who threw off all connection with the German Empire, and formed a

Confederation furnishing a considerable army. ]--

--[The Emperor of Germany, Francis IL, had already in 1804, on

Napoleon taking the title of Emperor, declared himself Hereditary

Emperor of Austria. After the formation of the Rhenish

Confederation and Napoleon's refusal to acknowledge the German

Empire any longer, he released the States of the Holy Roman Empire

from their allegiance, declared the Empire dissolved, and contented

himself with the title of Emperor of Austria, as Francis I.]--

who endeavoured to point out to the Hanse Towns how much the

Confederation of the North would turn to their advantage, it being the

only means of preserving their liberty, by establishing a formidable

power. However, to the first communication only an evasive answer was

returned. M. Van Sienen, the Syndic of Hamburg, was commissioned by

the Senate to inform the Prussian Minister that the affair required the

concurrence of the burghers, and that before he could submit it to them

it would be necessary to know its basis and conditions. Meanwhile the

Syndic Doormann proceeded to Lübeck, where there was also a deputy

from Bremen. The project of the Confederation, however, never came to

anything.

I scrupulously discharged the duties of my functions, but I confess I

often found it difficult to execute the orders I received, and more than

once I took it upon myself to modify their severity. I loved the frank

and generous character of the Hamburgers, and I could not help pity the

fate of the Hanse Towns, heretofore so happy, and from which Bonaparte

had exacted such immense sacrifices.

On the principal gate of the Hanse Towns is inscribed the following

motto, well expressing the pacific spirit of the people: 'Da nobis

pacem, Domine, in diebus nostris'. The paternal and elected government,

which did everything to secure the happiness of these towns, was led to

believe that the sacrifices imposed on them would be recompensed by the

preservation of their neutrality. No distrust was entertained, and hope

was kept alive by the assurances given by Napoleon. He published in the

Moniteur that the Hanse Towns could not be included in any particular

Confederation. He thus strangled in its birth the Confederation of the

North, to which those feeble States would otherwise have been obliged

to consent. When in 1806 Napoleon marched against Prussia, he detached

Marshal Mortier from the Grand Army when it had passed the Rhine, and

directed him to invade the Electorate of Hesse, and march on Hamburg. On

the 19th of November the latter town was occupied by the French army in

the name of the Emperor, amidst the utmost order and tranquillity.

I must acknowledge that I was under much apprehension as to this event.

At the intelligence of the approach of the French army consternation

was great and universal in Hamburg, which was anxious to maintain its

neutrality unimpaired. At the urgent request of the magistrates of

the city I assumed functions more than diplomatic, and became, in some

respects, the first magistrate of the town. I went to meet Marshal

Mortier to endeavour to dissuade him from entering. I thought I should

by this means better serve the interests of France than by favouring

the occupation of a neutral town by our troops. But all my remonstrances

were useless. Marshal Mortier had received formal orders from the

Emperor.

No preparations having been made at Hamburg for the reception of Marshal

Mortier, he quartered himself and his whole staff upon me. The few

troops he had with him were disposed of in my courtyard, so that

the residence of a Minister of peace was all at once converted into

headquarters. This state of things continued until a house was got ready

for the Marshal.

Marshal Mortier had to make very rigorous exactions, but my

representations suspended for a while Napoleon's orders for taking

possession of the Bank of Hamburg. I am here bound to bear testimony

to the Marshal's honourable principles and integrity of character. The

representations which I had sent to Marshal Mortier were transmitted

by the latter to the Emperor at Berlin; and Mortier stated that he had

suspended the execution of the orders until he should receive others.

The Emperor approved of this. It was, indeed, a happy event for France

and for Europe, even more so than for Hamburg. Those who suggested to

the Emperor the idea of pillaging that fine establishment must have

been profoundly ignorant of its importance. They thought only of the

90,000,000 of marks banco deposited in its cellars.

By the famous decree of Berlin, dated 21st November 1806, Mortier was

compelled to order the seizure of all English merchandise in the

Hanse Towns, but he enforced the decree only so far as to preserve the

appearance of having obeyed his orders.

Mortier, on leaving Hamburg for Mecklenburg, was succeeded by General

Michaud, who in his turn was succeeded by Marshal Brune in the beginning

of 1807. I am very glad to take the present opportunity of correcting

the misconceptions which arose through the execution of certain acts of

Imperial tyranny. The truth is, Marshal Brune, during his government,

constantly endeavoured to moderate, as far as he could, the severity of

the orders he received. Bernadotte became Governor of Hamburg when the

battle of Jena rendered Napoleon master of Prussia and the north of

Germany.

The Prince of Ponte-Corvo lightened, as far as possible, the unjust

burdens and vexations to which that unfortunate town was subject. He

never refused his assistance to any measures which I adopted to oppose

a system of ruin and persecution. He often protected Hamburg against

exorbitant exactions, The Hanse Towns revived a little under his

government, which continued longer than that of Mortier, Michaud, and

Brune. The memory of Bernadotte will always be dear to the Hamburgers;

and his name will never be pronounced without gratitude. His attention

was especially directed to moderate the rigour of the custom-houses; and

perhaps the effect which his conduct produced on public opinion may be

considered as having, in some measure, led to the decision which, four

years after, made him Hereditary Prince of Sweden.