CHAPTER XVI.
1808.
The Spanish troops in Hamburg--Romana's siesta--His departure for
Funen--Celebration of Napoleon's birthday--Romana's defection--
English agents and the Dutch troops--Facility of communication
between England and the Continent--Delay of couriers from Russia--
Alarm and complaints--The people of Hamburg--Montesquieu and the
Minister of the Grand Duke of Tuscany--Invitations at six months--
Napoleon's journey to Italy--Adoption of Eugène--Lucien's daughter
and the Prince of the Asturias--M. Auguste de Stael's interview with
Napoleon.
Previous to the interview at Erfurt an event took place which created
a strong interest in Hamburg and throughout Europe, an event which
was planned and executed with inconceivable secrecy. I allude to
the defection of the Marquis de la Romans, which I have not hitherto
noticed, in order that I might not separate the different facts which
came to my knowledge respecting that defection and the circumstances
which accompanied it.
The Marquis de la Romans had come to the Hanse Towns at the head of an
army corps of 18,000 men, which the Emperor in the preceding campaign
claimed in virtue of treaties previously concluded with the Spanish
Government. The Spanish troops at first met with a good reception in
the Hanse Towns. The difference of language, indeed, occasionally caused
discord, but when better acquainted the inhabitants and their visitors
became good friends. The Marquis de la Romans was a little swarthy
man, of unprepossessing and rather common appearance; but he had a
considerable share of talent and information. He had travelled in almost
every part of Europe, and as he had been a close observer of all he saw
his conversation was exceedingly agreeable and instructive.
During his stay at Hamburg General Romans spent almost every evening
at my house, and invariably fell asleep over a game at whist. Madame
de Bourrienne was usually his partner, and I recollect he perpetually
offered apologies for his involuntary breach of good manners. This,
however, did not hinder him from being guilty of the same offence the
next evening. I will presently explain the cause of this regular siesta.
On the King of Spain's birthday the Marquis de la Romans gave a
magnificent entertainment. The decorations of the ballroom consisted of
military emblems. The Marquis did the honours with infinite grace, and
paid particular attention to the French generals. He always spoke of the
Emperor in very respectful terms, without any appearance of affectation,
so that it was impossible to suspect him of harbouring disaffection. He
played his part to the last with the utmost address. At Hamburg we had
already received intelligence of the fatal result of the battle of the
Sierra Morena, and of the capitulation of Dupont, which disgraced him
at the very moment when the whole army marked him out as the man most
likely next to receive the baton of Marshal of France.
Meanwhile the Marquis de la Romans departed for the Danish island
of Funen, in compliance with the order which Marshal Bernadotte had
transmitted to him. There, as at Hamburg, the Spaniards were well liked,
for their general obliged them to observe the strictest discipline.
Great preparations were made in Hamburg on the approach of Saint
Napoleon's day, which was then celebrated with much solemnity in every
town in which France had representatives. The Prince de Ponte-Corvo was
at Travemunde, a small seaport near Lübeck, but that did not prevent
him from giving directions for the festival of the 15th of August. The
Marquis de la Romana, the better to deceive the Marshal, despatched a
courier, requesting permission to visit Hamburg on the day of the fete
in order to join his prayers to those of the French, and to receive, on
the day of the fete, from the hands of the Prince, the grand order of
the Legion of Honour, which he had solicited, and which Napoleon had
granted him. Three days after Bernadotte received intelligence of the
defection of de la Romana. The Marquis had contrived to assemble a
great number of English vessels on the coast, and to escape with all
his troops except a depot of 600 men left at Altona. We afterwards heard
that he experienced no interruption on his passage, and that he
landed with his troops at Corunna. I now knew to what to attribute the
drowsiness which always overcame the Marquis de la Romana when he sat
down to take a hand at whist. The fact was, he sat up all night making
preparations for the escape which he had long meditated, while to lull
suspicion he showed himself everywhere during the day, as usual.
On the defection of the Spanish troops I received letters from
Government requiring me to augment my vigilance, and to seek out those
persons who might be supposed to have been in the confidence of the
Marquis de la Romans. I was informed that English agents, dispersed
through the Hanse Towns, were endeavouring to foment discord and
dissatisfaction among the King of Holland's troops. These manoeuvres
were connected with the treason of the Spaniards and the arrival of
Danican in Denmark. Insubordination had already broken out, but it was
promptly repressed. Two Dutch soldiers were shot for striking their
officers, but notwithstanding this severity desertion among the troops
increased to an alarming degree. Indefatigable agents in the pay of the
English Government laboured incessantly to seduce the soldiers of King
Louis (of Holland) from their duty. Some of these agents being denounced
to me were taken almost in the act, and positive proof being adduced of
their guilt they were condemned to death.
These indispensable examples of severity did not check the manoeuvres of
England, though they served to cool the zeal of her agents. I used every
endeavour to second the Prince of Ponte-Corvo in tracing out the persons
employed by England. It was chiefly from the small island of Heligoland
that they found their way to the Continent. This communication was
facilitated by the numerous vessels scattered about the small islands
which lie along that coast. Five or six pieces of gold defrayed the
expense of the passage to or from Heligoland. Thus the Spanish news,
which was printed and often fabricated at London, was profusely
circulated in the north of Germany. Packets of papers addressed to
merchants and well-known persons in the German towns were put into the
post-offices of Embden, Kuipphausen, Varel, Oldenburg, Delmenhorst, and
Bremen. Generally speaking, this part of the coast was not sufficiently
well watched to prevent espionage and smuggling; with regard to
smuggling, indeed, no power could have entirely prevented it. The
Continental system had made it a necessity, so that a great part of the
population depended on it for subsistence.
In the beginning of December 1808 we remarked that the Russian courier
who passed through Konigsberg and Berlin, was regularly detained four,
five, and even six hours on his way to Hamburg. The trading portion of
the population, always suspicious, became alarmed at this chance in the
courier's hours, into which they inquired and soon discovered the cause.
It was ascertained that two agents had been stationed by the postmaster
of the Grand Duchy of Berg at Hamburg, in a village called Eschburg
belonging to the province of Lauenburg. There the courier from Berlin
was stopped, and his packets and letters opened. As soon as these
facts were known in Hamburg there was a general consternation among the
trading class-that is to say, the influential population of the city.
Important and well-grounded complaints were made. Some letters had
been suppressed, enclosures had been taken from one letter and put into
another, and several bills of exchange had gone astray. The intelligence
soon reached the ears of the Prince of Ponte-Corvo, and was confirmed
by the official report of the commissioner for the Imperial and
Royal Post-office, who complained of the delay of the courier, of the
confusion of the packets, and of want of confidence in the Imperial
Post-office. It was impolitic to place such agents in a village where
there was not even a post-office, and where the letters were opened
in an inn without any supervision. This examination of the letters,
sometimes, perhaps, necessary, but often dangerous, and always extremely
delicate, created additional alarm, on account of the persons to whom
the business was entrusted. If the Emperor wished to be made acquainted
with the correspondence of certain persons in the north it would have
been natural to entrust the business to his agents and his commissioner
at Hamburg, and not to two unknown individuals--another inconvenience
attending black cabinets. At my suggestion the Prince of Ponte-Corvo
gave orders for putting a stop to the clandestine business at Eschburg.
The two agents were taken to Hamburg and their conduct inquired into.
They were severely punished. They deserved this, however, less than
those who had entrusted them with such an honourable mission; but
leaders never make much scruple about abandoning their accomplices in
the lower ranks.
But for the pain of witnessing vexations of this sort, which I had
not always power to prevent, especially after Bernadotte's removal, my
residence at Hamburg would have been delightful. Those who have visited
that town know the advantages it possesses from its charming situation
on the Elbe, and above all, the delightful country which surrounds it
like a garden, and extends to the distance of more than a league along
the banks of the Eyder. The manners and customs of the inhabitants bear
the stamp of peculiarity; they are fond of pursuing their occupations
in the open air. The old men are often seen sitting round tables placed
before their doors sipping tea, while the children play before them, and
the young people are at their work. These groups have a very picturesque
effect, and convey a gratifying idea of the happiness of the people.
On seeing the worthy citizens of Hamburg assembled round their doors I
could not help thinking of a beautiful remark of Montesquieu. When he
went to Florence with a letter of recommendation to the Prime Minister
of the Grand Duke of Tuscany he found him sitting at the threshold of
his door, inhaling the fresh air and conversing with some friends. "I
see," said Montesquieu, "that I am arrived among a happy people, since
their Prime Minister can enjoy his leisure moments thus."
A sort of patriarchal simplicity characterises the manners of the
inhabitants of Hamburg. They do not visit each other much, and only
by invitation; but on such occasions they display great luxury
beneath their simple exterior. They are methodical and punctual to an
extraordinary degree. Of this I recollect a curious instance. I was
very intimate with Baron Woght, a man of talent and information, and
exceedingly amiable manners. One day he called to make us a farewell
visit as he intended to set out on the following day for Paris. On
Madame de Bourrienne expressing a hope that he would not protract his
absence beyond six months, the period he had fixed upon, he replied, "Be
assured, madame, nothing shall prevent me getting home on the day I have
appointed, for I have invited a party of friends to dine with me on the
day after my return." The Baron returned at the appointed time, and none
of his guests required to be reminded of his invitation at six months'
date.
Napoleon so well knew the effect which his presence produced that after
a conquest he loved to show himself to the people whose territories he
added to the Empire. Duroc, who always accompanied him when he was not
engaged on missions, gave me a curious account of Napoleon's journey in
1807 to Venice and the other Italian provinces, which, conformably with
the treaty of Presburg, were annexed to the Kingdom of Italy.
In this journey to the Kingdom of Italy Napoleon had several important
objects in view. He was planning great alliances; and he loaded Eugène
with favours for the purpose of sounding him and preparing him for his
mother's divorce. At the same time he intended to have an interview
with his brother Lucien, because, wishing to dispose of the hand of his
brother's daughter, he thought of making her marry the Prince of
the Asturias (Ferdinand), who before the Spanish war, when the first
dissensions between father and son had become manifest, had solicited an
alliance with the Emperor in the hope of getting his support. This was
shortly after the eldest son of Louis had died in Holland of croup. It
has been wrongly believed that Napoleon had an affection for this child
beyond that of an uncle for a nephew. I have already said the truth
about this.
However this may be, it is certain that Napoleon now seriously
contemplated a divorce from Josephine. If there had been no other proof
of this I, who from long habit knew how to read Napoleon's thoughts by
his acts, found a sufficient one in the decree issued at Milan by which
Napoleon adopted Eugène as his son and successor to the crown of Italy,
in default of male and legitimate children directly descended from him.
Lucien went to Mantua on his brother's invitation, and this was the last
interview they had before the Cent Jours. Lucien consented to give his
daughter to the Prince of the Asturias, but this marriage did not
take place. I learned from Duroc to what a height the enmity of Lucien
towards the Beauharnais family, an enmity which I have often had
occasion to speak of, had been renewed on this occasion. Lucien could
not pardon Josephine for the rebuff of the counsels which he had given
her, and which she had rejected with such proper indignation. Lucien had
besides another special reason for giving his daughter to the Prince
of the Asturias. He particularly wished to prevent that Prince marrying
Mademoiselle de Tascher, the niece of Josephine, a marriage for which
M. de Beauharnais, then Ambassador of France at Madrid, was working with
all his might. Lucien also, with his Republican stolidity, submitted
without too much scruple to the idea of having a Bourbon King as
son-in-law. It was also during this journey of Napoleon that he annexed
Tuscany to the Empire.
Bonaparte returned to Paris on the 1st of January 1808. On his way he
stopped for a short time at Chambery, where a young man had been waiting
for him several days. This was Madame de Stael's son, who was then not
more than seventeen years of age. M. Auguste de Stael lodged at the
house of the postmaster of Chambery, and as the Emperor was expected in
the course of the night, he gave orders that he should be called up on
the arrival of the first courier. The couriers, who had been delayed
on the road, did not arrive until six in the morning, and were almost
immediately followed by the Emperor himself, so that M, de Stael was
awakened by the cries of Vive l'Empereur! He had just time to dress
himself hastily, and fly to meet Napoleon, to whom he delivered a
letter, which he had prepared beforehand for the purpose of soliciting
an audience. Lauriston, the aide de camp on duty, took the letter, it
being his business to receive all the letters and petitions which were
presented to Napoleon on his way. Before breakfast the Emperor opened
the letters which Lauriston had laid on the table; he merely looked
at the signatures, and then laid them aside. On opening M. de Stael's
letter he said, "Ah! ah! what have we here? a letter from M. de Stael!
. . . He wishes to see me: . . . What can he want? . . . Can there be
anything in common between me and the refugees of Geneva?"-- "Sire,"
observed Lauriston, "he is a very young man; and, as well as I
could judge from the little I saw of him, there is something very
prepossessing in his appearance."--"A very young man, say you? . . .
Oh, then I will see him. . . . Rustan, tell him to come in." M. de Stael
presented himself to Napoleon with modesty, but without any unbecoming
timidity. When he had respectfully saluted the Emperor a conversation
ensued between them, which Duroc described to me in nearly the following
manner.
As M. de Stael advanced towards the Emperor the latter said, "Whence
do you come?"--"From Geneva, Sire."--"Where is your mother?"--"She is
either in Vienna or will soon be there."--"At Vienna! . . . Well, that
is where she ought to be; and I suppose she is happy. . . . She will now
have a good opportunity of learning German."--"Sire, how can you imagine
my mother is happy when she is absent from her country and her friends?
If I were permitted to lay before your Majesty my mother's confidential
letter you would see how unhappy she is in her exile."-- "Ah, bah!
your mother unhappy, indeed! . . . However, I do not mean to say she is
altogether a bad woman. . . . She has talent--perhaps too much; and
hers is an unbridled talent. She was educated amidst the chaos of the
subverted monarchy and the Revolution; and out of these events she makes
an amalgamation of her own! All this might become very dangerous. Her
enthusiasm is likely to make proselytes. I must keep watch upon her. She
does not like me; and for the interests of those whom she would endanger
I must prohibit her coming to Paris."
Young De Stael stated that his object in seeking the interview with
the Emperor was to petition for his mother's return to Paris. Napoleon
having listened without impatience to the reasons he urged in support of
his request, said, "But supposing I were to permit your mother to return
to Pairs, six months would not elapse before I should be obliged to
send her to the Bicetre or to the Temple. This I should be sorry to do,
because the affair would make a noise, and injure me in public opinion.
Tell your mother that my determination is formed, that my decision is
irrevocable. She shall never set foot in Paris as long as I live."--
"Sire, I cannot believe that you would arbitrarily imprison my mother if
she gave you no reason for such severity."--"She would give me a dozen!
. . . I know her well."--"Sire, permit me to say that I am certain
my mother would live in Paris in a way that would afford no ground of
reproach; she would live retired, and would see only a very few friends.
In spite of your Majesty's refusal I venture to entreat that you will
give her a trial, were it only for six weeks or a month. Permit her,
Sire, to pass that time in Paris, and I conjure you to come to no final
decision beforehand."--"Do you think I am to be deceived by these fair
promises? . . . I tell you it cannot be. She would serve as a rallying
point for the Faubourg St. Germain. She see nobody, indeed! Could she
make that sacrifice? She would visit and receive company. She would be
guilty of a thousand follies. She would be saying things which she
may consider as very good jokes, but which I should take seriously. My
government is no joke: I wish this to be well known by everybody."--
"Sire, will your Majesty permit me to repeat that my mother has no wish
whatever to mingle in society? She would confine herself to the circle
of a few friends, a list of whom she would give to your Majesty. You,
Sire, who love France so well, may form some idea of the misery my
mother suffers in her banishment. I conjure your Majesty to yield to
my entreaties, and let us be included in the number of your faithful
subjects."--"You!"--"Yes, Sire; or if your Majesty persist in your
refusal, permit a son to inquire what can have raised your displeasure
against his mother. Some say that it was my grandfather's last work; but
I can assure your Majesty that my mother had nothing to do with that."--
"Yes, certainly," added Napoleon, with more ill-humour than he had
hitherto manifested. "Yes, certainly, that work is very objectionable.
Your grandfather was an ideologist, a fool, an old lunatic. At sixty
years of age to think of forming plans to overthrow my constitution!
States would be well governed, truly, under such theorists, who judge
of men from books and the world from the map."--"Sire, since my
grandfather's plans are, in your Majesty's eyes, nothing but vain
theories, I cannot conceive why they should so highly excite your
displeasure. There is no political economist who has not traced out
plans of constitutions."--"Oh! as to political economists, they are
mere-visionaries, who are dreaming of plans of finance while they are
unfit to fulfil the duties of a schoolmaster in the most insignificant
village in the Empire. Your grandfather's work is that of an obstinate
old man who died abusing all governments."--"Sire, may I presume to
suppose, from the way in which you speak of it, that your Majesty judges
from the report of malignant persons, and that you have not yourself
read it."
"That is a mistake. I have read it myself from beginning to end."--
"Then your Majesty must have seen how my grandfather renders justice to
your genius."--"Fine justice, truly! . . . He calls me the indispensable
man, but, judging from his arguments, the best thing that could be done
would be to cut my throat! Yes, I was indeed indispensable to repair the
follies of your grandfather, and the mischief he did to France. It
was he who overturned the monarchy and led Louis XVI. to the
scaffold."--"Sire, you seem to forget that my grandfather's property was
confiscated because he defended the King."--"Defended the King! A fine
defence, truly! You might as well say that if I give a man poison and
present him with an antidote when he is in the agonies of death I
wish to save him! Yet that is the way your grandfather defended Louis
XVI..... As to the confiscation you speak of, what does that prove?
Nothing. Why, the property of Robespierre was confiscated! And let
me tell you that Robespierre himself, Marat, and Danton did much less
mischief to France than M. Necker. It was he who brought about the
Revolution. You, Monsieur de Stael, did not see this; but I did. I
witnessed all that passed in those days of terror and public calamity.
But as long as I live those days shall never return. Your speculators
trace their Utopian schemes upon paper; fools read and believe them. All
are babbling about general happiness, and presently the people have not
bread to eat; then comes a revolution. Such is usually the fruit of all
these fine theories! Your grandfather was the cause of the saturnalia
which desolated France. He is responsible for all the blood shed in the
Revolution!"
Duroc informed me that the Emperor uttered these last words in a tone of
fury which made all present tremble for young De Stael. Fortunately the
young man did not lose his self-possession in the conflict, while the
agitated expression of his countenance evidently showed what was passing
in his mind. He was sufficiently master of himself to reply to the
Emperor in a calm though rather faltering voice: "Sire, permit me to
hope that posterity will judge of my grandfather more favourably than
your Majesty does. During his administration he was ranked by the side
of Sully and Colbert; and let me repeat again that I trust posterity
will render him justice."--"Posterity will, probably, say little about
him."-- "I venture to hope the contrary, Sire."
Then, added Duroc, the Emperor turning to us said with a smile, "After
all, gentlemen, it is not for me to say too much against the Revolution
since I have gained a throne by it." Then again turning to M. de Stael
he said, "The reign of anarchy is at au end. I must have subordination.
Respect the sovereign authority, since it comes from God. You are young,
and well educated, therefore; follow a better course, and avoid those
bad principles which endanger the welfare of society."--"Sire, since
your Majesty does me the honour to think me well educated, you ought not
to condemn the principles of my grandfather and my mother, for it is in
those principles that I have been brought up."--"Well, I advise you to
keep right in politics, for I will not pardon any offences of the Necker
kind. Every one should keep right in politics."
This conversation, Duroc informed me, had continued the whole time of
breakfast, and the Emperor rose just as he pronounced these last words:
"Every one should keep right in politics." At that moment young De Stael
again renewed his solicitations for his mother's recall from exile.
Bonaparte then stepped up to him and pinched his ear with that air of
familiarity which was customary to him when he was in good humour or
wished to appear so.
"You are young," said he; "if you had my age and experience you would
judge of things more correctly. I am far from being displeased with your
frankness. I like to see a son plead his mother's cause. Your mother has
given you a difficult commission, and you have executed it cleverly. I
am glad I have had this opportunity of conversing with you. I love to
talk with young people when they are unassuming and not too fond of
arguing. But in spite of that I will not hold out false hopes to you.
Murat has already spoken to me on the subject, and I have told him, as I
now tell you, that my will is irrevocable. If your mother were in prison
I should not hesitate to liberate her, but nothing shall induce me to
recall her from exile."--"But, Sire, is she not as unhappy in being
banished from her country and her friends as if she were in prison?"--
"Oh! these are your mother's romantic ideas. She is exceedingly unhappy,
and much to be pitied, no doubt! . . . With the exception of Paris
she has all Europe for her prison."--"But, Sire, her friends are in
Paris."--"With her talents she may make friends anywhere. After all,
I cannot understand why she should be so anxious to come to Paris. Why
should she wish to place herself immediately within the reach of my
tyranny? Can she not go to Rome, to Berlin, to Vienna, to Milan, or to
London? Yes, let her go to London; that is the place for her. There she
may libel me as much as she pleases. In short, she has my full liberty
to be anywhere but in Paris. You see, Monsieur de Stael, that is the
place of my residence, and there I will have only those who are attached
to me. I know from experience that if I were to allow your mother to
come to Paris she would spoil everybody about me. She would finish the
spoiling of Garat. It was she who ruined the Tribunate. I know she
would promise wonders; but she cannot refrain from meddling with
politics."--"I can assure your Majesty that my mother does not now
concern herself about politics. She devotes herself exclusively to the
society of her friends and to literature."--"Ah, there it is! . . .
Literature! Do you think I am to be imposed upon by that word? While
discoursing on literature, morals, the fine arts, and such matters, it
is easy to dabble in politics. Let women mind their knitting. If your
mother were in Paris I should hear all sorts of reports about her.
Things might, indeed, be falsely attributed to her; but, be that as it
may, I will have nothing of the kind going on in the capital in which I
reside. All things considered, advise your mother to go to London. That
is the best place for her. As for your grandfather, I have not spoken
too severely of him. M. Necker knew nothing of the art of government.
I have learned something of the matter during the last twenty
years."--"All the world, Sire, renders justice to your Majesty's genius,
and there is no one but acknowledges that the finances of France are now
more prosperous than ever they were before your reign. But permit me to
observe that your Majesty must, doubtless, have seen some merit in the
financial regulations of my grandfather, since you have adopted some
of them in the admirable system you have established."--"That proves
nothing; for two or three good ideas do not constitute a good system. Be
that as it may, I say again, I will never allow your mother to return to
Paris."--"But, Sire, if sacred interests should absolutely require her
presence there for a few days would not--"--"How! Sacred interests! What
do you mean?"--"Yes, Sire, if you do not allow her to return I shall
be obliged to go there, unaided by her advice, in order to recover from
your Majesty's Government the payment of a sacred debt."--"Ah! bah!
Sacred! Are not all the debts of the State sacred?"--"Doubtless,
Sire; but ours is attended with circumstances which give it a peculiar
character."--"A peculiar character! Nonsense! Does not every State
creditor say the same of his debt? Besides, I know nothing of your
claim. It does not concern me, and I will not meddle with it. If you
have the law on your side so much the better; but if you want favour I
tell you I will not interfere. If I did, I should be rather against you
than otherwise."--"Sire, my brother and myself had intended to settle in
France, but how can we live in a country where our mother cannot visit
us?"--"I do not care for that. I do not advise you to come here. Go
to England. The English like wrangling politicians. Go there, for in
France, I tell you candidly, that I should be rather against you than
for you."
"After this conversation," added Duroc, "the Emperor got into the
carriage with me without stopping to look to the other petitions which
had been presented to him. He preserved unbroken silence until he got
nearly opposite the cascade, on the left of the road, a few leagues from
Chambery. He appeared to be absorbed in reflection. At length he said,
'I fear I have been somewhat too harsh with this young man. . . . But
no matter, it will prevent others from troubling me. These people
calumniate everything I do. They do not understand me, Duroc; their
place is not in France. How can Necker's family be for the Bourbons,
whose first duty, if ever they returned to France, would be to hang them
all.'"
This conversation, related to me by Duroc, interested me so much that I
noted it down on paper immediately after my interview.