Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte — Complete
the German Mutius Scaevola had a marked influence on the concessions
which the Emperor made, because he feared that Staps, like him
who attempted the life of Porsenna, might have imitators among the
illuminati of Germany.
It is well known that after the battle of Wagram conferences were open
at Raab. Although peace was almost absolutely necessary for both powers,
and the two Emperors appeared to desire it equally, it was not, however,
concluded. It is worthy of remark that the delay was occasioned by
Bonaparte. Negotiations were therefore suspended, and M. de Champagny
had ceased for several days to see the Prince of Lichtenstein when the
affair of Staps took place. Immediately after Napoleon's examination of
the young fanatic he sent for M. de Champagny: "How are the negotiations
going on?" he inquired. The Minister having informed him, the Emperor
added, "I wish them to be resumed immediately: I wish for peace; do not
hesitate about a few millions more or less in the indemnity demanded
from Austria. Yield on that point. I wish to come to a conclusion: I
refer it all to you." The Minister lost no time in writing to the Prince
of Lichtenstein: on the same night the two negotiators met at Raab,
and the clauses of the treaty which had been suspended were discussed,
agreed upon, and signed that very night. Next morning M. de Champagny
attended the Emperor's levee with the treaty of peace as it had
been agreed on. Napoleon, after hastily examining it, expressed his
approbation of every particular, and highly complimented his Minister on
the speed with which the treaty had been brought to a conclusion.
--[This definitive treaty of peace, which is sometimes called the
Treaty of Vienna, Raab, or Schoenbrunn, contained the following
articles:
1. Austria ceded in favour of the Confederation of the Rhine (these
fell to Bavaria), Salzburg, Berchtolsgaden, and a part of Upper
Austria.
2. To France directly Austria ceded her only seaport, Trieste, and
all the countries of Carniola, Friuli, the circle of Vilach, with
parts of Croatia end Dalmatia. (By these cessions Austria was
excluded from the Adriatic Sea, and cut off from all communication
with the navy of Great Britain.) A small lordship, en enclave in
the territories of the Grieve League, was also gives up.
3. To the constant ally of Napoleon, to the King of Saxony, in that
character Austria ceded some Bohemian enclaves in Saxony end, in his
capacity of Grand Duke of Warsaw, she added to his Polish dominions
the ancient city of Cracow, and all Western Galicia.
4. Russia, who had entered with but a lukewarm zeal into the war as
an ally of France, had a very moderate share of the spoils of
Austria. A portion of Eastern Galicia, with a population of 400,000
souls, was allotted to her, but in this allotment the trading town
of Brody (almost the only thing worth having) was specially
excepted. This last circumstance gave no small degree of disgust to
the Emperor Alexander, whose admiration of Napoleon was not destined
to have a long duration.--Editor of 1836 edition.]--
CHAPTER XXI.
1809.
The Princess Royal of Denmark--Destruction of the German Empire--
Napoleons visit to the Courts of Bavaria and Wurtemberg--His return
to France--First mention of the divorce--Intelligence of Napoleon's
marriage with Maria Louisa--Napoleon's quarrel with Louis--Journey
of the Emperor and Empress into Holland--Refusal of the Hanse Towns
to pay the French troops--Decree for burning English merchandise--
M. de Vergennes--Plan for turning an inevitable evil to the best
account--Fall on the exchange of St Petersburg
About this time I had the pleasure of again seeing the son of the
reigning Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, whose arrival in the Hanse
Towns was speedily followed by that of his sister, Princess Frederica
Charlotte of Mecklenburg, married to the Prince Royal of Denmark,
Christian Frederick. In November the Princess arrived at Altana from
Copenhagen, the reports circulated respecting her having compelled her
husband to separate from her. The history of this Princess, who, though
perhaps blamable, was nevertheless much pitied, was the general subject
of conversation in the north of Germany at the time I was at Hamburg.
The King of Denmark, grieved at the publicity of the separation, wrote a
letter on the subject to the Duke of Mecklenburg. In this letter, which
I had an opportunity of seeing, the King expressed his regret at not
having been able to prevent the scandal; for, on his return from a
journey to Kiel, the affair had become so notorious that all attempts
at reconciliation were vain. In the meantime it was settled that the
Princess was to remain at Altona until something should be decided
respecting her future condition.
It was Baron Plessen, the Duke of Mecklenburg's Minister of State, who
favoured me with a sight of the King of Denmark's letters. M. Plessen
told me, likewise, at the time that the Duke had formed the irrevocable
determination of not receiving his daughter. A few days after her
arrival the Princess visited Madame de Bourrienne. She invited us to her
parties, which were very brilliant, and several times did us the honour
of being present at ours. But; unfortunately, the extravagance of her
conduct, which was very unsuitable to her situation, soon became the
subject of general animadversion.
I mentioned at the close of the last chapter how the promptitude of M.
de Champagny brought about the conclusion of the treaty known by the
name of the Treaty of Schoenbrunn. Under this the ancient edifice of the
German Empire was overthrown, and Francis II. of Germany became Francis
I., Emperor of Austria. He, however, could not say, like his namesake
of France, 'Tout est perdu fors l'honneur'; for honour was somewhat
committed, even had nothing else been lost. But the sacrifices Austria
was compelled, to make were great. The territories ceded to France were
immediately united into a new general government, under the collective
denomination of the Illyrian Provinces. Napoleon thus became master of
both sides of the Adriatic, by virtue of his twofold title of Emperor of
France and King of Italy. Austria, whose external commerce thus received
a check, had no longer any direct communication with the sea. The loss
of Fiume, Trieste, and the sea-coast appeared so vast a sacrifice that
it was impossible to look forward to the duration of a peace so dearly
purchased.
The affair of Staps, perhaps, made Napoleon anxious to hurry away from
Schoenbrunn, for he set off before he had ratified the preliminaries of
the peace, announcing that he would ratify them at Munich. He proceeded
in great haste to Nymphenburg, where he was expected on a visit to
the Court of Bavaria. He next visited the King of Wurtemberg, whom he
pronounced to be the cleverest sovereign in Europe, and at the end
of October he arrived at Fontainebleau. From thence he proceeded on
horseback to Paris, and he rode so rapidly that only a single chasseur
of his escort could keep up with him, and, attended by this one
guard, he entered the court of the Tuileries. While Napoleon was at
Fontainebleau, before his return to Paris, Josephine for the first time
heard the divorce mentioned; the idea had occurred to the Emperor's mind
while he was at Schoenbrunn. It was also while at Fontainebleau that
Napoleon appointed M. de Montalivet to be Minister of the Interior. The
letters which we received from Paris at this period brought intelligence
of the brilliant state of the capital during the winter of 1809, and
especially of the splendour of the Imperial Court, where the Emperor's
levees were attended by the Kings of Saxony, Bavaria, and Wurtemberg,
all eager to evince their gratitude to the hero who had raised them to
the sovereign rank.
I was the first person in Hamburg who received intelligence of
Napoleon's projected marriage with the Archduchess Maria Louisa. The
news was brought to me from Vienna by two estafettes. It is impossible
to describe the effect produced by the anticipation of this event
throughout the north of Germany.
--["Napoleon often reflected on the best mode of making this
communication to the Empress; still he was reluctant to speak to
her. He was apprehensive of the consequences of her susceptibility
of feeling; his heart was never proof against the shedding of tears.
Ho thought, however, that a favourable opportunity offered for
breaking the subject previously to his quitting Fontainebleau. He
hinted at it in a few words which he had addressed to the Empress,
but he did not explain himself until the arrival of the viceroy,
whom he had ordered to join him. He was the first person who spoke
openly to his mother and obtained her consent for that bitter
sacrifice. He acted on the occasion like a kind son and a man
grateful to his benefactor and devoted to his service, by sparing
him the necessity of unpleasant explanations towards a partner whose
removal was a sacrifice as painful to him as it was affecting: The
Emperor, having arranged whatever related to the future condition of
the Empress, upon whom he made a liberal settlement, urged the
moment of the dissolution of the marriage, no doubt because he felt
grieved at the condition of the Empress herself, who dined every day
and passed her evenings in the presence of persons who were
witnessing her descent from the throne. There existed between him
and the Empress Josephine no other bond than a civil act, according
to the custom which prevailed at the time of this marriage. Now the
law had foreseen the dissolution of such marriage oontracts. A
particular day having therefore been fixed upon, the Emperor brought
together into his apartments those persons whose ministry was
required in this case; amongst others, the Arch-Chancellor and M.
Regnault de St. Jean d'Angély. The Emperor then declared in a loud
voice his intention of annulling the marriage he had contracted with
Josephine, who was present; the Empress also made the same
declaration, which was interrupted by her repeated sobs. The Prince
Arch-Chancellor having caused the article of the law to be read, he
applied it to the cam before him, and declared the marriage to be
dissolved." (Memoirs of ad Duc de Rovigo).]--
From all parts the merchants received orders to buy Austrian stock, in
which an extraordinary rise immediately took place. Napoleon's marriage
with Maria Louisa was hailed with enthusiastic and general joy. The
event was regarded as the guarantee of a long peace, and it was hoped
there would be a lasting cessation of the disasters created by the
rivalry of France and Austria. The correspondence I received showed
that these sentiments were general in the interior of France, and in
different countries of Europe; and, in spite of the presentiments I had
always had of the return of the Bourbons to France, I now began to think
that event problematic, or at least very remote.
About the beginning of the year 1810 commenced the differences between
Napoleon and his brother Louis, which, as I have already stated, ended
in a complete rupture. Napoleon's object was to make himself master of
the navigation of the Scheldt which Louis wished should remain free, and
hence ensued the union of Holland with the French Empire. Holland was
the first province of the Grand Empire which Napoleon took the new
Empress to visit. This visit took place almost immediately after the
marriage. Napoleon first proceeded to Compiegne, where he remained a
week. He next set out for St. Quentin, and inspected the canal. The