Life of Napoleon Bonaparte. Volume IV

340

Jomini, tom. iv., p. 529; Lord Burghersh, Observations, &c., p. 143.

341

The presence of the allies in the ancient capital of Champagne, had reanimated the hopes of the partisans of the Bourbons. The Emperor of Russia could not help observing to them, "that he considered the step they had taken a little premature; that the chances of war were uncertain, and that he should be sorry to see them sacrificed." – Beauchamp, Hist. de la Champagne de 1814, tom. i., p. 241.

342

It has been said that Napoleon had been persuaded to save his life. But the result was similar to the execution, of Clarence. – S. – See Baron Fain, Manuscript de, 1814, p. 156.

343

Dated Troyes, Feb. 24. Moniteur, March 1.

344

"The King of Naples, being indisposed, has been obliged to retire from the command of the army, which he has resigned into the hands of the prince viceroy. The latter is more accustomed to the direction of large masses, and possesses the entire confidence of the Emperor." —Moniteur, Jan. 27, 1813.

345

See papers relating to Naples, laid before the British Parliament in 1815, Parl. Debates, vol. xxxi., p. 150.

346

The following letter from Napoleon to Murat, dated Nangis, Feb. 18, 1814, fell into the hands of the allies: – "You are a good soldier in the field of battle; but excepting there, you have no vigour and no character. Take advantage, however, of an act of treachery, which I only attribute to fear, in order to serve me by useful information. I rely upon you, upon your contrition, upon your promises. The title of king has turned your head. If you wish to preserve the former, keep your word." —Parl. Debates, vol. xxxi., p. 151.

347

On the 5th of March, just before the battle of Craonne, Napoleon again wrote to Murat: – "I have communicated to you my opinion of your conduct. Your situation had turned your head. My reverses have finished you. You have surrounded yourself with men who hate France, and who wish to ruin you. What you write to me is at variance with your actions. I shall, however, see by your manner of acting at Ancona, if your heart be still French, and if you yield to necessity alone. Remember that I made you a king solely for the interest of my system. Do not deceive yourself, if you should cease to be a Frenchman, you would be nothing for me." —Parl. Debates, vol. xxxi., p. 153.

348

Manuscript de 1814, p. 139.

349

"Augereau did not know Napoleon until the latter had become a general-in-chief. Augereau was certainly a good general, but he owed this to the school of Napoleon, and at best he was inferior to Massena, Desaix, Kleber, and Soult." – Louis Buonaparte, p. 92.

350

London Gazette Extraordinary, March 14, 1814; Lord Burghersh, Operations of the Allied Armies, p. 281.

351

"I now began to watch M. de Talleyrand narrowly. I considered him as the man who was about to become the leader of a party against the Emperor; though certainly not against the dynasty sprung from a revolution in which he had himself acted so conspicuous a part." – Savary, tom. ii., p. 233.

352

Journal de Bourdeaux, No. 1, March 14.

353

"M. de Metternich said, 'Here is Lord Aberdeen, the English ambassador: our intentions are common, we may, therefore, continue to explain ourselves before him.' When I came to the article about England, Lord Aberdeen observed, that the expressions liberty of commerce and rights of navigation were very vague. Metternich added, that these words might raise misunderstandings, and that it was better to substitute others. He took the pen, and wrote, that England would make the greatest sacrifices to obtain a peace on these foundations," (those previously described.) —Report of Baron St. Aignan.

354

"You must hear and observe every thing. You must discover the views of the allies, and write to me every day. Italy is yet untouched; before the lapse of a week I shall have collected troops sufficient to fight many battles. If I am seconded by the nation, the enemy are hastening to their destruction. If fortune should betray me, my resolution is taken: I cling not to the throne. I will neither disgrace the nation nor myself by subscribing dishonourable conditions." – Napoleon, Memoirs, tom. ii., p. 352; Manuscript de 1814, p. 66.

355

Bassano to Caulaincourt, Troyes, Feb. 5.

356

Manuscript de 1814 – "A narrative which, from the official situation (that of Secretary of the Cabinet of Napoleon) held by its author, is calculated," says Lord Burghersh, "to excite a greater degree of interest, and hereafter to be more relied upon, as an authority, than any other publication which has appeared on the side of the French army."

357

"Nangis, Feb. 17. – Providence has blessed our arms. I have made 30 or 40,000 prisoners. I have taken 200 pieces of cannon, a great number of generals, and destroyed several armies, almost without striking a blow: Your attitude ought still to be the same; but my intention is that you should sign nothing without my orders, because I alone know my own situation."

358

This alluded to the match, then supposed to be on the tapis, betwixt the late Princess Charlotte of Wales and the Prince of Orange. – S.

359

Lord Burghersh, Observations, p. 156.

360

Napoleon, Mémoires, tom. ii., p. 389.

361

See Journal, &c., par M. de Las Cases, tom. iv., pp. 47, 53, 60.

362

Manuscript de 1814, p. 186.

363

364

For a copy of the Treaty, see Parl. Debates, vol. xxvii., p. 623.

365

In a MS. memorandum, Lord Burghersh denies the whole of this story. He distinctly states that Prince Wenceslaus of Lichtenstein was never sent to Buonaparte after the 23d of February; and that the account in the text misrepresents the feelings and intentions of the Emperor of Russia at the period to which it refers. Compare his "Operations" under the dates. – Ed. (1842.)

366

Napoleon, Mémoires, tom. ii., pp. 432-468; Manuscript de 1814, p. 296.

367

368

Baron Fain, p. 213.

369

M. de Salazar, formerly aide-de-camp to the Duke of Ragusa, who had quitted the service, and retired into England, was one of those who gave information respecting a plan formed in France to carry off the Prince-Royal. He made a full communication on this subject to an illustrious personage in England, and to Baron de Rehausen, the Swedish minister at London, who immediately informed Count d'Engestrom of what had been revealed by M. de Salazar, as to the plots which Napoleon was laying against the personal safety of the Prince. In order to facilitate these communications, Baron de Rehausen was instructed to furnish M. de Salazar with money to enable him to go to Sweden. He arrived at Orebro during the diet of 1812, and was admitted to some private audiences, in which he repeated to the Prince the declarations which he had previously made to Baron de Rehausen and Count d'Engestrom.

370

It was from a similar motive that the Prince-Royal opened the ports of Sweden to all nations on the 15th August, 1812, Napoleon's birth-day, and that the peace with England was signed at the same time.