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it was suffered fully to develop itself。 Napoleon was informed of what
was going on； and in this instance gave a new proof of his being an adept
in the art of dissimulation； for； instead of testifying any displeasure
against M。 Czernischeff； he continued to receive him with the same marks
of favour which he had shown to him during his former missions to Paris。
Being； nevertheless； desirous to get rid of him； without evincing a
suspicion that his clandestine proceedings had been discovered； he
entrusted him with a friendly letter to his brother of Russia； but
Alexander was in such haste to reply to the flattering missive of his
brother of France that M。 Czernischeff was hurried back to Paris； having
scarcely been suffered to enter the gates of St。 Petersburg。 I believe I
am correct in the idea that Napoleon was not really displeased at the
intrigues of M。 Czernischeff； from the supposition that they afforded an
indication of the hostile intentions of Russia towards France； for；
whatever he might say on this subject to his confidants； what reliance
can we place on the man who formed the camp of Boulogne without the most
distant intention of attempting a descent upon England； and who had
deceived the whole world respecting that important affair without taking
any one into his own confidence？
During the period of my stay in Paris the war with Spain and Portugal
occupied much of the public attention； and it proved in the end an
enterprise upon which the intuition of Josephine had not deceived her。
In general she intermeddled little with political affairs； in the first
place； because her doing so would have given offence to Napoleon； and
next； because her natural frivolity led her to give a preference to
lighter pursuits。 But I may safely affirm that she was endowed with an
instinct so perfect as seldom to be deceived respecting the good or evil
tendency of any measure which Napoleon engaged in； and I remember she
told me that when informed of the intention of the Emperor to bestow the
throne of Spain on Joseph； she was seized with a feeling of indescribable
alarm。 It would be difficult to define that instinctive feeling which
leads us to foresee the future； but it is a fact that Josephine was
endowed with this faculty in a more perfect decree than any other person
I have ever known； and to her it was a fatal gift； for she suffered at
the same time under the weight of present and of future misfortunes。
I often visited her at Malmaison； as Duroc assured me that the Emperor
had no objection to my doing so； yet he must have been fully aware that
when Josephine and I were in confidential conversation he would not
always be mentioned in terms of unqualified eulogy； and in truth； his
first friend and his first wife might well be excused for sometimes
commingling their complaints。
Though more than a twelvemonth had elapsed since the divorce grief still
preyed on the heart of Josephine。 〃You cannot conceive； my friend；〃 she
often said to me； 〃all the torments that I have suffered since that fatal
day！ I cannot imagine how I survived it。 You cannot figure to yourself
the pain I endure on seeing descriptions of his fetes everywhere。 And
the first time he came to visit me after his marriage； what a meeting was
that！ How many tears I shed！ The days on which he comes are to me days
of misery； for he spares me not。 How cruel to speak of his expected
heir。 Bourrienne； you cannot conceive how heart…rending all this is to
me！ Better； far better to be exiled a thousand leagues from hence！
However；〃 added Josephine； 〃a few friends still remain faithful in my
changed fortune； and that is now the only thing which affords me even
temporary consolation。〃 The truth is that she was extremely unhappy； and
the most acceptable consolation her friends could offer her was to weep
with her。 Yet such was still Josephine's passion for dress； that after。
having wept for a quarter of an hour she would dry her tears to give
audience to milliners and jewellers。 The sight of a new hat would call
forth all Josephine's feminine love of finery。 One day I remember that；
taking advantage of the momentary serenity occasioned by an ample display
of sparkling gewgaws； I congratulated her upon the happy influence they
exercised over her spirits； when she said； 〃My dear friend； I ought；
indeed； to be indifferent to all this； but it is a habit。〃 Josephine
might have added that it was also an occupation； for it would be no
exaggeration to say that if the time she wasted in tears and at her
toilet had been subtracted from her life its duration would have been
considerably shortened。
The vast extent of the French Empire now presented a spectacle which
resembled rather the dominion of the Romans and the conquests of
Charlemagne than the usual form and political changes of modern Europe。
In fact； for nearly two centuries； until the period of the Revolution；
and particularly until the elevation of Napoleon； no remarkable changes
had taken place in the boundaries of European States； if we except the
partition of Poland； when two of the co…partitioners committed the error
of turning the tide of Russia towards the west！ Under Napoleon
everything was overturned with astonishing rapidity： customs； manners；
laws； were superseded
＇The so…called 〃French〃 armies of the time； drawn from all parts
of the Empire and from the dependent States； represented the
extraordinary fusion attempted by Napoleon。 Thus； at the battle of
Ocana there were at least troops of the following States； viz。
Warsaw； Holland； Baden； Nassau； Hesse…Darmstadt； Frankfort； besides
the Spaniards in Joseph's service。 A Spanish division went to
Denmark； the regiment from Isembourg was sent to Naples； while the
Neapolitans crossed to Spain。 Even the little Valais had to furnish
a battalion。 Blacks from San Domingo served in Naples； while
sixteen nations； like so many chained dogs； advanced into Russia。
Such troops could not have the spirit of a homogeneous army。
Already； in 1808； Metternich had written from Paris to his Court；
〃It is no longer the nation that fights： the present war （Spain） is
Napoleon's war； it is not even that of his army。〃 But Napoleon
himself was aware of the danger of the Empire from its own extent。
In the silence of his cabinet his secretary Meneval sometimes heard
him murmur； 〃L'arc est trop longtemps tendu。〃＇
by new customs； new manners； and new laws； imposed by force； and forming
a heterogeneous whole； which could not fail to dissolve； as soon as the
influence of the power which had created it should cease to operate。
Such was the state of Italy that I have been informed by an individual
worthy of credit that if the army of Prince Eugene； instead of being
victorious； had been beaten on the Piava； a deeply…organised revolution
would have broken out in Piedmont； and even in the Kingdom of Italy；
where； nevertheless； the majority of the people fully appreciated the
excellent qualities of Eugene。 I have been also credibly informed that
lists were in readiness designating those of the French