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hand； I often suppressed adverse news； which； though well known； would
have received additional weight from its insertion in so widely
circulated a paper。 If by chance there crept in some Austrian bulletin；
extracted from the other German papers published in the States of the
Confederation of the Rhine； there was always given with it a suitable
antidote to destroy； or at least to mitigate； its ill effect。 But this
was not all。 The King of Wurtemberg having reproached the
'Correspondant'； in a letter to the Minister for Foreign Affairs； with
publishing whatever Austria wished should be made known； and being
conducted in a spirit hostile to the good cause； I answered these unjust
reproaches by making the Syndic censor prohibit the Hamburg papers from
inserting any Austrian order of the day； any Archduke's bulletins； any
letter from Prague； in short； anything which should be copied from the
other German journals unless those articles had been inserted in the
French journals。
My recollections of the year 1809 at Hamburg carry me back to the
celebration of Napoleon's fete； which was on the 15th of August； for he
had interpolated his patron saint in the Imperial calendar at the date of
his birth。 The coincidence of this festival with the Assumption gave
rise to adulatory rodomontades of the most absurd description。 Certainly
the Episcopal circulars under the Empire would form a curious collection。
＇It will perhaps scarcely be believed that the following words
were actually delivered from the pulpit： 〃God in his mercy has
chosen Napoleon to be his representative on earth。 The Queen of
Heaven has marked； by the most magnificent of presents； the
anniversary of the day which witnessed his glorious entrance into
her domains。 Heavenly Virgin！ as a special testimony of your love
for the French； and your all…powerful influence with your son； you
have connected the first of your solemnities with the birth of the
great Napoleon。 Heaven ordained that the hero should spring from
your sepulchre； 〃Bourrienne。＇
Could anything be more revolting than the sycophancy of those Churchmen
who declared that 〃God chose Napoleon for his representative upon earth；
and that God created Bonaparte； and then rested； that he was more
fortunate than Augustus； more virtuous than Trajan； that he deserved
altars and temples to be raised to him！〃 etc。
Some time after the Festival of St。 Napoleon the King of Westphalia made
a journey through his States。 Of all Napoleon's brothers the King of
Westphalia was the one with whom I was least acquainted； and he； it is
pretty well known； was the most worthless of the family。 His
correspondence with me is limited to two letters； one of which he wrote
while he commanded the 'Epervier'； and another seven years after； dated
6th September 1809。 In this latter he said：
〃I shall be in Hannover on the 10th。 If you can make it convenient
to come there and spend a day with me it will give me great
pleasure。 I shall then be able to smooth all obstacles to the loan
I wish to contract in the Hanse Town。 I flatter myself you will do
all in your power to forward that object； which at the present
crisis is very important to my States。 More than ample security is
offered； but the money will be of no use to me if I cannot have it
at least for two years。〃
Jerome wanted to contract at Hamburg a loan of 3；000；000 francs。
However； the people did not seem to think like his Westphalian Majesty；
that the contract presented more than ample security。 No one was found
willing to draw his purse…strings； and the loan was never raised。
Though I would not； without the Emperor's authority； exert the influence
of my situation to further the success of Jerome's negotiation； yet I did
my best to assist him。 I succeeded in prevailing on the Senate to
advance one loan of 100；000 francs to pay a portion of the arrears due to
his troops； and a second of 200；000 francs to provide clothing for his
army； etc。 This scanty supply will cease to be wondered at when it is
considered to what a state of desolation the whole of Germany was reduced
at the time； as much in the allied States as in those of the enemies of
France。 I learnt at the time that the King of Bavaria said to an officer
of the Emperor's household in whom he had great confidence； 〃If this
continues we shall have to give up； and put the key under the door。〃
These were his very words。
As for Jerome； he returned to Cassel quite disheartened at the
unsuccessful issue of his loan。 Some days after his return to his
capital I received from him a snuffbox with his portrait set in diamonds；
accompanied by a letter of thanks for the service I had rendered him。
I never imagined that a token of remembrance from a crowned head could
possibly be declined。 Napoleon； however； thought otherwise。 I had not；
it is true； written to acquaint our Government with the King of
Westphalia's loan； but in a letter； which I addressed to the Minister for
Foreign Affairs on the 22d of September； I mentioned the present Jerome
had sent me。 Why Napoleon should have been offended at this I know not；
but I received orders to return Jerome's present immediately； and these
orders were accompanied with bitter reproaches for my having accepted it
without the Emperor's authority。 I sent back the diamonds； but kept the
portrait。 Knowing Bonaparte's distrustful disposition； I thought he must
have suspected that Jerome had employed threats； or at any rate； that he
had used some illegal influence to facilitate the success of his loan。
At last； after much correspondence； Napoleon saw clearly that everything
was perfectly regular； in a word； that the business had been transacted
as between two private persons。 As to the 300；000 francs which the
Senate had lent to Jerome； the fact is； that but little scruple was made
about it； for this simple reason； that it was the means of removing from
Hamburg the Westphalian division； whose presence occasioned a much
greater expense than the loan。
CHAPTER XX。
1809。
Visit to the field of Wagram。Marshal MacdonaldUnion of the Papal
States with the EmpireThe battle of TalaveraSir Arthur
WellesleyEnglish expedition to HollandAttempt to assassinate the
Emperor at SchoenbrunnStaps Interrogated by NapoleonPardon
offered and rejectedFanaticism and patriotismCorvisart's
examination of StapsSecond interrogatoryTirade against the
illuminatiAccusation of the Courts of Berlin and WeimarFirmness
and resignation of StapsParticulars respecting his death
Influence of the attempt of Staps on the conclusion of peace
M。 de Champagny。
Napoleon went to inspect all the corps of his army and the field of
Wagram； which a short time before had been the scene of one of those
great battles in which victory was the more glorious in proportion as it
had been valiantly contested。
＇The great battle of Wagram was fought on the 6th of July 1809。
The Austrians； who committed a mistake in over…extending their line；
lost 20；000 men as prisoners