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Admiralty； of the charity houses； of the manufactures； of the savings…
banks； of the working classes； the funds of the prisons； the relief meant
for the infirm； the chests of the refuges； orphanages； and of the
hospitals； were all seized。
More than 200；000 men； Italian； Dutch； and French soldiers came in turn
to stay there； but only to be clothed and shod； and then they left newly
clothed from head to foot。 To leave nothing to be wished for； Davoust；
from 1812； established military commissions in all the thirty…second。
military division； before he entered upon the Russian campaign。 To
complete these oppressive measures he established at the same time the
High Prevotal Court of the Customs。 It was at this time that M。 Eudes；
the director of the ordinary customs； a strict but just man； said that
the rule of the ordinary customs would be regretted； 〃for till now you
have only been on roses。。〃 The professed judgments of this court were
executed without appeal and without delay。 From what I have just said
the situation and the misery of the north of Germany； and the consequent
discontent； can be judged。
During my stay in Hamburg； which on this occasion was not very long；
Napoleon's attention was particularly engaged by the campaign of
Portugal； and his discussions with the Pope。 At this period the
thunderbolts of Rome were not very alarming。 Yet precautions were taken
to keep secret the excommunication which Pius VII。 had pronounced
against Napoleon。 The event； however； got reported about； and a party in
favour of the Pope speedily rose up among the clergy； and more
particularly among the fanatics。 Napoleon sent to Savona the Archbishops
of Nantes； Bourges； Treves； and Tours； to endeavour to bring about a
reconciliation with His Holiness。 But all their endeavours were
unavailing； and after staying a month at Savona they returned to Paris
without having done anything。 But Napoleon was not discouraged by this
first disappointment； and he shortly afterwards sent a second deputation；
which experienced the same fate as the first。 Cardinal Fesch； Napoleon's
uncle； took part with the Pope。 For this fact I can vouch； though I
cannot for an answer which he is said to have made to the Emperor。 I
have been informed that when Napoleon was one day speaking to his uncle
about the Pope's obstinacy the Cardinal made some observations to him on
his （Bonaparte's） conduct to the Holy Father； upon which Napoleon flew
into a passion； and said that the Pope and he were two old fools。
〃As for the Pope；〃 said he； 〃he is too obstinate to listen to anything。
No； I am determined he shall never have Rome again 。 。 。 。 He will
not remain at Savona； and where does he wish I should send him？〃〃To
Heaven； perhaps；〃 replied the Cardinal。
The truth is； the Emperor was violently irritated against Pius VII。
Observing with uneasiness the differences and difficulties to which all
these dissensions gave rise； he was anxious to put a stop to them。 As
the Pope would not listen to any propositions that were made to him；
Napoleon convoked a Council； which assembled in Paris； and at which
several Italian Bishops were present。 The Pope insisted that the
temporal and spiritual interests should be discussed together； and；
however disposed a certain number of prelates； particularly the Italians；
might be to separate these two points of discussion； yet the influence of
the Church and well…contrived intrigues gradually gave preponderance to
the wishes of the Pope。 The Emperor； having discovered that a secret
correspondence was carried on by several of the Bishops and Archbishops
who had seats in the Council； determined to get rid of some of them； and
the Bishops of Ghent； Troyes； Tournay； and Toulouse were arrested and
sent to Vincennes。 They were superseded by others。 He wished to
dissolve the Council； which he saw was making no advance towards the
object he had in view； and； fearing that it might adopt some act at
variance with his supreme wish； every member of the Council was
individually required to make a declaration that the proposed changes
were conformable to the laws of the Church。 It was said at the time that
they were unanimous in this individual declaration； though it is certain
that in the sittings of the Council opinions were divided。 I know not
what His Holiness thought of these written opinions compared with the
verbal opinions that had been delivered； but certain it is though still a
captive at Savona； he refused to adhere to the concessions granted in the
secret declarations。
The conflicts which took place in Spain during the year 1811 were
unattended by any decisive results。 Some brilliant events； indeed；
attested the courage of our troops and the skill of our generals。 Such
were the battle of Albufera and the taking of Tarragona； while Wellington
was obliged to raise the siege of Badajoz。 These advantages； which were
attended only by glory； encouraged Napoleon in the hope of triumphing in
the Peninsula； and enabled him to enjoy the brilliant fetes which took
place at Paris in celebration of the birth of the King of Rome。
On his return from a tour in Holland at the end of October Napoleon
clearly saw that a rupture with Russia was inevitable。 In vain he sent
Lauriston as Ambassador to St。 Petersburg to supersede Caulaincourt； who
would no longer remain there： all the diplomatic skill in the world could
effect nothing with a powerful Government which had already formed its
determination。 All the Cabinets in Europe were now unanimous in wishing
for the overthrow of Napoleon's power； and the people no less； ardently
wished for an order of things less fatal to their trade and industry。 In
the state to which Europe was reduced no one could counteract the wish of
Russia and her allies to go to war with FranceLauriston no more than
Caulaincourt。
The war for which Napoleon was now obliged to prepare forced him to
neglect Spain； and to leave his interests in that country in a state of
real danger。 Indeed； his occupation of Spain and his well…known wish to
maintain himself there were additional motives for inducing the powers of
Europe to enter upon a war which would necessarily divide Napoleon's
forces。 All at once the troops which were in Italy and the north of
Germany moved towards the frontiers of the Russian Empire。 From March
1811 the Emperor had all the military forces of Europe at his disposal。
It was curious to see this union of nations； distinguished by difference
of manners；
＇It should be remarked that Napoleon was far from being anxious
for the war with Russia。 Metternich writing on 26th March 1811；
says 〃Everything seems to indicate that the Emperor Napoleon is at
present still far from desiring a war with Russia。 But it is not
less true that the Emperor Alexander has given himself over； 'nolens
volens'； to the war party； and that he will bring about war； because
the time is approaching when he will no longer be able to resist the
reaction of the party in the internal affairs of his Empire； or the
temper of his army。 The contest between Count Romanzov and the
p