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temper of his army。 The contest between Count Romanzov and the
party opposed to that Minister seems on the point of precipitating a
war between Russia and France。〃 This； from Metternich； is strong
evidence。＇
language； religion； and interests； all ready to fight for one man against
a power who had done nothing to offend them。 Prussia herself； though she
could not pardon the injuries he had inflicted upon her； joined his
alliance； but with the intention of breaking it on the first opportunity。
When the war with Russia was first spoken of Savary and I had frequent
conversations on the subject。 I communicated to him all the intelligence
I received from abroad respecting that vast enterprise。 The Duc de
Rovigo shared all my forebodings； and if he and those who thought like
him had been listened to； the war would probably have been avoided。
Through him I learnt who were the individuals who urged the invasion。
The eager ambition with which they looked forward to Viceroyalties；
Duchies； and endowments blinded them to the possibility of seeing the
Cossacks in Paris。
The gigantic enterprise being determined on； vast preparations were made
for carrying it into effect。 Before his departure Napoleon； who was to
take with him all the disposable troops； caused a 'Senatus…consulte' to
be issued for levying the National Guards； who were divided into three
corps。 He also arranged his diplomatic affairs by concluding； in
February 1812； a treaty of alliance； offensive and defensive； with
Prussia； by virtue of which the two contracting powers mutually
guaranteed the integrity of their own possessions； and the European
possessions of the Ottoman Porte； because that power was then at war with
Russia。 A similar treaty was concluded about the beginning of March with
Austria； and about the end of the same month Napoleon renewed the
capitulation of France and Switzerland。 At length； in the month of
April； there came to light an evident proof of the success which had
attended M。 Czernischeff's intrigues in Paris。 It was ascertained that a
clerk in the War Office； named Michel； had communicated to him the
situation of the French forces in Germany。 Michel was condemned to
death； for the time was gone by when Bonaparte； confident in his genius
and good fortune； could communicate his plans to the spy of General
Melas。
In March 1812； when I saw that the approaching war would necessarily take
Napoleon from France； weary of the persecutions and even threats by which
I was every day assailed； I addressed to the Emperor a memorial
explaining my conduct and showing the folly and wickedness of my
accusers。 Among them was a certain Ogier de la Saussaye； who had sent a
report to the Emperor； in which the principal charge was； that I had
carried off a box containing important papers belonging to the First
Consul。 The accusation of Ogier de la Saussaye terminated thus： 〃I add
to my report the interrogatories of MM。 Westphalen； Osy； Chapeau Rouge；
Aukscher； Thierry； and Gumprecht…Mores。 The evidence of the latter bears
principally on a certain mysterious box； a secret upon which it is
impossible to throw any light； but the reality of which we are bound to
believe。〃 These are his words。 The affair of the mysterious box has
been already explained。 I have already informed the reader that I put my
papers into a box； which I buried lest it should be stolen from me。
But for that precaution I should not have been able to lay before the
reader the autograph documents in my possession； and which I imagine form
the most essential part of these volumes。 In my memorial to the Emperor
I said； in allusion to the passage above quoted； 〃This； Sire； is the most
atrocious part of Ogier's report。
〃Gumprecht being questioned on this point replies that the accuser has
probably； as well as himself； seen the circumstance mentioned in an
infamous pamphlet which appeared seven or eight years； ago。 It was； I
think； entitled 'Le Secret du Cabinet des Tuileries；' and was very likely
at the time of its appearance denounced by the police。 In that libel it
is stated； among a thousand other calumnies equally false and absurd；
'that when I left the First Consul I carried away a box full of important
papers； that I was in consequence sent to the Temple； where your brother
Joseph came to me and offered me my liberation； and a million of francs；
if I would restore the papers； which I refused to do；' etc。 Ogier；
instead of looking for this libel in Hamburg； where I read it； has the
impudence to give credit to the charge； the truth of which could have
been ascertained immediately： and he adds； 'This secret we are bound to
believe。' Your Majesty knows whether I was ever in the Temple； and
whether Joseph ever made such an offer to me。〃 I entreated that the
Emperor would do me the favour to bring me to trial； for certainly I
should have regarded that as a favour rather than to remain as I was；
exposed to vague accusations； yet all my solicitations were in vain。
My letter to the Emperor remained unanswered； but though Bonaparte could
not spare a few moments to reply to an old friend； I learned through
Duroc the contempt he cherished for my accusers。 Duroc advised me not to
be uneasy； and that in all probability the Emperor's prejudices against
me would be speedily overcome； and I must say that if they were not
overcome it was neither the fault of Duroc nor Savary； who knew how to
rightly estimate the miserable intrigues just alluded to。
Napoleon was at length determined to extend the limits of his Empire； or
rather to avenge the injuries which Russia had committed against his
Continental system。 Yet； before he departed for Germany； the resolute
refusal of the Pope to submit to any arrangement urgently claimed his
consideration。 Savona did not appear to him a sufficiently secure
residence for such a prisoner。 He feared that when all his strength
should be removed towards the Niemen the English might carry off the
Pope； or that the Italians； excited by the clergy； whose dissatisfaction
was general in Italy； would stir up those religious dissensions which are
always fatal and difficult to quell。 With the view； therefore； of
keeping the Pope under his control he removed him to Fontainebleau； and
even at one time thought of bringing him to Paris。
The Emperor appointed M。 Denon to reside with the Pope at Fontainebleau；
and to afford his illustrious prisoner the society of such a man was
certainly a delicate mark of attention on the part of Napoleon。 When
speaking of his residence with Pius VII。 M。 Denon related to me the
following anecdote。 〃The Pope；〃 said he； 〃was much attached to me。 He
always addressed me by the appellation 'my son；' and he loved to converse
with me； especially on the subject of the Egyptian expedition。 One day
he asked me for my work on Egypt； which he said he wished to read； and as
you know it is not quite orthodox； and does not perfectly agree with the
creation of the world according to Genesis； I at first hesitated； but the
Pope insisted； and at length I complied with his wish。 The Holy Father
assured me that he had been much inte