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Pope insisted； and at length I complied with his wish。 The Holy Father
assured me that he had been much interested by the perusal of the book。
I made some allusion to the delicate points； upon which he said； 〃No
matter； no matter； my son； all that is exceedingly curious； and I must
confess entirely new to me。〃 I then；〃 continued M。 Denon； told His
Holiness why I hesitated to lend him the work； which； I observed； he had
excommunicated； together with its author。 〃Excommunicated you； my son？〃
resumed the Pope in a tone of affectionate concern。 〃I am very sorry for
it； and assure you I was far from being aware of any such thing。〃
When M。 Denon related to me this anecdote he told me how greatly he had
admired the virtues and resignation of the Holy Father； but he added that
it would nevertheless have been easier to make him a martyr than to
induce him to yield on any point until he should be restored to the
temporal sovereignty of Rome； of which he considered himself the
depositary； and which he would not endure the reproach of having
willingly sacrificed。 After settling the place of the Pope's residence
Napoleon set off for Dresden； accompanied by Maria Louisa； who had
expressed a wish to see her father。
The Russian enterprise； the most gigantic； perhaps； that the genius of
man ever conceived since the conquest of India by Alexander； now absorbed
universal attention； and defied the calculations of reason。 The
Manzanares was forgotten； and nothing was thought of but the Niemen；
already so celebrated by the raft of Tilsit。 Thither； as towards a
common centre； were moving men； horses； provisions； and baggage of every
kind； from all parts of Europe。 The hopes of our generals and the fears
of all prudent men were directed to Russia。 The war in Spain； which was
becoming more and more unfortunate； excited but a feeble interest； and
our most distinguished officers looked upon it as a disgrace to be sent
to the Peninsula。 In short； it was easy to foresee that the period was
not far distant when the French would be obliged to recross the Pyrenees。
Though the truth was concealed from the Emperor on many subjects； yet he
was not deceived as to the situation of Spain in the spring of 1812。 In
February the Duke of Ragusa had frankly informed him that the armies of
Spain and Portugal could not； without considerable reinforcements of men
and money； hope for any important advantages since Ciudad…Rodrigo and
Badajoz had fallen into the hands of the English。
Before he commenced his great operations on the Niemen and the Volga
Napoleon made a journey to Dantzic； and Rapp； who was then Governor of
that city； informed me of some curious particulars connected with the
Imperial visit。 The fact is； that if Rapp's advice had been listened to；
and had been supported by men higher in rank than himself； Bonaparte
would not have braved the chances of the Russian war until those chances
turned against him。 Speaking to me of the Russians Rapp said； 〃They will
soon be as wise as we are！ Every time we go to war with them we teach
them how to beat us。〃 I was struck with the originality and truth of
this observation； which at the time I heard it was new； though it has
been often repeated since。
〃On leaving Dresden；〃 said Rapp to me； 〃Napoleon came to Dantzic。 I
expected a dressing； for； to tell you the truth； I had treated very
cavalierly both his custom…house and its officers； who were raising up as
many enemies to France as there were inhabitants in my Government。 I had
also warned him of all that has since happened in Russia； but I assure
you I did not think myself quite so good a prophet。 In the beginning of
1812 I thus wrote to him： 'If your Majesty should experience reverses you
may depend on it that both Russians and Germans will rise up in a mass to
shake off the yoke。 There will be a crusade； and all your allies will
abandon you。 Even the King of Bavaria； on whom you rely so confidently；
will join the coalition。 I except only the King of Saxony。 He； perhaps；
might remain faithful to you； but his subjects will force him to make
common cause with your enemies。 The King of Naples；〃 continued Rapp； 〃who
had the command of the cavalry； had been to Dantzic before the Emperor。
He did not seem to take a more favourable view of the approaching
campaign than I did。 Murat was dissatisfied that the Emperor would not
consent to his rejoining him in Dresden； and he said that he would rather
be a captain of grenadiers than a King such as he was。〃
Here I interrupted Rapp to tell him what had fallen from Murat when I met
him in the Champs Elysees 〃Bah！〃 resumed Rapp； 〃Murat； brave as he was；
was a craven in Napoleon's presence！ On the Emperor's arrival in Dantzic
the first thing of which he spoke to me was the alliance he had just then
concluded with Prussia and Austria。 I could not refrain from telling him
that we did a great deal of mischief as allies； a fact of which I was
assured from the reports daily transmitted to me respecting the conduct
of our troops。 Bonaparte tossed his bead； as you know he was in the
habit of doing when he was displeased。 After a moment's silence；
dropping the familiar thee and thou； he said； 'Monsieur le General； this
is a torrent which must be allowed to run itself out。 It will not last
long。 I must first ascertain whether Alexander decidedly wishes for
war。' Then； suddenly changing the subject of conversation； he said；
‘Have you not lately observed something extraordinary in Murat？ I think
he is quite altered。 Is be ill？'‘Sire；' replied I； 'Murat is not ill；
but he is out of spirits。'‘Out of spirits！ but why？ Is he not
satisfied with being a King？'‘Sire； Murat says he is no King。'‘That
is his own fault。 Why does he make himself a Neapolitan？ Why is he not
a Frenchman？ When he is in his Kingdom he commits all sorts of follies。
He favours the trade of England； that I will not suffer。'
〃When；〃 continued Rapp； 〃he spoke of the favour extended by Murat to the
trade between Naples and England I thought my turn would come next； but I
was deceived。 No more was said on the subject； and when I was about to
take my leave the Emperor said to me； as when in his best of humours；
'Rapp； you will sup with me this evening。' I accordingly supped that
evening with the Emperor； who had also invited the King of Naples and
Berthier。 Next day the Emperor visited the fortress； and afterwards
returned to the Government Palace； where he received the civil and
military authorities。 He again invited Murat； Berthier； and me to
supper。 When we first sat down to table we were all very dull； for the
Emperor was silent； and； as you well know； under such circumstances not
even Murat himself dared to be the first to speak to him。 At length
Napoleon； addressing me； inquired how far it was from Cadiz to Dantzic。
'Too far； Sire；' replied I。 'I understand you； Monsieur le General； but
in a few months the distance will be still greater。''So much the worse；
Sire！' Here there was another pause。 Neither Murat nor Berthier； on
whom the Emperor fixed a scrutinising glance； uttered a word； and
Napoleon again broke silence； but withou