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whom the Emperor fixed a scrutinising glance； uttered a word； and
Napoleon again broke silence； but without addressing any one of us in
particular： 'Gentlemen；' said be in a solemn and rather low tone of
voice； 'I see plainly that you are none of you inclined to fight again。
The King of Naples does not wish to leave the fine climate of his
dominions； Berthier wishes to enjoy the diversion of the chase at his
estate of Gros Bois； and Rapp is impatient to be back to his hotel in
Paris。' Would you believe it；〃 pursued Rapp； 〃that neither Murat nor
Berthier said a word in reply？ and the ball again came to me。 I told
him frankly that what he said was perfectly true； and the King of Naples
and the Prince of Neufchatel complimented me on my spirit； and observed
that I was quite right in saying what I did。 'Well；' said I； 〃since it
was so very right； why did you not follow my example； and why leave me to
say all？' You cannot conceive；〃 added Rapp； 〃how confounded they both
were； and especially Murat； though be was very differently situated from
Berthier。〃
The negotiations which Bonaparte opened with Alexander； when he yet
wished to seem averse to war； resembled those oratorical paraphrases
which do not prevent us from coming to the conclusion we wish。 The two
Emperors equally desired war； the one with the view of consolidating his
power； and the other in the hope of freeing himself from a yoke which
threatened to reduce him to a state of vassalage； for it was little short
of this to require a power like Russia to close her ports against England
for the mere purpose of favouring the interests of France。 At that time
only two European powers were not tied to Napoleon's fateSweden and
Turkey。 Napoleon was anxious to gain the alliance of these two powers。
With respect to Sweden his efforts were vain； and though； in fact； Turkey
was then at war with Russia； yet the Grand Seignior was not now； as at
the time of Sebastiani's embassy； subject to the influence of France。
The peace； which was soon concluded at Bucharest； between Russia； and
Turkey increased Napoleon's embarrassment。 The left of the Russian army；
secured by the neutrality of Turkey； was reinforced by Bagration's corps
from Moldavia： it subsequently occupied the right of the Beresina； and
destroyed the last hope of saving the wreck of the French army。 It is
difficult to conceive how Turkey could have allowed the consideration of
injuries she had received from France to induce her to terminate the war
with Russia when France was attacking that power with immense forces。
The Turks never had a fairer opportunity for taking revenge on Russia；
and； unfortunately for Napoleon； they suffered it to escape。
Napoleon was not more successful when he sought the alliance of a Prince
whose fortune he had made； and who was allied to his family； but with
whom he had never been on terms of good understanding。 The Emperor
Alexander had a considerable corps of troops in Finland destined to
protect that country against the Sweden； Napoleon having consented to
that occupation in order to gain the provisional consent of Alexander to
the invasion of Spain。 What was the course pursued by Napoleon when；
being at war with Russia； he wished to detach Sweden from her alliance
with Alexander？ He intimated to Bernadotte that he had a sure
opportunity of retaking Finland； a conquest which would gratify his
subjects and win their attachment to him。 By this alliance Napoleon
wished to force Alexander not to withdraw the troops who were in the
north of his Empire； but rather to augment their numbers in order to
cover Finland and St。 Petersburg。 It was thus that Napoleon endeavoured
to draw the Prince Royal into his coalition。 It was of little
consequence to Napoleon whether Bernadotte succeeded or not。 The Emperor
Alexander would nevertheless have been obliged to increase his force in
Finland； that was all that Napoleon wished。 In the gigantic struggle
upon which France and Russia were about to enter the most trivial
alliance was not to be neglected。 In January 1812 Davoust invaded
Swedish Pomerania without any declaration of war； and without any
apparent motive。 Was this inconceivable violation of territory likely to
dispose the Prince Royal of Sweden to the proposed alliance； even had
that alliance not been adverse to the interests of his country？ That was
impossible； and Bernadotte took the part which was expected of him。 He
rejected the offers of Napoleon； and prepared for coming events。
The Emperor Alexander wished to withdraw his force from Finland for the
purpose of more effectively opposing the immense army which threatened
his States。 Unwilling to expose Finland to an attack on the part of
Sweden； he had an interview on the 28th of August 1812； at Abo； with the
Prince…Royal； to come to an arrangement with him for uniting their
interests。 I know that the Emperor of Russia pledged himself； whatever
might happen； to protect Bernadotte against the fate of the new
dynasties； to guarantee the possession of his throne； and promised that
he should have Norway as a compensation for Finland。 He even went so far
as to hint that Bernadotte might supersede Napoleon。 Bernadotte adopted
all the propositions of Alexander； and from that moment Sweden made
common cause against Napoleon。 The Prince Royal's conduct has been much
blamed； but the question resolved itself into one of mere political
interest。 Could Bernadotte； a Swede by adoption； prefer the alliance of
an ambitious sovereign whose vengeance he had to fear； and who had
sanctioned the seizure of Finland to that of a powerful monarch； his
formidable neighbour； his protector in Sweden； and where hostility might
effectually support the hereditary claims of young Gustavus？ Sweden； in
joining France； would thereby have declared herself the enemy of England。
Where； then； would have been her navy； her trade and even her existence？
CHAPTER XXVII。
1812。
Changeableness of Bonaparte's plans and opinionsArticles for the
'Moniteur' dictated by the First ConsulThe Protocol of the
Congress of ChatillonConversations with Davoust at Hamburg
Promise of the Viceroyalty of PolandHope and disappointment of the
PolesInfluence of illusion on BonaparteThe French in Moscow
Disasters of the retreatMallet's conspiracyIntelligence of the
affair communicated to Napoleon at SmolenskoCircumstances detailed
by RappReal motives of Napoleon's return to ParisMurat； Ney； and
EugenePower of the Italians to endure coldNapoleon's exertions
to repair his lossesDefection of General YorkConvocation of a
Privy CouncilWar resolved onWavering of the PopeUseless
negotiations with ViennaMaria Louisa appointed Regent。
It may now he asked whether Bonaparte； previous to entering upon the last
campaign； had resolved on restoring Poland to independence。 The fact is
that Bonaparte； as Emperor； never entertained any positive wish to
reestablish the old Kingdom of Poland； though at a previous period he was
strongly inclined to that re…establishment； of which he felt the
necessity。 He may have said that he wo