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strongly inclined to that re…establishment； of which he felt the
necessity。 He may have said that he would re…establish the Kingdom of
Poland； but I beg leave to say that that is no reason for believing that
he entertained any such design。 He had said； and even sworn； that he
would never aggrandise the territory of the Empire！ The changeableness
of Bonaparte's ideas； plans； and projects renders it difficult to master
them； but they may be best understood when it is considered that all
Napoleon's plans and conceptions varied with his fortunes。 Thus； it is
not unlikely that he might at one time have considered the
reestablishment of Poland as essential to European policy； and afterwards
have regarded it as adverse to the development of his ambition。 Who can
venture to guess what passed in his mind when dazzled by his glory at
Dresden； and whether in one of his dreams he might not have regarded the
Empire of the Jagellons as another gem in the Imperial diadem？ The truth
is that Bonaparte； when General…in…Chief of the army of Egypt and First
Consul； had deeply at heart the avenging the dismemberment of Poland； and
I have often conversed with him on this most interesting subject； upon
which we entirely concurred in opinion。 But times and circumstances were
changed since we walked together on the terrace of Cairo and mutually
deplored the death of young Sulkowski。 Had Sulkowski lived Napoleon's
favourable intentions with respect to Poland might perhaps have been
confirmed。 A fact which explains to me the coolness； I may almost say
the indifference； of Bonaparte to the resurrection of Poland is that the
commencement of the Consulate was the period at which that measure
particularly occupied his attention。 How often did he converse on the
subject with me and other persons who may yet recollect his sentiments！
It was the topic on which he most loved to converse； and on which he
spoke with feeling and enthusiasm。 In the 'Moniteur' of the period here
alluded to I could point out more than one article without signature or
official character which Napoleon dictated to me； and the insertion of
which in that journal； considering the energy of certain expressions；
sufficiently proves that they could have emanated from none but
Bonaparte。 It was usually in the evening that he dictated to me these
articles。 Then； when the affairs of the day were over； he would launch
into the future； and give free scope to his vast projects。 Some of these
articles were characterised by so little moderation that the First Consul
would very often destroy them in the morning； smiling at the violent
ebullitions of the preceding night。 At other times I took the liberty of
not sending them to the 'Moniteur' on the night on which they were
dictated； and though he might earnestly wish their insertion I adduced
reasons good or bad； to account for the delay。 He would then read over
the article in question； and approve of my conduct； but he would
sometimes add； 〃It is nevertheless true that with an independent Kingdom
of Poland； and 150；000 disposable troops in the east of France； I should
always be master of Russia； Prussia； and Austria。〃〃General；〃 I would
reply；〃 I am entirely of your opinion； but wherefore awaken the
suspicions of the interested parties。 Leave all to time and
circumstances。〃
The reader may have to learn； and not； perhaps； without some surprise；
that in the protocol of the sittings of the Congress of Chatillon
Napoleon put forward the spoliation of Poland by the three principal
powers allied against him as a claim to a more advantageous peace； and to
territorial indemnities for France。 In policy he was right； but the
report of foreign cannon was already loud enough to drown the best of
arguments。
After the ill…timed and useless union of the Hanse Towns to France I
returned to Hamburg in the spring of 1811 to convey my family to France。
I then had some conversation with Davoust。 On one occasion I said to him
that if his hopes were realised； and my sad predictions respecting the
war with Russia overthrown； I hoped to see the restoration of the Kingdom
of Poland。 Davoust replied that that event was probable； since he had
Napoleon's promise of the Viceroyalty of that Kingdom； and as several of
his comrades had been promised starosties。 Davoust made no secret of
this； and it was generally known throughout Hamburg and the north of
Germany。
But notwithstanding what Davoust said respecting。 Napoleon's intentions
I considered that these promises had been conditional rather than
positive。
On Napoleon's arrival in Poland the Diet of Warsaw； assured； as there
seemed reason to be； of the Emperor's sentiments； declared the Kingdom
free and independent。 The different treaties of dismemberment were
pronounced to be null； and certainly the Diet had a right so to act； for
it calculated upon his support。 But the address of the Diet to Napoleon；
in which these principles were declared； was ill received。 His answer
was full of doubt and indecision； the motive of which could not be
blamed。 To secure the alliance of Austria against Russia he had just
guaranteed to his father…in…law the integrity of his dominions。 Napoleon
therefore declared that he could take no part in any movement or
resolution which might disturb Austria in the possession of the Polish
provinces forming a part of her Empire。 To act otherwise； he said； would
be to separate himself from his alliance with Austria； and to throw her
into the arms of Russia。 But with regard to the Polish…Russian
provinces； Napoleon declared he would see what he could do； should
Providence favour the good cause。 These vague and obscure expressions
did not define what he intended to do for the Poles in the event of
success crowning his vast enterprises。 They excited the distrust of the
Poles； and had no other result。 On this subject； however； an observation
occurs which is of some force as an apology for Napoleon。 Poland was
successively divided between three powers； Russia； Austria； and Prussia；
with each of which Napoleon had been at war； but never with all three at
once。 He had therefore never been able to take advantage of his
victories to re…establish Poland without injuring the interests of
neutral powers or of his allies。 Hence it may be concluded not only that
he never had the positive will which would have triumphed over all
obstacles； but also that there never was a possibility of realising those
dreams and projects of revenge in which he had indulged on the banks of
the Nile； as it were to console the departed spirit of Sulkowski。
Bonaparte's character presents many unaccountable incongruities。
Although the most positive man that perhaps ever existed； yet there never
was one who more readily yielded to the charm of illusion。 In many
circumstances the wish and the reality were to him one and the same
thing。 He never indulged in greater illusions than at the beginning of
the campaign of Moscow。 Even before the approach of the disasters which
accompanied the most fatal retreat recorded in history； all sensible
persons concurred in the opinion that the Emperor ought to have pass