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was at Schoenbrunn。 It was also while at Fontainebleau that Napoleon
appointed M。 de Montalivet to be Minister of the Interior。 The letters
which we received from Paris at this period brought intelligence of the
brilliant state of the capital during the winter of 1809； and especially
of the splendour of the Imperial Court； where the Emperor's levees were
attended by the Kings of Saxony； Bavaria； and Wurtemberg； all eager to
evince their gratitude to the hero who had raised them to the sovereign
rank。
I was the first person in Hamburg who received intelligence of Napoleon's
projected marriage with the Archduchess Maria Louisa。 The news was
brought to me from Vienna by two estafettes。 It is impossible to
describe the effect produced by the anticipation of this event throughout
the north of Germany。
＇〃Napoleon often reflected on the best mode of making this
communication to the Empress； still he was reluctant to speak to
her。 He was apprehensive of the consequences of her susceptibility
of feeling； his heart was never proof against the shedding of tears。
Ho thought； however； that a favourable opportunity offered for
breaking the subject previously to his quitting Fontainebleau。 He
hinted at it in a few words which be had addressed to the Empress；
but he did not explain himself until the arrival of the viceroy；
whom he had ordered to join him。 He was the first person who spoke
openly to his mother and obtained her consent for that bitter
sacrifice。 He acted on the occasion like a kind son and a man
grateful to his benefactor and devoted to his service； by sparing
him the necessity of unpleasant explanations towards a partner whose
removal was a sacrifice as painful to him as it was affecting： The
Emperor； having arranged whatever related to the future condition of
the Empress； upon whom he made a liberal settlement； urged the
moment of the dissolution of the marriage； no doubt because he felt
grieved at the condition of the Empress herself； who dined every day
and passed her evenings in the presence of persons who were
witnessing her descent from the throne。 There existed between him
and the Empress Josephine no other bond than a civil act； according
to the custom which prevailed at the time of this marriage。 Now the
law had foreseen the dissolution of such marriage oontracts。 A
particular day having therefore been fixed upon； the Emperor brought
together into his apartments those persons whose ministry was
required in this case； amongst others； the Arch…Chancellor and M。
Regnault de St。 Jean d'Angely。 The Emperor then declared in a loud
voice his intention of annulling the marriage he had contracted with
Josephine； who was present； the Empress also made the same
declaration； which was interrupted by her repeated sobs。 The Prince
Arch…Chancellor having caused the article of the law to be read； he
applied it to the cam before him； and declared the marriage to be
dissolved 〃 （Memoirs of ad Due de Rovigo）。＇
From all parts the merchants received orders to buy Austrian stock； in
which an extraordinary rise immediately took place。 Napoleon's marriage
with Maria Louisa was hailed with enthusiastic and general joy。 The
event was regarded as the guarantee of a long peace； and it was hoped
there would be a lasting cessation of the disasters created by the
rivalry of France and Austria。 The correspondence I received showed that
these sentiments were general in the interior of France； and in different
countries of Europe； and； in spite of the presentiments I had always had
of the return of the Bourbons to France； I now began to think that event
problematic； or at least very remote。
About the beginning of the year 1810 commenced the differences between
Napoleon and his brother Louis； which； as I have already stated； ended in
a complete rupture。 Napoleon's object was to make himself master of the
navigation of the Scheldt which Louis wished should remain free； and
hence ensued the union of Holland with the French Empire。 Holland was
the first province of the Grand Empire which Napoleon took the new
Empress to visit。 This visit took place almost immediately after the
marriage。 Napoleon first proceeded to Compiegne； where he remained a
week。 He next set out for St。 Quentin； and inspected the canal。 The
Empress Maria Louisa then joined him； and they both proceeded to Belgium。
At Antwerp the Emperor inspected all the works which he had ordered； and
to the execution of which he attached great importance。 He returned by
way of Ostend； Lille； and Normandy to St。 Cloud； where he arrived on the
1st of June 1810。 He there learned from my correspondence that the Hanse
Towns…refused to advance money for the pay of the French troops。 The men
were absolutely destitute。 I declared that it was urgent to put an end
to this state of things。 The Hanse towns had been reduced from opulence
to misery by taxation and exactions； and were no longer able to provide
the funds。
During this year Napoleon； in a fit of madness； issued a decree which I
cannot characterise by any other epithet than infernal。 I allude to the
decree for burning all the English merchandise in France； Holland； the
Grand Duchy of Berg； the Hanse Towns； in short； in all places subject to
the disastrous dominion of Napoleon。 In the interior of France no idea
could possibly be formed of the desolation caused by this measure in
countries which existed by commerce； and what a spectacle was it to； the；
destitute inhabitants of those countries to witness the destruction of
property which； had it been distributed； would have assuaged their
misery！
Among the emigrants whom I was ordered to watch was M。 de Vergennes； who
had always remained at or near Hamburg Since April 1808。 I informed the
Minister that M。 de Vergennes had presented himself to me at this time。
I even remember that M。 de Vergennes gave me a letter from M。 de Remusat；
the First Chamberlain of the Emperor。 M。 de Remusat strongly recommended
to me his connection； who was called by matters of importance to Hamburg。
Residence in this town was； however； too expensive； and he decided to
live at Neumuhl； a little village on the Elbe； rather to the west of
Altona。 There he lived quietly in retirement with an opera dancer named
Mademoiselle Ledoux； with whom he had become acquainted in Paris； and
whom he had brought with him。 He seemed much taken with her。 His manner
of living did not denote large means。
One duty with which I was entrusted； and to which great importance was
attached； was the application and execution of the disastrous Continental
system in the north。 In my correspondence I did not conceal the
dissatisfaction which this ruinous measure excited； and the Emperor's
eyes were at length opened on the subject by the following circumstance。
In spite of the sincerity with which the Danish Government professed to
enforce the Continental system； Holstein contained a great quantity of
colonial produce； and； notwithstanding the measures o