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enforce the Continental system； Holstein contained a great quantity of
colonial produce； and； notwithstanding the measures of severity； it was
necessary that that merchandise should find a market somewhere。 The
smugglers often succeeded in introducing it into Germany； and the whole
would probably soon have passed the custom…house limits。 All things
considered； I thought it advisable to make the best of an evil that could
not be avoided。 I therefore proposed that the colonial produce then in
Holstein； and which had been imported before the date of the King's edict
for its prohibition； should be allowed to enter Hamburg on the payment of
30； and on some articles 40； per cent。 This duty was to be collected at
the custom…house； and was to be confined entirely to articles consumed in
Germany。 The colonial produce in Altona； Glnckstadt； Husum； and other
towns of Holstein； lead been estimated； at about 30；000；000 francs； and
the duty would amount to 10；000；000 or 12；000；000。 The adoption of the
plan I proposed would naturally put a stop to smuggling； for it could not
be doubted that the merchants would give 30 or 33 per cent for the right
of carrying on a lawful trade rather than give 40 per cent。 to the
smugglers； with the chance of seizure。
The Emperor immediately adopted my idea； for I transmitted my suggestions
to the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the 18th of September； and on the
4th of October a decree was issued conformable to the plan I proposed。
Within six weeks after the decree came into operation the custom…house
Director received 1300 declarations from persons holding colonial produce
in Holstein。 It now appeared that the duties would amount to 40；000；000
francs； that is to say； 28；000；000 or 30；000；000 more than my estimate。
Bernadotte had just been nominated Prince Royal of Sweden。 This
nomination； with all the circumstances connected with it； as well as
Bernadotte's residence in Hamburg； before he proceeded to Stockholm； will
be particularly noticed in the next chapter。 I merely mention the
circumstance here to explain some events which took place in the north；
and which were； more or less； directly connected with it。 For example；
in the month of September the course of exchange on St。 Petersburg
suddenly fell。 All the letters which arrived in Hamburg from the capital
of Russia and from Riga； attributed the fall to the election of the
Prince of Ponte…Corvo as Prince Royal of Sweden。 Of thirty letters which
I received there was not one but described the consternation which the
event had created in St。 Petersburg。 This consternation； however； might
have been excited less by the choice of Sweden than by the fear that that
choice was influenced by the French Government。
CHAP XXII。
1809…1810。
Bernadotte elected Prince Royal of SwedenCount Wrede's overtures
to BernadotteBernadottes's three days' visit to Hamburg
Particulars respecting the battle of WagramSecret Order of the
dayLast intercourse of the Prince Royal of Sweden with Napoleon
My advice to Bernadotte respecting the Continental system。
I now come to one of the periods of my life to which I look back with
moat satisfaction； the time when Bernadotte was with me in Hamburg。 I
will briefly relate the series of events which led the opposer of the
18th Brumaire to the throne of Sweden。
On the 13th of march 1809 Gustavus Adolphus was arrested； and his uncle；
the Duke of Sudermania； provisionally took the reins of Government。 A
few days afterwards Gustavus published his act of abdication； which in
the state of Sweden it was impossible for him to refuse。 In May
following； the Swedish Diet having been convoked at Stockholm； the Duke
of Sudermania was elected King。 Christian Augustus； the only son of that
monarch； of course became Prince Royal on the accession of his father to
the throne。 He； however； died suddenly at the end of May 1810； and Count
Fersen （the same who at the Court of Marie Antoinette was distinguished
by the appellation of 'le beau Fersen'）； was massacred by the populace；
who suspected； perhaps unjustly； that he had been accessory to the
Prince's death。
＇Count Fereen； alleged to have been one of the favoured lovers of
Marie Antoinette； and who was certainly deep in her confidence； had
arranged most of the details of the attempted flight to Varennes in
1791； and he himself drove the Royal family their first stage to the
gates of Paris。＇
On the 21st of August following Bernadotte was elected Prince Royal of
Sweden。
After the death of the Prince Royal the Duke of Sudermania's son； Count
Wrede； a Swede； made the first overtures to Bernadotte； and announced to
him the intention entertained at Stockholm of offering him the throne of
Sweden。 Bernadotte was at that time in Paris； and immediately after his
first interview with Count Wrede he waited on the Emperor at St。 Cloud；
Napoleon coolly replied that he could be of no service to him； that
events must take their course； that he might accept or refuse the offer
as he chose； that he （Bonaparte） would place no obstacles in his way； but
that he could give him no advice。 It was very evident that the choice of
Sweden was not very agreeable to Bonaparte； and though he afterwards
disavowed any opposition to it； he made overtures to Stockholm； proposing
that the crown of Sweden should be added to that of Denmark。
Bernadotte then went to the waters of Plombieres； and on his return to
Paris he sent me a letter announcing his elevation to the rank of Prince
Royal of Sweden。
On the 11th of October he arrived in Hamburg； where he stayed only three
days。 He passed nearly the whole of that time with me； and he
communicated to me many curious facts connected with the secret history
of the times； and among other things some particulars respecting the
battle of Wagram。 I was the first to mention to the new Prince Royal of
Sweden the reports of the doubtful manner in which the troops under his
command behaved。 I reminded him of Bonaparte's dissatisfaction at these
troops； for there was no doubt of the Emperor being the author of the
complaints contained in the bulletins； especially as he had withdrawn the
troops from Bernadotte's command。 Bernadotte assured me that Napoleon's
censure was unjust； during the battle he had complained of the little
spirit manifested by the soldiers。 〃He refused to see me；〃 added
Bernadotte； 〃and I was told； as a reason for his refusal； that he was
astonished and displeased to find that； notwithstanding his complaints；
of which I must have heard； I had boasted of having gained the battle；
and had publicly complimented the Saxons whom I commanded。〃
Bernadotte then showed me the bulletin he drew up after the battle of
Wagram。 I remarked that I had never heard of a bulletin being made by
any other than the General who was Commander…in…Chief during a battle；
and asked how the affair ended。 He then handed to me a copy of the Order
of the day； which Napoleon said he had sent only to the Marshals
commanding the different corps。
Bernadotte's bulletin was printed along with Bonaparte's Order of the
Day