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course he should pursue with regard to the Continental system。 〃I advise
you；〃 said I； 〃to reject the system without hesitation。 It may be very
fine in theory； but it is utterly impossible to carry it into practice；
and it will； in the end； give the trade of the world to England。 It
excites the dissatisfaction of our allies； who； in spite of themselves；
will again become our enemies。 But no other country； except Russia； is
in the situation of Sweden。 You want a number of objects of the first
necessity； which nature has withheld from you。 You can only obtain them
by perfect freedom of navigation； and you can only pay for them with
those peculiar productions in which Sweden abounds。 It would be out of
all reason to close your ports against a nation who rules the seas。 It
is your navy that would be blockaded； not hers。 What can France do
against you？ She may invade you by land。 But England and Russia will
exert all their efforts to oppose her。 By sea it is still more
impossible that she should do anything。 Then you have nothing to fear
but Russia and England； and it will be easy for you to keep up friendly
relations with these two powers。 Take my advice； sell your iron； timber；
leather； and pitch； take in return salt； wines； brandy； and colonial
produce。 This is the way to make yourself popular in Sweden。 If； on the
contrary； you follow the Continental system； you will be obliged to adopt
laws against smuggling； which will draw upon you the detestation of the
people。〃
Such was the advice which I gave to Bernadotte when he was about to
commence his new and brilliant career。 In spite of my situation as a
French Minister I could not have reconciled it to my conscience to give
him any other counsel； for if diplomacy has duties so also has
friendship。 Bernadotte adopted my advice； and the King of Sweden had no
reason to regret having done so。
CHAPTER XXIII。
1810
Bernadotte's departure from HamburgThe Duke of Holstein…
AugustenburgArrival of the Crown Prince in Sweden
Misunderstandings between him and NapoleonLetter from Bernadotte
to the EmperorPlot for kidnapping the Prince Royal of Sweden
Invasion of Swedish PomeraniaForced alliance of Sweden with
England and RussiaNapoleon's overtures to SwedenBernadotte's
letters of explanation to the EmperorThe Princess Royal of Sweden
My recall to ParisUnion of the Hanse Towns with France
Dissatisfaction of RussiaExtraordinary demand made upon me by
BonaparteFidelity of my old friendsDuroc and RappVisit to
Malmaison； and conversation with Josephine。
While Bernadotte was preparing to fill the high station to which he had
been called by the wishes of the people of Sweden； Napoleon was involved
in his misunderstanding with the Pope；
＇It was about this time that； irritated at what he called the
captive Pope's unreasonable obstinacy； Bonaparte conceived； and
somewhat openly expressed； his notion of making France s Protestant
country； and changing the religion of 30；000；000 of people by an
Imperial decree。 One or two of the good sayings of the witty；
accomplished； and chivalrous Comte Louis de Narbonne have already
been given in the course of these volumes。 The following is another
of them：
〃I tell yon what I will do； NarbonneI tell you how I will vent my
spite on this old fool of a Pope； and the dotards who may succeed
him said Napoleon one day at the Tuileries。 〃I will make a schism
as great as that of LutherI will make France a Protestant
country！〃
〃O Sire；〃 replied the Count； 〃I see difficulties in the way of this
project。 In the south； in the Vendee； in nearly all the west； the
French are bigoted Catholics and even what little religion remains
among us in our cities and great towns is of the Roman Church。〃
〃Never mind； Narbonnenever mind！I shall at least carry a large
portion of the French people with meI will make a division！〃 Sire；
replied Narbonne； 〃I am afraid that there is not enough religion in
all France to stand division！〃…Editor of 1836 edition。＇
and in the affairs of Portugal； which were far from proceeding according
to his wishes。 Bernadotte had scarcely quitted Hamburg for Sweden when
the Duke of Holstein…Augustenburg arrived。 The Duke was the brother of
the last Prince Royal of Sweden； whom Bernadotte was called to succeed；
and he came to escort his sister from Altona to Denmark。 His journey had
been retarded for some days on account of the presence of the Prince of
Ponte…Gorvo in Hamburg： the preference granted to Bernadotte had
mortified his ambition； and he was unwilling to come in contact with his
fortunate rival。 The Duke was favoured； by the Emperor of Russia。
As soon as he arrived in Sweden Bernadotte directed his aide de camp；
General Lentil de St。 Alphonse； to inform me of his safe passage。
Shortly after I received a letter from Bernadotte himself； recommending
one of his aides de camp； M。 Villatte； who was the bearer of it。 This
letter contained the same sentiments of friendship as those I used to
receive from General Bernadotte； and formed a contrast with the
correspondence of King Jerome； who when he wrote to me assumed the regal
character； and prayed that God would have me in his holy keeping。
However； the following is the Prince Royal's letter：
MY DEAR BOURRIENNEI have directed M。 Villatte to see you on his
way through Hamburg； and to bear my friendly remembrances to you。
Lentil has addressed his letter to you； which I suppose you have
already received。 Adieu； care for me always； and believe in the
inalterable attachment of yours；
（Signed）CHARLES JOHN。
P。S。I beg yon will present my compliments to madame and all your
family。 Embrace my little cousin for me。
The little cousin； so called by Bernadotte； was one of my daughters； then
a child； whom Bernadotte used to be very fond of while he was at Hamburg。
Departing from the order of date； I will anticipate the future； and
relate all I know respecting the real causes of the misunderstanding
which arose between Bernadotte and Napoleon。 Bonaparte viewed the choice
of the Swedes with great displeasure； because he was well aware that
Bernadotte had too much integrity and honour to serve him in the north as
a political puppet set in motion by means of springs which he might pull
at Paris or at his headquarters。 His dissatisfaction upon this point
occasioned an interesting correspondence； part of which； consisting of
letters from Bernadotte to the Emperor； is in my possession。 The Emperor
had allowed Bernadotte to retain in his service； for a year at least； the
French officers who were his aides de campbut that permission was soon
revoked； end the Prince Royal of Sweden wrote to Napoleon a letter of
remonstrance。
Napoleon's dissatisfaction with the Prince Royal now changed to decided
resentment。 He repented having acceded to his departure from France； and
he made no secret of his sentiments； for he said before his courtiers