memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v8-第20章
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from quitting the banks of the Elbe and the Weser； and reinforcing the
Grand Army which was marching on Vienna。 But the King of Sweden's
coalition produced no other result than the siege of the little fortress
of Hameln。
Prussia would not come to a rupture with France； the King of Sweden was
abandoned； and Bonaparte's resentment against him increased。 This
abortive project of Gustavus contributed not a little to alienate the
affections of his subjects； who feared that they might be the victims of
the revenge excited by the extravagant plans of their King； and the
insults he had heaped upon Napoleon； particularly since the death of the
Due d'Enghien。
On the 13th of September 1805 I received a letter from the Minister of
Police soliciting information about Swedish Pomerania。
Astonished at not obtaining from the commercial Consuls at Lubeck and
Stettin any accounts of the movements of the Russians； I had sent to
those ports； four days before the receipt of the Police Minister's
letter； a confidential agent； to observe the Baltic： though we were only
64 leagues from Stralsund the most uncertain and contradictory accounts
came to hand。 It was； however； certain that a landing of the Russians
was expected at Stralsund； or at Travemtinde； the port of Lubeck； at the
mouth of the little river Trave。 I was positively informed that Russia
had freighted a considerable number of vessels for those ports。
The hatred of the French continued to increase in the north of Europe。
About the end of September there appeared at Kiel； in Denmark； a
libellous pamphlet； which was bought and read with inconceivable avidity。
This pamphlet； which was very ably written； was the production of some
fanatic who openly preached a crusade against France。 The author
regarded the blood of millions of men as a trifling sacrifice for the
great object of humiliating France and bringing her back to the limits of
the old monarchy。 This pamphlet was circulated extensively in the German
departments united to France； in Holland； and in Switzerland。 The number
of incendiary publications which everywhere abounded indicated but too
plainly that if the nations of the north should be driven back towards
the Arctic regions they would in their turn repulse their conquerors
towards the south； and no man of common sense could doubt that if the
French eagles were planted in foreign capitals； foreign standards would
one day wave over Paris。
On the 30th of September 1805 I received； by an 'estafette'； intelligence
of the landing at Stralsund of 6000 Swedes； who had arrived from
Stockholm in two ships of war。
About the end of September the Hamburg exchange on Paris fell alarmingly。
The loss was twenty per cent。 The fall stopped at seventeen below par。
The speculation for this fall of the exchange had been made with equal
imprudence and animosity by the house of Osy and Company
The head of that house； a Dutch emigrant； who had been settled at Hamburg
about six years； seized every opportunity of manifesting his hatred of
France。 An agent of that rich house at Rotterdam was also very hostile
to us； a circumstance which shows that if many persons sacrifice their
political opinions to their interests there are others who endanger their
interests for the triumph of their opinions。
On the 23d of October 1805 I received official intelligence of the total
destruction of the first Austrian army： General Barbou； who was in
Hanover； also informed me of that event in the following terms： 〃 The
first Austrian army has ceased to exist。〃 He alluded to the brilliant
affair of Ulm。 I immediately despatched twelve estafettes to different
parts； among other places to Stralsund and Husum。 I thought that these
prodigies； which must have been almost incredible to those who were
unacquainted with Napoleon's military genius； might arrest the progress
of the Russian troops； and produces some change in the movements of the
enemy's forces。 A second edition of the 'Correspondent' was published
with this intelligence； and 6000 copies were sold at four times the usual
price。
I need not detain the reader with the details of the capitulation of Ulm；
which have already been published； but I may relate the following
anecdote； which is not generally known。 A French general passing before
the ranks of his men said to them； 〃Well； comrades； we have prisoners
enough here。〃〃yes indeed；〃 replied one of the soldiers； 〃we never saw
so many 。 。 。 collected together before。〃 It was stated at the time；
and I believe it； that the Emperor was much displeased when he heard of
this； and remarked that it was 〃atrocious to insult brave men to whom the
fate of arms had proved unfavourable。〃
In reading the history of this period we find that in whatever place
Napoleon happened to be； there was the central point of action。 The
affairs of Europe were arranged at his headquarters in the same manner as
if he had been in Paris。 Everything depended on his good or bad fortune。
Espionage； seduction； false promises； exactions；all were put in force
to promote the success of his projects； but his despotism； which excited
dissatisfaction in France； and his continual aggressions； which
threatened the independence of foreign States； rendered him more and more
unpopular everywhere。
The battle of Trafalgar took place while Napoleon was marching on Vienna；
and on the day after the capitulation of Ulm。 The southern coast of
Spain then witnessed an engagement between thirty…one French and about an
equal number of English ships； and in spite of this equality of force the
French fleet was destroyed。＇The actual forces present were 27 English
ships of the line and 38 Franco…Spanish ships of the line； see James'
Naval History； vol。 iii。 p。 459。＇
This great battle afforded another proof of our naval inferiority。
Admires Calder first gave us the lesson which Nelson completed； but which
cost the latter his life。 According to the reports which Duroc
transmitted to me； courage gave momentary hope to the French； but they
were at length forced to yield to the superior naval tactics of the
enemy。 The battle of Trafalgar paralysed our naval force； and banished
all hope of any attempt against England。
The favour which the King； of Prussia had shown to Duroc was withdrawn
when his Majesty received intelligence of the march of Bernadotte's
troops through the Margravate of Anspach。 All accounts concurred
respecting the just umbrage which that violation of territory occasioned
to the King of Prussia。 The agents whom I had in that quarter
overwhelmed me with reports of the excesses committed by the French in
passing through the Margravate。 A letter I received from Duroc contains
the following remarks on this subject：
The corps of Marshal Bernadotte has passed through Anapach and by
some misunderstanding this has been regarded at Berlin as an insult
to the King； a violence committed upon his neutrality。 How can it
be supposed； especially under present circumstances； that the
Emperor could have any intention of insulting or committing violence
upon his friend？ Besides； the reports have been exaggerated； and
have been made by persons who wish to favour our enemies rather than
us。 However； I am perfectly aware that Marshal Bernadotte's 70；000
men are not 70；000 virgins。 Be this as it may； the business might
have been fatal； and will； at all events； be very injurious to us。
Laforeat and I are treated very harshly； though we do not deserve
it。 All the idle stories that have been got up here must have
reached you。 Probably Prussia will not forget that France was； and
still may be； the only power interested in her glory and
aggrandisement。
At the end of October the King of Prussia； far from thinking of war； but
in case of its occurrence wishing to check its disasters as far as
possible； proposed to establish a line of neutrality。 This was the first
idea of the Confederation of the North。 Duroc； fearing lest the Russians
should enter Hamburg； advised me； as a friend； to adopt precautions。 But
I was on the spot； I knew all the movement th
