Memoirs of Napoleon, vol 10 | Page 6

to be issued,
which were more than sufficient for circulation in the Hanse Towns and
their territories.
The reader will perhaps complain that I have been almost silent with
respect to the grand manoeuvres of the French army from the battle of
Eylau to that of Friedland, where, at all events, our success was
indisputable. There was no necessity for printing favourable versions of
that event, and, besides, its immense results were soon felt throughout
Europe. The interview at Tilsit is one of the culminating points of
modern history, and the waters of the Niemen reflected the image of
Napoleon at the height of his glory. The interview between the two
Emperors at Tilsit, and the melancholy situation of the King of Prussia,
are generally known. I was made acquainted with but few secret details
relative to those events, for Rapp had gone to Dantzic, and it was he
who most readily communicated to me all that the Emperor said and
did, and all that was passing around him.--
--[Savory gives the following account of the interview between
Napoleon and Alexander at Tilsit.
"The Emperor Napoleon, whose courtesy was manifest in all his
actions, ordered a large raft to be floated in the middle of the river,
upon which was constructed a room well covered in and elegantly

decorated having two doors on opposite aides, each of which opened
into an antechamber. The work could not have been better executed in
Paris. The roof was surmounted by two weathercocks: one displaying
the eagle of Russia, and the other the eagle of France. The two outer
doors were also surmounted by the eagles of the two countries.
"The raft was precisely in the middle of the river, with the two doors of
the salon facing the two opposite banks.
"The two sovereigns appeared on the banks of the river, and embarked
at the same moment But the Emperor Napoleon having a good boat,
manned by marines of the Guard, arrived first on the raft, entered the
room, and went to the opposite door, which he opened, and then
stationed himself on the edge of the raft to receive the Emperor
Alexander, who had not yet arrived, not having each good rowers as the
Emperor Napoleon.
"The two Emperors met in the most amicable way, et least to all
appearance. They remained together for a considerable time, and then
took leave of each other with as friendly an air as that with which they
had met.
"Next day the Emperor of Russia established himself at Tilsit with a
battalion of his Guard. Orders were given for evacuating that part of the
town where he and his battalion were to be quartered; and, though we
were very much pressed for room, no encroachment on the space
allotted to the Russians was thought of.
"On the day the Emperor Alexander, entered Tilsit the whole army was
under arms. The Imperial Guard was drawn out in two lines of three
deep from the landing-place to the Emperor Napoleon's quarters, and
from thence to the quarters of the Emperor of Russia. A salute of 100
guns was fired the moment Alexander stepped ashore on the spot where
the Emperor Napoleon was waiting to receive him. The latter carried
his attention to his visitor so far as to send from his quarters the
furniture for Alexander's bedchamber. Among the articles sent was a
camp-bed belonging to the Emperor, which he presented to Alexander,
who appeared much pleased with the gift.

"This meeting; the first which history records of the same kind and of
equal importance, attracted visitors to Tilsit from 100 leagues round. M.
de Talleyrand arrived, and after the observance of the usual ceremonies
business began to be discussed." (Memoirs of the Due de Rovigo, tome
iii. p. 117).
"When," said Napoleon, "I was at Tilsit with the Emperor Alexander
and the King of Prussia, I was the most ignorant of the three in military
affairs. These two sovereigns, especially the King of Prussia, were
completely 'au fait' as to the number of buttons there ought to be in
front of a jacket, how many behind, and the manner in which the skirts
ought to be cut. Not a tailor in the army knew better than King
Frederick how many measures of cloth it took to make a jacket. In
fact," continued he laughing, "I was nobody in comparison with them.
They continually tormented me about matters belonging to tailors, of
which I was entirely ignorant, although, in order not to affront them, I
answered just as gravely as if the fate of an army depended upon the
cut of a jacket. When I went to see the King of Prussia, instead of a
library, I found that he had a large room, like an arsenal, furnished with