Memoirs of Napoleon, vol 10 | Page 8

with the intention of
increasing or destroying it afterwards as he might find convenient.
Thus he allowed the Poles to hope better things for the future, and
ensured to himself partisans in the north should the chances of fortune
call him thither. Alexander, who was cajoled even more than his father
had been by what I may call the political coquetry of Napoleon,
consented to all these arrangements, acknowledged 'in globo' all the
kings crowned by the Emperor, and accepted some provinces which
had belonged to his despoiled ally, the King of Prussia, doubtless by
way of consolation for not having been able to get more restored to
Prussia. The two Emperors parted the best friends in the world; but the
Continental system was still in existence.

CHAPTER XII.
1807.

Effect produced at Altona by the Treaty of Tilsit--The Duke of
Mecklenburg-Schwerin's departure from Hamburg--English squadron
in the Sound--Bombardment of Copenhagen--Perfidy of
England--Remark of Bonaparte to M. Lemercier--Prussia erased from
the map--Napoleon's return to Paris--Suppression of the
Tribunate--Confiscation of English merchandise--Nine millions gained
to France--M. Caulaincourt Ambassador to Russia--Repugnance of
England to the intervention of Russia--Affairs of Portugal--Junot
appointed to command the army-- The Prince Regent's departure for the
Brazils--The Code Napoleon-- Introduction of the French laws into
Germany--Leniency of Hamburg Juries--The stolen cloak and the
Syndic Doormann.
The Treaty of Tilsit, as soon as it was known at Altona, spread
consternation amongst the emigrants. As to the German Princes, who
were awaiting the issue of events either at Altolna or Hamburg, when
they learned that a definitive treaty of peace had been signed between
France and Russia, and that two days after the Treaty of Tilsit the
Prussian monarchy was placed at the mercy of Napoleon, every courier
that arrived threw them into indescribable agitation. It depended on the
Emperor's will whether they were to be or not to be. The Duke of
Mecklenburg- Schwerin had not succeeded in getting himself
re-established in his states, by an exceptional decision, like the Duke of
Weimar; but at length he obtained the restitution of his territory at the
request of the Emperor Alexander, and on the 28th of July he quitted
Hamburg to return to his Duchy.
The Danish charge d'affaires communicated to me about the same time
an official report from his Government. This report announced that on
Monday, the 3d of August, a squadron consisting of twelve ships of the
line and twelve frigates, commanded by Admiral Gambier, had passed
the Sound. The rest of the squadron was seen in the Categat. At the
same time the English troops which were in the island of Rugen had
reembarked. We could not then conceive what enterprise this
considerable force had been sent upon. But our uncertainty was soon at
an end. M. Didelot, the French Ambassador at Copenhagen, arrived at
Hamburg, at nine o'clock in the evening of the 12th of August. He had

been fortunate enough to pass through the Great Belt, though in sight of
the English, without being stopped. I forwarded his report to Paris by
an extraordinary courier.
The English had sent 20,000 men and twenty-seven vessels into the
Baltic; Lord Cathcart commanded the troops. The coast of Zealand was
blockaded by ninety vessels. Mr. Jackson, who had been sent by
England to negotiate with Denmark, which she feared would be
invaded by the French troops, supported the propositions he was
charged to offer to Denmark by a reference to this powerful British
force. Mr. Jackson's proposals had for their object nothing less than to
induce the King of Denmark to place in the custody of England the
whole of his ships and naval stores. They were, it is true, to be kept in
deposit, but the condition contained the words, "until the conclusion of
a general peace," which rendered the period of their restoration
uncertain. They were to be detained until such precautions should be no
longer necessary. A menace and its execution followed close upon this
demand. After a noble but useless resistance, and a terrific
bombardment, Copenhagen surrendered, and the Danish fleet was
destroyed. It would be difficult to find in history a more infamous and
revolting instance of the abuse of power against weakness.
Sometime after this event a pamphlet entitled "Germania" appeared,
which I translated and sent to the Emperor. It was eloquently written,
and expressed the indignation which the conduct of England had
excited in the author as in every one else.
--["That expedition," said Napoleon at St. Helena, "showed great
energy on the part of your Ministers: but setting aside the violation of
the laws of, nations which you committed--for in fact it was nothing
but a robbery--I think that it was; injurious to your interests, as it made
the Danish nation irreconcilable enemies to you, and in fact shut