memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v10-第11部分

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During　his　stay　at　Hamburg　General　Romans　spent　almost　every　evening　at
my　house；　and　invariably　fell　asleep　over　a　game　at　whist。　　Madame　de
Bourrienne　was　usually　his　partner；　and　I　recollect　he　perpetually
offered　apologies　for　his　involuntary　breach　of　good　manners。　　This；
however；　did　not　hinder　him　from　being　guilty　of　the　same　offence　the
next　evening。　　I　will　presently　explain　the　cause　of　this　regular　siesta。

On　the　King　of　Spain's　birthday　the　Marquis　de　la　Romans　gave　a
magnificent　entertainment。　　The　decorations　of　the　ballroom　consisted　of
military　emblems。　　The　Marquis　did　the　honours　with　infinite　grace；　and
paid　particular　attention　to　the　French　generals。　　He　always　spoke　of　the
Emperor　in　very　respectful　terms；　without　any　appearance　of　affectation；
so　that　it　was　impossible　to　suspect　him　of　harbouring　disaffection。　　He
played　his　part　to　the　last　with　the　utmost　address。　　At　Hamburg　we　had
already　received　intelligence　of　the　fatal　result　of　the　battle　of　the
Sierra　Morena；　　and　of　the　capitulation　of　Dupont；　which　disgraced　him　at
the　very　moment　when　the　whole　army　marked　him　out　as　the　man　most　likely
next　to　receive　the　baton　of　Marshal　of　France。

Meanwhile　the　Marquis　de　la　Romans　departed　for　the　Danish　island　of
Funen；　in　compliance　with　the　order　which　Marshal　Bernadotte　had
transmitted　to　him。　　There；　as　at　Hamburg；　the　Spaniards　were　well　liked；
for　their　general　obliged　them　to　observe　the　strictest　discipline。
Great　preparations　were　made　in　Hamburg　on　the　approach　of　Saint
Napoleon's　day；　which　was　then　celebrated　with　much　solemnity　in　every
town　in　which　France　had　representatives。　　The　Prince　de　Ponte…Corvo　was
at　Travemunde；　a　small　seaport　near　Lubeck；　but　that　did　not　prevent　him
from　giving　directions　for　the　festival　of　the　15th　of　August。　　The
Marquis　de　la　Romana；　the　better　to　deceive　the　Marshal；　despatched　a
courier；　requesting　permission　to　visit　Hamburg　on　the　day　of　the　fete　in
order　to　join　his　prayers　to　those　of　the　French；　and　to　receive；　on　the
day　of　the　fete；　from　the　hands　of　the　Prince；　the　grand　order　of　the
Legion　of　Honour；　which　he　had　solicited；　and　which　Napoleon　had　granted
him。　　Three　days　after　Bernadotte　received　intelligence　of　the　defection
of　de　la　Romana。　　The　Marquis　had　contrived　to　assemble　a　great　number　of
English　vessels　on　the　coast；　and　to　escape　with　all　his　troops　except　a
depot　of　600　men　left　at　Altona。　　We　afterwards　heard　that　he　experienced
no　interruption　on　his　passage；　and　that　he　landed　with　his　troops　at
Corunna。　　I　now　knew　to　what　to　attribute　the　drowsiness　which　always
overcame　the　Marquis　de　la　Romana　when　he　sat　down　to　take　a　hand　at
whist。　　The　fact　was；　he　sat　up　all　night　making　preparations　for　the
escape　which　he　had　long　meditated；　while　to　lull　suspicion　he　showed
himself　everywhere　during　the　day；　as　usual。

On　the　defection　of　the　Spanish　troops　I　received　letters　from　Government
requiring　me　to　augment　my　vigilance；　and　to　seek　out　those　persons　who
might　be　supposed　to　have　been　in　the　confidence　of　the　Marquis　de　la
Romans。　　I　was　informed　that　English　agents；　dispersed　through　the　Hanse
Towns；　were　endeavouring　to　foment　discord　and　dissatisfaction　among　the
King　of　Holland's　troops。　　These　manoeuvres　were　connected　with　the
treason　of　the　Spaniards　and　the　arrival　of　Danican　in　Denmark。
Insubordination　had　already　broken　out；　but　it　was　promptly　repressed。
Two　Dutch　soldiers　were　shot　for　striking　their　officers；　but
notwithstanding　this　severity　desertion　among　the　troops　increased　to　an
alarming　degree。　　Indefatigable　agents　in　the　pay　of　the　English
Government　laboured　incessantly　to　seduce　the　soldiers　of　King　Louis　（of
Holland）　from　their　duty。　　Some　of　these　agents　being　denounced　to　me
were　taken　almost　in　the　act；　and　positive　proof　being　adduced　of　their
guilt　they　were　condemned　to　death。

These　indispensable　examples　of　severity　did　not　check　the　manoeuvres　of
England；　though　they　served　to　cool　the　zeal　of　her　agents。　　I　used　every
endeavour　to　second　the　Prince　of　Ponte…Corvo　in　tracing　out　the　persons
employed　by　England。　　It　was　chiefly　from　the　small　island　of　Heligoland
that　they　found　their　way　to　the　Continent。　　This　communication　was
facilitated　by　the　numerous　vessels　scattered　about　the　small　islands
which　lie　along　that　coast。　　Five　or　six　pieces　of　gold　defrayed　the
expense　of　the　passage　to　or　from　Heligoland。　　Thus　the　Spanish　news；
which　was　printed　and　often　fabricated　at　London；　was　profusely
circulated　in　the　north　of　Germany。　　Packets　of　papers　addressed　to
merchants　and　well…known　persons　in　the　German　towns　were　put　into　the
post…offices　of　Embden；　Kuipphausen；　Varel；　Oldenburg；　Delmenhorst；　and
Bremen。　　Generally　speaking；　this　part　of　the　coast　was　not　sufficiently
well　watched　to　prevent　espionage　and　smuggling；　with　regard　to
smuggling；　indeed；　no　power　could　have　entirely　prevented　it。　　The
Continental　system　had　made　it　a　necessity；　so　that　a　great　part　of　the
population　depended　on　it　for　subsistence。

In　the　beginning　of　December　1808　we　remarked　that　the　Russian　courier
who　passed　through　Konigsberg　and　Berlin；　was　regularly　detained　four；
five；　and　even　six　hours　on　his　way　to　Hamburg。　　The　trading　portion　of
the　population；　always　suspicious；　became　alarmed　at　this　chance　in　the
courier's　hours；　into　which　they　inquired　and　soon　discovered　the　cause。
It　was　ascertained　that　two　agents　had　been　stationed　by　the　postmaster
of　the　Grand　Duchy　of　Berg　at　Hamburg；　in　a　village　called　Eschburg
belonging　to　the　province　of　Lauenburg。　　There　the　courier　from　Berlin
was　stopped；　and　his　packets　and　letters　opened。　　As　soon　as　these　facts
were　known　in　Hamburg　there　was　a　general　consternation　among　the　trading
class…that　is　to　say；　the　influential　population　of　the　city。　　Important
and　well…grounded　complaints　were　made。　　Some　letters　had　been
suppressed；　enclosures　had　been　taken　from　one　letter　and　put　into
another；　and　several　bills　of　exchange　had　gone　astray。　　The　intelligence
soon　reached　the　ears　of　the　Prince　of　Ponte…Corvo；　and　was　confirmed　by
the　official　report　of　the　commissioner　for　the　Imperial　and　Royal　Post…
office；　who　complained　of　the　delay　of　the　courier；　of　the　confusion　of
the　packets；　and　of　want　of　confidence　in　the　Imperial　Post…office。　　It
was　impolitic　to　place　such　agents　in　a　village　where　there　was　not　even
a　post…office；　and　where　the　letters　were　opened　in　an　inn　without　any
supervision。　　This　examination　of　the　letters；　sometimes；　perhaps；
necessary；　but　often　dangerous；　and　always　extremely　delicate；　created
additional　alarm；　on　account　of　the　persons　to　whom　the　business　was
entrusted。　　If　the　Emperor　wished　to　be　made　acquainted　with　the
correspondence　of　certain　persons　in　the　north　it　would　have　been　natural
to　entrust　the　business　to　his　agents　and　his　commissioner　at　Hamburg；
and　not　to　two　unknown　individualsanother　inconvenience　attending　black
cabinets。　　At　my　suggestion　the　Prince　of　Ponte…Corvo　gave　orders　for
putting　a　stop　to　the　clandestine　business　at　Eschburg。　　The　two　agents
were　taken　to　Hamburg　and　their　conduct　inquired　into。　　They　were
severely　punished。　　They　deserved　this；　however；　less　than　those　who　had
entrusted　them　with　such　an　honourable　mission；　but　leaders　never　make
much　scruple　about　abandoning　their　accomplices　in　the　lower　ranks。

But　for　the　pain　of　witnessing　vexations　of　this　sort；　which　I　had　not
always　power　to　prevent；　especially　after　Bernadotte's　removal；　my
residence　at　Hamburg　would　have　been　delightful。　　Those　who　have　visited
that　town　know　the　advantages　it　possesses　from　its　charming　situation　on
the　Elbe；　and　above　all；　the　delightful　country　which　surrounds　it　like　a
garden；　and　extends　to　the　distance　of　more　than　a　league　along　the　banks
of　the　Eyder。　　The　manners　and　customs　of　the　inhabitants　bear　the　stamp
of　peculiarity；　they　are　fond　of　pursuing　their　occupations　in　the　open
air。　　The　old　men　are　often　seen　sitting　round　tables　placed　before　their
doors　sipping　tea；　while　the　children　play　before　them；　and　the　young
people　are　at　their　work。　　These　groups　have　a　very　picturesque　effect；
and　convey　a　gratifying　idea　of　the　happiness　of　the　people。　　On　seeing
the　worthy　citizens　of　Hamburg　assembled　round　their　doors　I　could　not
help　thinking　of　a　beautiful　remark　of　Montesquieu。　　When　he　went　to
Florence　with　a　letter　of　recommendation　to　the　Prime　Minister　of　the
Grand　Duke　of　Tuscany　he　found　him　sitting　at　the　threshold　of　his　door；
inhaling　the　fresh　air　and　conversing　with　some　friends。　　〃I　see；〃　said
Montesquieu；　〃that　I　am　arrived　among　a　happy　people；　since　their　Prime
Minister　can　enjoy　his　leisure　moments　thus。〃

A　sort　of　patriarchal　simplicity　characterises　the　manners　of　the
inhabitants　of　Hamburg。　　They　do　not　visit　each　other　much；　and　only　by
invitation；　but　on　such　occasions　they　display　great　luxury　beneath　their
simple　exterior。　　They　are　methodical　and　punctual　to　an　extraordinary
degree。　　Of　this　I　recollect　a　curious　instance。　　I　was　very　intimate
with　Baron　Woght；　a　man　of　talent　and　information；　and　exceedingly
amiable　manners。　　One　day　he　called　to　make　us　a　farewell　visit　as　he
intended　to　set　out　on　the　following　day　for　Paris。　　On　Madame　de
Bourrienne　expressing　a　hope　that　he　would　not　protract　his　absence
beyond　six　months；　the　period　he　had　fixed　upon；　he　replied；　〃Be　assured；
madame；　nothing　shall　prevent　me　getting　home　on　the　day　I　have
appointed；　for　I　have　invited　a　party　of　friends　to　dine　with　me　on　the
day　after　my　return。〃　　The　Baron　returned　at　the　appointed　time；　and　none
of　his　guests　required　to　be　reminded　of　his　invitation　at　six　months'
date。

Napoleon　so　well　knew　the　effect　which　his　presence　produced　that　after　a
conquest　he　loved　to　show　himself　to　the　people　whose　territories　he
added　to　the　Empire。　　Duroc；　who　always　accompanied　him　when　he　was　not
engaged　on　missions；　gave　me　a　curious　account　of　Napoleon's　journey　in
1807　to　Venice　and　the　other　Italian　provinces；　which；　conformably　with
the　treaty　of　Presburg；　were　annexed　to　the　Kingdom　of　Italy。

In　this　journey　to　the　Kingdom　of　Italy　Napoleon