memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v11-第6部分

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does　not　like　me；but　the　interests　of　his　policy　may　render　him
favourable　to　Sweden。　　Considering　the　present　greatness　and　power　of
France；　I　conceived　it　to　be　my　duty　to　make　every　personal　sacrifice。
But　I　swear　to　Heaven　that　I　will　never　commit　the　honour　of　Sweden。　　He；
however；　expressed　himself　in　the　best　possible　terms　in　speaking　of
Charles　XIII。　and　me。　　He　at　first　started　no　obstacle　to　my　acceptance
of　the　succession　to　the　throne　of　Sweden；　and　he　ordered　the　official
announcement　of　my　election　to　be　immediately　inserted　in　the　Moniteur'。
Ten　days　elapsed　without　the　Emperor's　saying　a　word　to　me　about　my
departure。　　As　I　was　anxious　to　be　off；　and　all　my　preparations　were
made；　I　determined　to　go　and　ask　him　for　the　letters　patent　to　relieve　me
from　my　oath　of　fidelity；　which　I　had　certainly　kept　faithfully　in　spite
of　all　his　ill…treatment　of　me。　　He　at　first　appeared　somewhat　surprised
at　my　request；　and；　after　a　little　hesitation；　he　said；　'There　is　a
preliminary　condition　to　be　fulfilled；　a　question　has　been　raised　by　one
of　the　members　of　the　Privy　Council。''What　condition；　Sire？''You　must
pledge　yourself　not　to　bear　arms　against　me。''Does　your　Majesty　suppose
that　I　can　bind　myself　by　such　an　engagement？　　My　election　by　the　Diet　of
Sweden；　which　has　met　with　your　Majesty's　assent；　has　made　me　a　Swedish
subject；　and　that　character　is　incompatible　with　the　pledge　proposed　by　a
member　of　the　Council。　　I　am　sure　it　could　never　have　emanated　from　your
Majesty；　and　must　proceed　from　the　Arch…Chancellor　or　the　Grand　Judge；
who　certainly　could　not　have　been　aware　of　the　height　to　which　the
proposition　would　raise　me。''What　do　you　mean？''If；　Sire；　you　prevent
me　accepting　a　crown　unless　I　pledge　myself　not　to　bear　arms　against　you；
do　you　not　really　place　me　on　a　level　with　you　as　a　General？'

〃When　I　declared　positively　that　my　election　must　make　me　consider　myself
a　Swedish　subject　he　frowned；　and　seemed　embarrassed。　　When　I　had　done
speaking　he　said；　in　a　low　and　faltering　voice；　'Well；　go。　　Our　destinies
will　soon　be　accomplished！'　　These　words　were　uttered　so　indistinctly
that　I　was　obliged　to　beg　pardon　for　not　having　heard　what。　　he　said；　and
he　repented；　'Go！　our　destinies　will　soon　be　accomplished！'　　In　the
subsequent　conversations　which　I　had　with　the　Emperor　I　tried　all
possible　means　to　remove　the　unfavourable　sentiments　he　cherished　towards
me。　　I　revived　my　recollections　of　history。　　I　spoke　to　him　of　the　great
men　who　had　excited　the　admiration　of　the　world；　of　the　difficulties　and
obstacles　which　they　had　to　surmount；　and；　above　all；　I　dwelt　upon　that
solid　glory　which　is　founded　on　the　establishment　and　maintenance　of
public　tranquillity　and　happiness。　　The　Emperor　listened　to　me
attentively；　and　frequently　concurred　in　my　opinion　as　to　the　principles
of　the　prosperity　and　stability　of　States。　　One　day　he　took　my　hand　and
pressed　it　affectionately；　as　if　to　assure　me　of　his　friendship　and
protection。　　Though　I　knew　him　to　be　an　adept　in　the　art　of
dissimulation；　yet　his　affected　kindness　appeared　so　natural　that　I
thought　all　his　unfavourable　feeling　towards　me　was　at　an　end。　　I　spoke
to　persons　by　whom　our　two　families　were　allied；　requesting　that　they
would　assure　the　Emperor　of　the　reciprocity　of　my　sentiments；　and　tell
him　that　I　was　ready　to　assist　his　great　plans　in　any　way　not　hostile　to
the　interests　of　Sweden。

〃Would　you　believe；　my　dear　friend；　that　the　persons　to　whom　I　made　these
candid　protestations　laughed　at　my　credulity？　　They　told　me　that　after
the　conversation　in　which　the　Emperor　had　so　cordially　pressed　my　hand。
I　had　scarcely　taken　leave　of　him　when　he　was　heard　to　say　that　I　had
made　a　great　display　of　my　learning　to　him；　and　that　he　had　humoured　me
like　a　child。　　He　wished　to　inspire　me　with　full　confidence　so　as　to　put
me　off　my　guard；　and　I　know　for　a　certainty　that　he　had　the　design　of
arresting　me。

〃But；〃　pursued　Bernadotte；　〃in　spite　of　the　feeling　of　animosity　which　I
know　the　Emperor　has　cherished　against　me　since　the　18th　Brumaire；　I　do
not　think；　when　once　I　shall　be　in　Sweden；　that　he　will　wish　to　have　any
differences　with　the　Swedish　Government。　　I　must　tell　you；　also　be　has
given　me　2；000；000　francs　in　exchange　for　my　principality　of　Ponte…Corvo。
Half　the　sum　has　been　already　paid；　which　will　be　very　useful　to　me　in
defraying　the　expenses　of　my　journey　and　installation。　　When　I　was　about
to　step　into　my　carriage　to　set　off；　an　individual；　whom　you　must　excuse
me　naming；　came　to　bid　me　farewell；　and　related　to　me　a　little
conversation　which　had　just　taken　place　at　the　Tuileries。　　Napoleon　said
to　the　individual　in　question；　'Well；　does　not　the　Prince　regret　leaving
France？''Certainly；　Sire。''As　to　me；　I　should　have　been　very　glad　if
he　had　not　accepted　his　election。　　But　there　is　no　help　for　it　。　　。　　。　　。
He　does　not　like　me。''Sire；　I　must　take　the　liberty　of　saying　that　your
Majesty　labours　under　a　mistake。　　I　know　the　differences　which　have
existed　between　you　and　General　Bernadotte　for　the　last　six　years。　　I
know　how　he　opposed　the　overthrow　of　the　Directory；　but　I　also　know　that
the　Prince　has　long　been　sincerely　attached　to　you。''Well；　I　dare　say
you　are　right。　　But　we　have　not　understood　each　other。　　It　is　now　too
late。　　He　has　his　interests　and　his　policy；　and　I　have　mine。'〃

〃Such；〃　added　the　Prince；　〃were　the　Emperor's　last　observations
respecting　me　two　hours　before　my　departure。　　The　individual　to　whom　I
have　just　alluded；　spoke　truly；　my　dear　Bourrienne。　　I　am　indeed　sorry　to
leave　France；　and　I　never　should　have　left　it　but　for　the　injustice　of
Bonaparte。　　If　ever　I　ascend　the　throne　of　Sweden　I　shall　owe　my　crown　to
his　ill…treatment　of　me；　for　had　he　not　persecuted　me　by　his　animosity　my
condition　would　have　sufficed　for　a　soldier　of　fortune：　but　we　must
follow　our　fate。〃

During　the　three　days　the　Prince　spent　with　me　I　had　many　other
conversations　with　him。　　He　wished　me　to　give　him　my　advice　as　to　the
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　a