按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
spoken to me of his projects respecting Alessandria； as I have already
observed； all his great measures as Emperor were merely the execution of
projects conceived at a time when his future elevation could have been
only a dream of the imagination。 He one day said to Berthier； in my
presence； during our sojurn at Milan after the battle of Marengo； 〃With
Alessandria in my possession I should always be master of Italy。 It
might be made the strongest fortress in the world； it is capable of
containing a garrison of 40；000 men； with provisions for six months。
Should insurrection take place； should Austria send a formidable force
here； the French troops might retire to Alessandria； and stand a six
months' siege。 Six months would be more than sufficient； wherever I
might be； to enable me to fall upon Italy； rout the Austrians； and
raise the siege of Alessandria！〃
As he was so near the field of Marengo the Emperor did not fail to visit
it； and to add to this solemnity he reviewed on the field all the corps
of French troops which were in Italy。 Rapp told me afterwards that the
Emperor had taken with him from Paris the dress and the hat which he wore
on the day of that memorable battle； with the intention of wearing them
on the field where it was fought。 He afterwards proceeded by the way of
Casal to Milan。
There the most brilliant reception he had yet experienced awaited him。
His sojourn at Milan was not distinguished by outward demonstrations of
enthusiasm alone。 M。 Durszzo； the last Doge of Genoa； added another gem
to the Crown of Italy by supplicating the Emperor in the name of the
Republic； of which he was the representative； to permit Genoa to exchange
her independence for the honour of becoming a department of France。 This
offer； as may be guessed； was merely a plan contrived beforehand。 It was
accepted with an air of protecting kindness； and at the same moment that
the country of Andrea Doria was effaced from the list of nations its last
Doge was included among the number of French Senators。 Genoa； which
formerly prided herself in her surname； the Superb； became the chief
station of the twenty…seventh military division。 The Emperor went to
take possession of the city in person； and slept in the Doria Palace； in
the bed where Charles V。 had lain。 He left M。 le Brun at Genoa as
Governor…General。
At Milan the Emperor occupied the Palace of Monza。 The old Iron Crown of
the Kings of Lombardy was brought from the dust in which it had been
buried； and the new Coronation took place in the cathedral at Milan； the
largest in Italy； with the exception of St。 Peter's at Rome。 Napoleon
received the crown from the hands of the Archbishop of Milan； and placed
it on his head； exclaiming； 〃Dieu me l'a donnee； gare a qui la touche。〃
This became the motto of the Order of the Iron Crown； which the Emperor
founded in commemoration of his being crowned King of Italy。
Napoleon was crowned in the month of May 1805： and here I cannot avoid
correcting some gross and inconceivable errors into which Napoleon must
have voluntarily fallen at St。 Helena。 The Memorial states 〃that the
celebrated singer Madame Grasaini attracted his attention at the time of
the Coronation。〃 Napoleon alleges that Madame Grassini on that occasion
said to him； 〃When I was in the prime of my beauty and talent all I
wished was that you would bestow a single look upon me。 That wish was
not fulfilled； and now you notice me when I am no longer worthy your
attention。〃
I confess I am at a loss to conceive what could induce Napoleon to invent
such a story。 He might have recollected his acquaintance with Madame
Grassini at Milan before the battle of Marengo。 It was in 1800； and not
in 1805； that I was first introduced to her； and I know that I several
times took tea with her and Bonaparte in the General's apartments I
remember also another circumstance； which is； that on the night when I
awoke Bonaparte to announce to him the capitulation of Genoa； Madame
Grassini also awoke。 Napoleon was charmed with Madame Grasaini's
delicious voice； and if his imperious duties had permitted it he would
have listened with ecstasy to her singing for hours together。 Whilst
Napoleon was at Milan； priding himself on his double sovereignty； some
schemes were set on foot at Vienna and St。 Petersburg which I shall
hereafter have occasion to notice。 The Emperor； indeed； gave cause for
just complaint by the fact of annexing Genoa to the Empire within four
months after his solemn declaration to the Legislative Body； in which he
pledged himself in the face of France and Europe not to seek any
aggrandisement of territory。 The pretext of a voluntary offer on the
part of Genoa was too absurd to deceive any one。 The rapid progress of
Napoleon's ambition could not escape the observation of the Cabinet of
Vienna； which began to allow increased symptoms of hostility。 The change
which was effected in the form of the Government of the Cisalpine
Republic was likewise an act calculated to excite remonstrance on the
part of all the powers who were not entirely subject to the yoke of
France。 He disguised the taking of Genoa under the name of a gift； and
the possession of Italy under the appearance of a mere change of
denomination。 Notwithstanding these flagrant outrages the exclusive
apologists of Napoleon have always asserted that he did not wish for war；
and he himself maintained that assertion at St。 Helena。 It is said that
he was always attacked； and hence a conclusion is drawn in favour of his
love of peace。 I acknowledge Bonaparte would never have fired a single
musket…shot if all the powers of Europe had submitted to be pillaged by
him one after the other without opposition。 It was in fact declaring war
against them to place them under the necessity of breaking a peace；
during the continuance of which he was augmenting his power； and
gratifying his ambition； as if in defiance of Europe。 In this way
Napoleon commenced all the wars in which he was engaged； with the
exception of that which followed the peace of Marengo； and which
terminated in Moreau's triumph at Hohenlinden。 As there was no liberty
of the press in France he found it easy to deceive the nation。 He was in
fact attacked； and thus he enjoyed the pleasure of undertaking his great
military expeditions without being responsible in the event of failure。
During the Emperor's stay in the capital of the new kingdom of Italy he
received the first intelligence of the dissatisfaction of Austria and
Russia。 That dissatisfaction was not of recent date。 When I entered on
my functions at Hamburg I learned some curious details （which I will
relate in their proper place） respecting the secret negotiations which
had been carried on for a considerable time previously to the
commencement of hostilities。 Even Prussia was no stranger to the
dissatisfaction of Austria and Russia； I do not mean the King； but the
Cabinet of Berlin； which was then under the control of Chancellor
Hardenberg； for the King of Prussia had always personally declared
himself in favour of the exact observance of treaties； even when their
conditions were not honourable。 Be that as it may； the Cabinet of
Berlin； although dissatisfied in 1806 with the rapid progress of
Napoleon's ambition； was nevertheless constrained to conceal its
discontent； owing to the presence of the French troops in Hanover。
On returning from Milan the Emperor ordered the erection； of a monument
on the Great St。 Bernard in commemoration of the victory of Marengo。
M。 Denon who accompanied Napoleon； told me that he made a use less search
to discover the body of Desaix； which Bonaparte wished to be buried
beneath the monument and that it was at length found by General Savary。
It is therefore certain that the ashes of the brave Desaix repose on the
summit of the Alps。
The Emperor arrived in Paris about the end of June and instantly set off
for the camp at Boulogne。 It was now once more believed that the project
of invading England would be accomplished。 This idea obtained the
greater credit because Bonaparte caused some experiments for embarkation
to be made； in his presence。 These experiments； however； led to no
result。 About this period a fatal event but too effectually contributed
to strengthen the opinion of the inferiority of our navy。 A French
squadron consisting of fifteen ships； fell in with the English fleet
commanded by Admiral Calder； who had only nine vessels under his command；
and in an engagement； which there was every reason to expect would
terminate in our favour； we had the misfortune to lose two ships。 The
invasion of England was as little the object of this as of the previous
journey to Boulogne； all Napoleon had in view was to stimulate the
enthusiasm of the troops； and to hold out those threats against England
when conceived necessary for diverting attention from the real motive of
his hostile preparations； which was to invade Germany and repulse the
Russian troops； who had begun their march towards Austria。 Such was the
true object of Napoleons last journey to Boulogne。
I had been some time at Hamburg when these events took place； and it