第 18 节
作者:开了      更新:2021-04-30 17:21      字数:9322
  letter; a confidential agent; to observe the Baltic: though we were only
  64 leagues from Stralsund the most uncertain and contradictory accounts
  came to hand。  It was; however; certain that a landing of the Russians
  was expected at Stralsund; or at Travemtinde; the port of Lubeck; at the
  mouth of the little river Trave。  I was positively informed that Russia
  had freighted a considerable number of vessels for those ports。
  The hatred of the French continued to increase in the north of Europe。
  About the end of September there appeared at Kiel; in Denmark; a
  libellous pamphlet; which was bought and read with inconceivable avidity。
  This pamphlet; which was very ably written; was the production of some
  fanatic who openly preached a crusade against France。  The author
  regarded the blood of millions of men as a trifling sacrifice for the
  great object of humiliating France and bringing her back to the limits of
  the old monarchy。  This pamphlet was circulated extensively in the German
  departments united to France; in Holland; and in Switzerland。  The number
  of incendiary publications which everywhere abounded indicated but too
  plainly that if the nations of the north should be driven back towards
  the Arctic regions they would in their turn repulse their conquerors
  towards the south; and no man of common sense could doubt that if the
  French eagles were planted in foreign capitals; foreign standards would
  one day wave over Paris。
  On the 30th of September 1805 I received; by an 'estafette'; intelligence
  of the landing at Stralsund of 6000 Swedes; who had arrived from
  Stockholm in two ships of war。
  About the end of September the Hamburg exchange on Paris fell alarmingly。
  The loss was twenty per cent。  The fall stopped at seventeen below par。
  The speculation for this fall of the exchange had been made with equal
  imprudence and animosity by the house of Osy and Company
  The head of that house; a Dutch emigrant; who had been settled at Hamburg
  about six years; seized every opportunity of manifesting his hatred of
  France。  An agent of that rich house at Rotterdam was also very hostile
  to us; a circumstance which shows that if many persons sacrifice their
  political opinions to their interests there are others who endanger their
  interests for the triumph of their opinions。
  On the 23d of October 1805 I received official intelligence of the total
  destruction of the first Austrian army: General Barbou; who was in
  Hanover; also informed me of that event in the following terms: 〃 The
  first Austrian army has ceased to exist。〃  He alluded to the brilliant
  affair of Ulm。  I immediately despatched twelve estafettes to different
  parts; among other places to Stralsund and Husum。  I thought that these
  prodigies; which must have been almost incredible to those who were
  unacquainted with Napoleon's military genius; might arrest the progress
  of the Russian troops; and produces some change in the movements of the
  enemy's forces。  A second edition of the 'Correspondent' was published
  with this intelligence; and 6000 copies were sold at four times the usual
  price。
  I need not detain the reader with the details of the capitulation of Ulm;
  which have already been published; but I may relate the following
  anecdote; which is not generally known。  A French general passing before
  the ranks of his men said to them; 〃Well; comrades; we have prisoners
  enough here。〃〃yes indeed;〃 replied one of the soldiers; 〃we never saw
  so many 。  。  。 collected together before。〃  It was stated at the time;
  and I believe it; that the Emperor was much displeased when he heard of
  this; and remarked that it was 〃atrocious to insult brave men to whom the
  fate of arms had proved unfavourable。〃
  In reading the history of this period we find that in whatever place
  Napoleon happened to be; there was the central point of action。  The
  affairs of Europe were arranged at his headquarters in the same manner as
  if he had been in Paris。  Everything depended on his good or bad fortune。
  Espionage; seduction; false promises; exactions;all were put in force
  to promote the success of his projects; but his despotism; which excited
  dissatisfaction in France; and his continual aggressions; which
  threatened the independence of foreign States; rendered him more and more
  unpopular everywhere。
  The battle of Trafalgar took place while Napoleon was marching on Vienna;
  and on the day after the capitulation of Ulm。  The southern coast of
  Spain then witnessed an engagement between thirty…one French and about an
  equal number of English ships; and in spite of this equality of force the
  French fleet was destroyed。'The actual forces present were 27 English
  ships of the line and 38 Franco…Spanish ships of the line; see James'
  Naval History; vol。 iii。 p。 459。'
  This great battle afforded another proof of our naval inferiority。
  Admires Calder first gave us the lesson which Nelson completed; but which
  cost the latter his life。  According to the reports which Duroc
  transmitted to me; courage gave momentary hope to the French; but they
  were at length forced to yield to the superior naval tactics of the
  enemy。  The battle of Trafalgar paralysed our naval force; and banished
  all hope of any attempt against England。
  The favour which the King; of Prussia had shown to Duroc was withdrawn
  when his Majesty received intelligence of the march of Bernadotte's
  troops through the Margravate of Anspach。  All accounts concurred
  respecting the just umbrage which that violation of territory occasioned
  to the King of Prussia。  The agents whom I had in that quarter
  overwhelmed me with reports of the excesses committed by the French in
  passing through the Margravate。  A letter I received from Duroc contains
  the following remarks on this subject:
  The corps of Marshal Bernadotte has passed through Anapach and by
  some misunderstanding this has been regarded at Berlin as an insult
  to the King; a violence committed upon his neutrality。  How can it
  be supposed; especially under present circumstances; that the
  Emperor could have any intention of insulting or committing violence
  upon his friend?  Besides; the reports have been exaggerated; and
  have been made by persons who wish to favour our enemies rather than
  us。  However; I am perfectly aware that Marshal Bernadotte's 70;000
  men are not 70;000 virgins。  Be this as it may; the business might
  have been fatal; and will; at all events; be very injurious to us。
  Laforeat and I are treated very harshly; though we do not deserve
  it。  All the idle stories that have been got up here must have
  reached you。  Probably Prussia will not forget that France was; and
  still may be; the only power interested in her glory and
  aggrandisement。
  At the end of October the King of Prussia; far from thinking of war; but
  in case of its occurrence wishing to check its disasters as far as
  possible; proposed to establish a line of neutrality。  This was the first
  idea of the Confederation of the North。  Duroc; fearing lest the Russians
  should enter Hamburg; advised me; as a friend; to adopt precautions。  But
  I was on the spot; I knew all the movement the little detached corps; and
  I was under no apprehension。
  The editor of the Hamburg 'Correspondent' sent me every evening a proof
  of the number which was to appear next day;a favour which was granted
  only to the French Minister。  On the 20th of November I received the
  proof as usual; and saw nothing objectionable in it。  How great;
  therefore; was my astonishment when next morning I read in the same
  journal an article personally insulting to the Emperor; and in which the
  legitimate sovereigns of Europe were called upon to undertake a crusade
  against the usurper etc。  I immediately sent for M。 Doormann; first
  Syndic of the Senate of Hamburg。  When he appeared his mortified look
  sufficiently informed me that he knew what I had to say to him。  I
  reproached him sharply; and asked him how; after all I had told him of
  the Emperor's susceptibility; he could permit the insertion of such an
  article。  I observed to him that this indecorous diatribe had no official
  character; since it had no signature; and that; therefore; he had acted
  in direct opposition to a decree of the Senate; which prohibited the
  insertion in the journals of any articles which were not signed。  I told
  him plainly that his imprudence might be attended with serious
  consequences。  M。 Doormann did not attempt to justify himaelt but merely
  explained to me how the thing had happened。
  On the 20th of November; in the evening; M。 Forshmann; the Russian charge
  d'affaires who had in the course of the day arrived from the Russian
  headquarters presented to the editor of the Correspondent the article in
  question。  The editor; after reading the article; which he thought
  exceedingly indecorous; observed to M。 Forshmann that his paper was
  already made up; which was the fact; for I had seen a proof。
  M。 Forshmann; however; insisted on the insertion of the article。  The
  editor then told him that he could not admit it without the approbation
  of the Syndic Censor。  M。 Forshmann immediately waited upon M。 Doormann;
  and when the la