Memoirs of Count Miot de Melito, minister, ambassador, councillor of state and member of the Institute of France

Front matter

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Chapter I

The Author enters upon his career — The training-camp at Saint- Omer — Comte de Guibert — The effect produced upon the troops by an ill-timed attempt to introduce the Prussian system of military organisation— The camp is abruptly broken up — The changed aspect of the Court of Versailles at the close of the year 1783 — The various parties at the Court — The deputies of the Tiers Etat are ill-received— Opening of the States-General — Establishment of the National Guard — The Court forms projects hostile to the National Assembly — The banquet of the Body Guard — Intention of the Court to leave Versailles — Events of the 5th and 6ih of October — The King and the Royal Family are taken to Paris

Chapter II

The loth of August, 1792— The Author escapes a decree of accusation — M. Lacu6e provisional Chief of the War Department — Joseph Servan, Minister — The Author ceases to be Chief of Division at the Ministry, and enters the Administration of Military Affairs as Comptroller-General — Servan is succeeded in the Ministry by Pache and Hassenfratz, who disorganise its administration — Pache is dismissed, and succeeded by Beurnonville — The Author resumes his former post at the Ministry — Bouchotte succeeds Beurnonville — The Author is made Secretary-General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under Deforgues — Sketches of some of the leaders of the Terror — Fall of Deforgues, who is succeeded at the Foreign Office by a schoolmaster named Buchot — The Author, denounced as a " Moderate," is placed under a decree of accusation, together with MM. Otto, Colchen, and Reinhart — Thejf are saved by the 9th Thermidor — The Author is appointed Commissioner of Foreign Aft'airs — His communications with the Committee of Public Safety — Treaties of peace with Tuscany and Prussia 18

VI CONTENTS.

Chapter III. Page

The Author is appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to the Grand Duke of Tuscany — The I2ih Germinal — The Author embarks at Marseilles for Genoa, and proceeds from thence to Florence — Report to the Committee of Public Safety on the political state of Florence — Difficulties caused by the presence of the French Emigres at Leghorn, and by the ill-will of the Tuscan authorities towards the Republic — General Buonaparte appointed to the command of the Army of Italy — Opening of the campaign and series of victories obtained by the young General — The Governments of Italy take steps towards obtaining peace — The Author determines to proceed to Buonaparte's headquarters 35

Chapter IV

The Author's interview with General Buonaparte — Conclusion of the armistice between the General and Prince Pignatelli, Plenipotentiary at Naples — The Author returns to Florence — He goes away again to visit General Buonaparte at Bologna — His interview with him — The Author does not succeed in preventing the violation of the neutrality of Tuscany and the occupation of Leghorn by the French — In returning from Leghorn, General Buonaparte stops at Florence, visits the Grand Duke, and dines with him — A treaty being concluded between the Pope and the French Republic, the Author goes to Rome to secure the fulfilment of i>s conditions — The gloomy fanaticism reigning in Rome — Some discontented Italians having claimed the intervention of the French tor the purpose of introducing Republican Institutions in Italy, the Author, instructed by the Directory to inform them of his views, strongly opposes the project — Being superseded by Cacault in the duty of superintending the fulfilment of the terms of the armistice at Rome, the Author returns to Florence — Rumours of the reverses experienced by Buonaparte produce great excitement in Italy — The Governments no longer conceal their tendencies, and the Author sends M. Freville to Paris to point out to the Directory the necessity of excluding Austria from all influence in Italy, and of destroying the Papal Government— The Author is appointed Ambassador at Turin, but before entering upon the exercise of his functions, he has to undertake a mission to Corsica as Commissioner- Extraordinary of the Government — Sketch of the State of Tuscany, the conditions of life, and customs of the Florentines 48

Chapter V

Letter from General Buonaparte — The Author embarks at Leghorn and arrives at Bastia, where he finds Salicclti — He is instructed to adopt a system of conciliation, and to endeavour to reconcile party divisions — He publishes a proclamation accordingly — Political situation of Corsica — Some seditious risings are repressed and

CONTENTS. vii tranquillity re-established — Administration and laws organised, first in the department of Golo, and next in that of Liamone — Journey from Bastia to Ajaccio by Corte and the Col de Guizzavano, and from Ajaccio to Bonifacio by Gartena 79

Chapter VI

rhe Author leaves Corsica with Joseph Buonaparte, goes to Florence, and from thence to Milan — He visits General Buonaparte, then residing with his family at Montebello, after a brilliant campaign terminated by the treaty of Tolentino — The peace preliminaries of Leoben and the transformation of the Governments of Venice and Genoa — Lukewarm Republicanism of the General — A remarkable conversation in which Buonaparte reveals his future plans — The Author goes to Turin — Political situation of Piedmont and its Government — Embarrassment caused to the Author "by the secret agents maintained in Piedmont by the Directory with revolutionary objects — The Sardinian Government, supported by Buonaparte, displays excessive severity in putting down the partial insurrections in Piedmont — The Author goes to Milan to have an interview with Buonaparte — Situation of the different parties in the Directory and the Councils in Paris before the Coup (T Etat of the i8th Fructidor — Buonaparte decides on supporting the Revolutionary party — The Author accompanies General and Madame Buonaparte in an expedition to Lake Maggiore— He returns to Turin after having agreed with the General upon the course he is to take there — The i8th Fructidor — Its consequences as regarded the position of the Sardinian Government, which as a result of the treaty of Campo-Formio, found itself deprived of Buonaparte's support — The Directory separates the General from the Army of Italy by giving him a command in the interior — Buonaparte, in going to Rastadt, passes through Turin — His conversation with the Author — The position of the Sardinian Government becomes more and more precarious go

Chapter VII

rhe Author is recalled from the Embassy at Turin, and is succeeded by Ginguene — Joseph Buonaparte, having left Rome after the assassination of General Duphot, stays with the Author at Turin, on his way to Paris — Berthier marches on Rome, overthrows the Pope's Government and proclaims the Roman Republic — Monge and Dannou, being sent by the Directory to organise the new Republic, pass through Turin — The hostile dispositions of the Directory toward the King of Sardinia are more and more openly displayed — Ginguene, accompanied by Garat, arrives at Turin on his way to Naples as ambassador there — The Author presents his letters of recall to the King of Sardinia, and takes advantage of his leisure to make an excursion in the Alps — On returning, he leaves for Paris — Sketch of the state of Italy at the beginning of 1798, and of the events that took place after the departure of the Author 117

Vlll CONTENTS.

Chapter VIII. Pagb

The Author arrives in Paris — He finds certain changes in the manners and habits of Parisian society — He is received coldly by the Members of the Directory, and by the persons who frequent their 'sd/ons — He sees Buonaparte — The General's motives for undertaking the expedition to Egypt — Popular rising at Vienna, in consequence of which the French Legation leaves that city — The Directory, fearing that war with Austria will break out afresh, decides on sending General Buonaparte ta Rastadt — The dangers with which the Directory would be threatened by the ambitious projects of the General, cause them to rescind this decision, and Buonaparte leaves at once, to embark at Toulon — The Author is summoned to join a Council called together on account of disputes in the Department of the Interior — Failures of the Directory in the management of public affairs — Reverses of the French arms— Partial overthrow of the Directory, and Ministerial changes — The Author goes to Holland with Deforgues, who is appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to the Dutch Republic — In passing through Morforitaine he hears that Buonaparte's brothers had sent a communication to the General which may induce him to return to France— Deforgues and the Author travel by way of Lille, Bruges, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Harlem, and arrive at Alkmaer, the headquarters of Brune — Situation of military affairs in Holland — The travellers proceed to the Hague — Political state of the country— Capitulation of the Duke of York, and evacuation of the territory of the Dutch Republic by the Anglo-Russian army 131

Chapter IX

The news of the Revolution of iSth and 19th Brumaire reaches the Hague— The Author, who is summoned to Paris to fill the office of Secretary-General to the Ministry of War. leaves the Hague — The physiognomy of Paris —Narrative of the events of Brumaire — Interview of the Author with Buonaparte- Sieyes' plan for a Constitution is rejected— The Constitution of year VIII. is adopted—The Author is appointed a member of the Tribunate — The nat^ire of that Institution — A spirit of opposition within it is developed at an inopportune moment- Rapid increase of the authority and power of the First Consul, who adopts monarchical forms more and more decidedly — Rumours of conspiracies serve as a pretext for arbitrary measures— Fouch6 and Lucien Buonap.irte quarrel violently in the presence of the First Consul— The system of fusion of parties carried out with success by the First Consul i_j3

Chapter X

The peace negotiations with Austria are broken off. and a renewal of hostilities is decided upon— The First Consul endeavours to make the people believe in his attachment to the Constitution and to %

CONTENTS. IX reassure the friends of Liberty — He leaves Paris, to take command of the Army— His victories — The state of feeling in Paris after the departure of the First Consul — Rumours of changes to be made in the Constitution in favour of the power of the First Consul, and for the purpose of introducing the principle of hereditary succession-^Discussioa on me consequences of the possible death of the First Consul — The news of the victory of Marengo cuts this short, and throws Paris into transports of joy — Great position of the First Consul — His return to Paris — Negotiations for peace are opened with Austria — The dispositions of the belligerent parties — The real designs of the First Consul more and more clearly revealed — His solicitude to gain the affection of the army — Arbitrary condemnation of General Latour-Foissac — Modification of laws concerning the " emigres''' — Manifestation of the sentiments of the First Consul on religious matters— Steps are talcen to bring about an understanding with the Pope — The hereditary idea makes progress in the public mind — The palace of Saint-Cloud is placed at the disposal of the Government — Great influence of Cambaceres and Talleyrand over the First Consul — The Author is named Councillor of State 165

Chapter XI

A treaty of Peace with the United States is signed — Incident connected with the date of that Treaty — The active part taken by the First Consul in the deliberations of the Council of State — The proposed law on the formation of lists of Eligibles is abandoned — The Republican conspiracy of Ceracchi and its consequences — Reform of the laws on Emigration — Letter from Louis XVIII. to the First Consul — Arrival of Count von Cobentzel to negotiate for peace — Rudeness of the First Consul to that Minister, who leaves Paris on his way to Luneville — Dissensions between the First Consul and his brother Lucien — Violent dispute between the latter and Fouche — Lucien is removed from the Ministry of the Interior and appointed Ambassador to Madrid — The Author is selected for a second Mission to Corsica — Opinions expressed by the First Consul during the debates of the Council of State 187

CHAPTER XIL

Moreau gains a victory at Hohenlinden over the Austrians — Celebration of that victory in Paris — The Author prepares for his journey to Corsica, but his departure is deferred in consequence of the attempt of the 3d Nivose — Details of that event — Its immediate result — Wrath of the First Consul with the Terrorists — Extra-legal measures proposed against that faction, by means of unconstitutional powers conferred on the Senate — Extraordinary sitting of the Council of State— Reports by the Police — Debate, and decrees of the Consuls now converted into a Senatus-Consultum — The Police prove that the authors of the attempt of the 3d Nivose belong to the Royalist party, and arrest the real criminals

X CONTENTS.

— Successful issue of the peace negotiations at Lun6ville — The Author sets out on his journey, having received his instructions from the First Consul — Disorganised slate of the south of France — Admiral Ganteaume and his squadron — The Author leaves Toulon in the war-sloop Hirondclle and lands at Calvi 203

Chapter XIII

State of Corsica at the period of the Author's arrival — His proposed system for the administration of the country — Difficulties thrown in his way by the partisans of the Bonaparte family, and the military authorities — He dismisses General Muller, Commandant of the Division, from the island — Improvements introduced into the country — An account of the Author's excursion to Monte-Rolondo — Curious fete given in his honour at Cervione — The organic laws of the Concordat concluded with the Pope — The Life-Consulship — Little interest shown by the Corsicans in voting for it — Numerous adverse votes among the troops— Journey to Monte d'Oro — Information concerning the Bonaparte family and their \

origin — The Author is recalled, and Corsica is again placed under the rule of the Constitution — Sketch of the state of the island and the customs of the inhabitants 224

Chapter XIV

The Author returns to Paris — His reception by the First Consul — Monarchical customs and strict etiquette with which the First Consul surrounded himself — Joseph Bonaparte imparts the secret designs and great projects of the First Consul to the Author — Lord VVhitworth, the English Ambassador in Paris — General Moreau is feted at the Ministry of War — Government-mourning on the occasion of the death of General Leclerc — New coinage witK the effigy of the First Consul — Lavish endowment of the Senate — The political relations between France and England become strained — Irritation of the First Consul with the English Press — Conversation between Bonaparte and Lord Whitworth — Colonel Sebastiani's Report, published in the Moniteur — The Kinj^'s speech to Parliament is hostile to France — Effect produced by it in Paris — Progress of the crisis and of the negotiations, official and secret, prior to the definitive rupture between France and England — Simultaneous departure of Lord Whitworth from Paris and of General Andreossy from London— Appendix : Lord Whitworth's Despatch of February 21, 1803, to Lord Hawkes bury 247

Chapter XV

Commencement of hostilities — Severe treatment of the English in France — The First Consul's anger with England is shared by the great Bodies of the State — Disloyal Conduct of the English Gov-

CONTENTS. XI

PAGE ernment towards France — rFrench troops enter the Kingdom of Naples and occupy Hanover — A strict etiquette is established by the Fiist Consul — A theatrical representation at the Palace of Saint-Cloud is followed by the delivery of an Ode composed by M de Fontanes — Adoption of the first chapters of the Civil Code — Remarkable shcire taken by the First Consul in the debates on this work — His journey to Belgium — Servility shown towards him by the authorities, Civil, Military, and Clerical — Disgust felt by the Parisians at such excessive flattery — The First Consul's onward progress towards supreme power — He causes propositions to be made to Louis XVHI., who declines his offers — Dissensions between Napoleon and his brothers — Disagreement between France and Russia — First preparations for an invasion of England — M. de Fontanes, President of the Legislative Body — Re imposition of taxes on food, under the name of droits-7'eunis 279

CHAPTER XVL

Reconciliation between Napoleon and Joseph Bonaparte — ^Real, Councillor of State, is entrusted with the Superintendence of Police — Establishment of General Commissioners of Police in the principal towns of France — Debate on this subject in the Council of State — Plot against the First Consul's life by Georges Cadoudal and Pichegru — Complicity of Moreau — Details of the examination of the accused — The Chief Judge's report on the facts of the case is communicated to the Chief Bodies of the State — Their replies — Examination of Moreau's papers by Regnault de Saint Jean-d'Angely and the Author — State of the contributions levied by Moreau in Germany — Plan and intentions of the principal conspirators — Royalist character of the plot — Pichegru and Cadoudal are arrested— The discoveries made by the Police respecting this conspiracy compromise indirectly a great number of persons — Cares and troubles of the First Consul — The Due d'Enghein is seized at the Chateau d'Ettenheim in Baden by a detachment of French troops — The Prince is brought before a military commission at Vincennes, is condemned to death, and shot — Consternation in Paris — Bonaparte's speech to the Council of State concerning this event — Ball given by Talleyrand three days after the death of the Due d'Enghein 297

CHAPTER XVn.

The First Consul is obliged to accept the principle of heredity in the succession to the supreme magistracy — Address from the Senate, asking for that guarantee of stability — Public opinion is in favour of Heredity — Preliminary debate on the date of the adoption of that principle, and on the title to be assumed by the Chief of the State — Bonaparte makes it a point that hereditary power should be offered to him by the Revolutionary Party — Restrictions placed by him on the hereditary system — The question is discussed by the Council of State — The First Consul reverts to the idea of adopting the son of Louis Bonaparte as his successor — He makes an overture to Louis with that view — Indignation of the latter and xii CONTENTS.

of Joseph Bonaparte— The First Consul is reconciled with his brothers, ami resolves to include ihein in the succession - Louis is appointed Gcnt-ral of Division, and Joseph accepts command of a regiment of the line -^A Privy Council summoned at St. Cloud adopts heredity, and decrees that lionaparte shall assume the title of Emperor, and shall be consecrated and crowned as such- The First Consul sends a message to the Senate to elicit a clearer statement on the new institutions that are to be established — The Senate appoints a Committee for that purpose — At the Tribunate, a motion, offering the Crown to Bonaparte, is made by Curee, and seconded by Simeon — The Senatus-Consultum adopting the proposition of the Tribunate is submitted to the Council of State, and is definitively adopted by that body — The Senate conveys to the First Consul at St. Cloud the law proclaiming Napoleon Bonaparte Emperor of the French 316

CHAPTER XVIII.

Ct'eation of the great Dignitaries of the Empire — The denomination of Ciiizc-n is abolished and the title of JAj/zj-Z^ ;/r restored — Failure of a tragedy by Carrion-Nisas at the Theatre Fran9ais — New oath taken by members of the great authorities of the State— New seal of State— Trial of Georges Cadoudal, Pichegru, and their accomplices—Suicide of Pichegru— Verdict — Moreau is condemned to two years' imprisonment —Clemency of the Emperor — Eagerness of the numerous place-hunters and seekers after favour at the Imperial Court -Negotiations in Rome to induce the Pope to come to Paris and consecr.ite the Emperor— Dissensions in the Council of State respecting the date and ceremonies of the coronation- Debate on the framing of the Criminal Code — Attempt of the Government to abolish trial by jury— The Author visits Prince Joseph at Boulogne— Simplicity of the habits of the latter ; his affected disdain of the high rank to which he is raised by the elevation of his brother Napoleon— The army at Boulogne — Preparations for the descent on England — The Author, summoned to St. Cloud, is appointed by the Emperor to undertake the High Police of the Northern Departments of France— His conversation with Napoleon on the subject of Prince Joseph 337

CHAPTER XIX.

The ceremonial of the distribution of the crosses of the Legion of Honour in Paris— The Emperor proceeds to Boulogne and performs the same ceremony at the camp — His return to Paris is followed by that of Prince Joseph — Russia and England — The Emperor's satisfaction at the prospect of a Continental war — He discloses gigantic projects to his generals in order to stimulate their ambition — He detaches himself from the Republican party, and inclines to the old nobility — The ambassador of Austria is furnished with new letters of credit to the Emperor of the French — The Pope consents to come to Paris for the Coronation — That solemnity is definitely fixed for the beginning of December — The formation of the Emperor's household and of those of his brotheis

CONTENTS. xiii

PAGE

— Curious omission in the wording of the National Vote on the Iniperial succession— Discussion on the ceremonial of the coronation — Violent altercation between Napoleon and Joseph — An explanation takes place between the Emperor and Prince Joseph at Fontainebleau, in consequence of which the latter conforms to the views of his brother — The result of the votes of the people on the Imperial system is taken in State to the Tuileries by the Senate — Coronation and consecration of the Emperor and Empress, followed by numerous fetes — Solemn opening of the Legislative session — Addresses from the Legislative Body and the Tribunate —An incident relating to the terms used in those addresses 352

CHAPTER XX.

The Emperor again offers the crown of Lombardy to Prince Joseph, who refuses it — He wishes to bestow it on the son of Prince Louis, but the latter also declines Napoleon's proposal — In consequence of this refusal, the Emperor destines Eugene Beauharnais to the throne of Italy, and raises him, as well as General Murat. to princely rank — Hostile attitude of the Northern Powers — The Emperor explains at the Council of State the real object of ihe preparations for a descent on England — He addresses a letter on behalf of peace to the King of England, but without effect — Napoleon contrives that a deputation from the Italian Republic, converted into a Monarchy, shall offer him the crown of Italy, which he accepts — The Pope leaves Paris to return to Rome — The Emperor, after a reconciliation with his brother Joseph, proceeds to Milan, to be crowned King of Italy, and appoints Prince Eugene his viceroy — Joseph returns to the Boulogne camp — The Author proceeds to Belgium on a special mission from the Government — Prosperity and good dispositions of the inhabitants — Public works for the establishment of a military port at Antwerp — Annexation of the Ligurian Republic to France — Return of the Emperor from Milan — The continuance of peace on the Continent becomes more and more doubtful — The combined squadrons of France and Spain are obliged, after a disastrous engagement, to take refuge at Corunna — The Emperor hastens the preparations for the embarkation of the troops at Boulogne — The Viennese Cabinet despatches its armies to Bavaria, and sends an ultimatum to Paris— War is decided on, and the troops assembled at Boulogne are ordered to the Rhine — Restoration of the Greek Calendar — The Emperor's allocution at the State Council — Provisions for regulating the powers of the Government during the Emperor's absence — After having presided at a State Sitting of the Senate, Napoleon sets out to join the army 369

CHAPTER XXI.

Unpopularity of the war with the inhabitants of Paris — Embarrassment of the Bank of France and of the Public Exchequer— Declaration of War by Austria and Russia — The impression produced in France — -Marvellous successes of the French Army — Defeat of the combined fleets of France and Spain at Trafalgar — Battle of Ausxiv CONTENTS.

terlitz — Mopes of peace entertained by the Parisians in consequence of the arrival of Austrian Plenipotentiaries at Napoleon's headquarters- Displeasure of the Emperor— The Presburg Treaty of Peace — The Emperor commands Prince Joseph to place himself at the head of a French army, and drive the King of Naples from his States, as he had broken his neutrality in the recent war —The Emperor, on his way back from Vienna, stays at Munich to arrange a marriage between Prince Eugene and Princess Augusta of Bavaria— The author receives commands to join Prince Joseph at Naples — He has an audience to. take leave of the Emperor — He receives instructions from M. de Talleyrand — He leaves Paris — He sees Lucien Bonaparte at Rome and arrives at Naples a week later than Prince Joseph— Situation of affairs — Formation of a Ministry — Two letters from the Emperor — Gigantic projects — Hard work of the Government at Naples — Silent opposition of Prince Joseph to the Emperor's views — General Rcgnier occupies Calabria — Prince Joseph resolves on visiting that province 3S7

CHAPTER XXn

Prince Joseph's journey in the Calabrias — On April 3d, in Provinces, the travellers are met by a courier bringing tidings of the Emperor's decree calling Prince Joseph to the throne of Naples, and creating Prince Murat Grand Duke of Berg, and Marshal Berthier Prince of Neuchatel — The new King's State entry into Naples — The English seize on the island of Capri — Trial and execution of the Marquis of Rodio — A Council of State is instituted — The Neapolitan and French parties in the administration — The eruption of Mount Vesuvius— The English land in the Gulf of Saint Euphemia, defeat General Regnier, and force the French to evacuate the Calabrias, which rise in insurrection — The surrender of Gaeta— Massena marches against the Calabrias, puts down the insurrection, and drives out the English — Administrative measures of the Government — Excursions made by the Author in the neighbourhood of Naples — Embarrassment caused to the Government, by the imminent danger of war in the north— The French victories remove this danger, and the Administration is in consequence carried on with greater regularity — Financial difficulties — The^convents of St. Benedict and St. Bernard are suppressed, but the mendicant orders are maintained — The King and the Author disagree on this subject — A change in the ministry — The auspicious influence of the peace of Tilsit upon the Neapolitan Government — Encouragment of Arts and Sciences— Public works and improvement in the capital 405

CHAPTER XXHI.

The solemnity of the miracle of St. Januarius — King Joseph being summoned to an interview with Napoleon at Venice proceeds thither and learns that the Emperor intends him for the throne of Spain — Joseph agrees to his brother's project -Attempted assassination of Salicetti, the Minister of Police — The islaml of Corfu %

CONTENTS. XV is revictualled by a squadron under Admiral Ganteaume — Sensation produced at Naples by the display of a French Naval force — Arrival of Queen Julia — The King sets out to join the Emperor at Bayonne — Before relinquishing the throne of Naples, he institutes a new order of Knighthood, instead of that of St. Januarius, founds a Royal Society of Science and Literature, and gives a Constitutional Statute to the Kingdom — Joseph abdicates the throne of Naples, to which the Grand Duke of Berg is raised by the Emperor, under the name of Joachim Napoleon — The Author leaves Naples to follow King Joseph to Spain — He stays in Rome, where the rupture between Napoleon and the Pope is the cause of hostile measures — ^^At Lyons he meets King Murat on his way to take possession of the throne of Naples — Melancholy account given by that prince of the state of affairs in Spain — He at last joins King Joseph at Miranda de Ebro — Appendix : Letter from Rome on the rupture between the Pope and the Emperor — Secret instructions given by the Holy See , 422

CHAPTER XXIV.

Alleged secret Articles of the Treaty of Tilsit — King Joseph leaves Bayonne for Spain on July 8, 1808 — Marshal Bessieres' victory near Medina de Rio-Seco throws open the road to Madrid — Having entered the capital on July 20, he withdraws from it on the 29th of same month, in consequence of the catastrophe at Baylen, which also causes the French troops to fall back on the Ebro — The King takes up his residence at Miranda de Ebro, where the Author joins him on September 10— Appendix : Details of the capitulation of General Dupont at Baylen 438

CHAPTER XXV.

Capitulation of General Junot in Portugal — The French army leaves the line of the Ebro and falls back on Vittoria — The Emperor arrives at that city on the 7th of November — He deeply offends Spanish pride by the insulting violence of his language — He orders his numerous troops to advance, and follows them on the loth of November — Marshal Souk's victory over the army of Estremadura opens the gates of Burgos to the French, and the Emperor removes his headquarters thither on the nth — Frightful ravages committed by the French army on its march — King Joseph's indignation and grief affect his health — The good understanding between the brothers is again impaired, Napoleon looking upon Spain as his own conquest, and allowing no authority there except his own — The Author advises Joseph to relinquish the crown of Spain, but is not listened to — Marshal Lannes having beaten the troops of Castafios, near Tudela, the Emperor removes his headquarters to Aranda de Duero — Engagement at Somo-Sierra — The King, who constantly follows the Imperial Headquarters, at last joins Napoleon at Chamartin, near Madrid, the inhabitants of which place seem resolved on its defence — Retiro is attacked and taken — Madrid capitulates and the French xvi CONTENTS.