15. The Russian army was far from being equally well situated, and the resources at its disposal were by no means commensurate to those which were in possession of the French Emperor.

The bulk of the allied army

was cantoned between the Sense and the Alle, around Heilsberg, where a formidable intrenched camp had been constructed. The only contest of any moment which took place while the army occupied this position, was in the beginning of March at Guttstadt, which was attacked and carried by Marshal Ney, with the magazines which it contained; but the French troops having imprudently advanced

while the inexhaustible agricultural | pared the warfare in which he had riches of Old Prussia kept even the been engaged during the last winter, enormous multitude, which was con- to that waged by the legions with the centrated within a space of twenty barbarians who overthrew the Roman leagues, amply supplied with provi- empire.* sions. Immense convoys constantly defiling on all the roads from the Rhine, Silesia, and the Elbe, provided all that was necessary for warlike operations; while the numerous conscripts, both from France and the allied states, and the great numbers of wounded and sick who on the return of spring were discharged from the hospitals, both swelled the ranks and reassured the minds of the soldiers. The magnitude of the requisitions by which these ample supplies were obtained, and the inflexible severity with which they were levied from the conquered states, were indeed spreading the seeds of inextinguishable animosity in his rear. But the effects of that feeling were re-into the plain beyond that town, sevemote and contingent, the present benefits certain and immediate; and the Russians had too much reason to feel their importance in the numbers and incomparable discipline of the troops by whom they were assailed upon the opening of the campaign. The marauders, still above fifty thousand in number, whom the excessive severity of the preceding campaign had caused to leave their colours, in an especial manner fixed the attention of the Emperor, the more especially as they lived at free quarters on the inhabitants, and caused unbounded exasperation, by the magnitude and rapacity of their exactions. To repress this enormous evil, he employed at first the whole Polish gendarmerie, and ultimately that of the Imperial Guard, as the only one whose uniform commanded general respect. By their exertions the number of these stragglers was greatly diminished; but the evil could never be entirely eradicated while the war lasted, and was at length suppressed only during the tranquillity which followed the peace of Tilsit. The comforts of the common soldiers were tolerably provided for by the incessant efforts of the Emperor, but the labours of the officers were overwhelming; and Napoleon with reason com

ral regiments were surrounded by the Cossacks, pierced through, and broken; so that both parties were glad to resume their quarters without boasting of any considerable advantage. Headquarters were at Bartenstein, and the advanced posts approached to those of Marshal Ney, on the right bank of the Passarge. Their cantonments, with the great commercial city of Königsberg in their rear, were very comfortable, and the army was daily receiving important accessions of strength from the sick and wounded who were leav

"The officers of the staff have not had their clothes off for two, some even for four months; I myself have not had my boots off for fifteen days. We are in the midst of snow and mud, without wine, brandy, or bread, eating potatoes and flesh, making long marches and counter-marches without the slightest repose, and usually fighting at the point of the bayonet under a storm of grape-shot, while the wounded are necessarily carried to the rear, a distance of fifty leagues, on uncovered trucks. After we are fighting against the remains of its having overturned the Prussian monarchy, forces, against the Russians, the Cossacks, the Calmucks, and those hordes of the North who of old overwhelmed the Roman empire. horror. In the midst of these terrible faWe are engaged in war in all its might and tigues every one has been more or less invalided: as for myself, I never felt stronger, and have even got fatter."-Napoleon to King Joseph Osterode, 1st March 1807. Consulat et l'Empire, vii. 417.

THIERS,

ing the hospitals. Thirty thousand | hands of the enemy, the supplies by fresh troops also, including the Grand- which alone they could be expected to duke Constantine, with the remainder maintain the contest.* of the Guard, and several batteries of light artillery, joined the army while they lay in their winter quarters; and in the end of March the Emperor Alexander left St Petersburg and arrived at Bartenstein, where the King of Prussia had already taken up his headquarters, and where the imperial and royal courts were established. But although the Russian and Prussian governments both made the utmost efforts to recruit their forces and bring up supplies from their rear, yet the succour which they were enabled to draw from their exhausted provinces was very different from what Napoleon extracted from the opulent German states which he held in subjection; and the additions to the respective forces which the cessation of hostilities secured, were in consequence widely different. Now was seen how immense was the advantage which the French Emperor had gained by having overrun and turned to his own account the richest part of Europe; as well as the magnitude of the error which the British government had committed, in refusing to the northern powers, now reduced to their own resources, and with nine-tenths of Prussia in the

*While occupying these cantonments, a truce in hostilities, as usual in such cases, took place between the advanced posts of the two armies, and this led to an incident equally characteristic of the gallantry and honourable feelings of both. The Russian and French outposts being stationed on the opposite banks of a river, some firing, contrary to the usual custom, took place, and a French officer advancing, reproached the Russians with the discharge, and a Russian officer approaching him, requested him to stop the firing of his people, in order that, if necessary, they might determine by single combat who was most courageous. The officer assented, and was in the act of commanding his men to cease firing, when a ball pierced him to the heart. The Russian officer instantly rushed forward, and cried out to the French soldiers-"My life shall make reparation for this accident-let three marksmen fire at me as I stand here;" and turning to his own soldiers, ordered them "to cease firing upon the enemy, whatever might be his fate, unless they attempted to cross the river." Already a Frenchman had levelled his piece, when the subaltern next

16. During the pause in military operations which took place for the three succeeding months, the active mind of Napoleon resumed the projects which he had formed for the internal amelioration of his immense empire. Early in March he wrote to the minister of the interior as to the expedience of granting a loan, without interest, to the mercantile classes who were labouring under distress, on the footing of advancing one-half of the value of the goods they could give security over; and he announced his design of establishing a great bank in connection with the state for the purpose of lending sums to manufacturers or merchants in difficulties, on the security of their unsold property. The utmost pains were at the same time taken to neutralise the effect of the gloomy reports sent to Paris from the army as to the losses and disasters of the campaign; and Napoleon wrote to the minister of police that they were all exaggerations or falsehoods, and that the position of France was never more prosperous. But although he made these representations to his ministers, Napoleon was not the less aware himself of the imminence of the danger.

in command struck it down with his sword, and, running to the Russian, took him by the hand, declaring that no man worthy of the name of Frenchman would be the executioner of so brave a man. His soldiers felt the justice of the sentiment, and confirmed the feeling by a general acclamation.-WILSON, 120. With truth did Montesquieu say, that honour was, under a monarchical government, the prevailing feeling of mankind.

"My officers," said he, "know as much of what passes in my army, as the idlers in the Tuileries gardens of the deliberations of the cabinet. Besides, exaggeration is ever agreeable to the human mind. The glaring pictures which have been drawn to you of our position have for their authors the gossips of Paris. The position of France never was greater or more imposing. As to Eylau, I have stated again and again that the bulletin exaggerated the loss; and what are two or three thousand men killed in a great battle? When I bring back my army to France and to the Rhine, it will be seen how few are deficient on the muster roll."-Napoleon to Fouché: 13th April 1807. THIERS' Consulat et l'Empire, vii. 420.

it; the important and difficult subject of the liberty of the press occupied his serious thoughts, and engrossed much of his correspondence with the minister of the interior.*

Orders were given to put all the fortresses on the Rhine in a posture of defence, and "train battalions," as he called them—that is, battalions of waggoners-were organised in Paris, and forwarded to the army, which it was calculated they would reach in two months. Nor were diplomatic efforts overlooked. Orders were sent to the French ambassadors at the courts of Madrid and Constantinople to use their endeavours to obtain the removal of certain restrictions which existed on French manufactures, and which, in the mortal commercial struggle between France and England, it might be of importance to have recalled. The bridge recently built in front of the Champ-de-Mars received the name of Jena-an appellation destined to bring that beautiful structure to the verge of destruction in future times; a statue was ordered to be erected to d'Alem-late the activity of the functionaries bert, in the hall of the Institute; the prize formerly promised to the ablest treatise on galvanism was directed to be paid to the author who had deserved

17. His projects, for political improvements were still more important. The project for establishing a university for literary and political information was discussed; † a prize of twelve thousand francs (£480) was announced for the best treatise on the means of curing the croup, which at that period was committing very serious ravages on the infants of France, and of which the child of the Queen of Holland had recently died; a daily correspondence was carried on with the minister of finance, and long calculations, often erroneous, but always intended to support an ingenious opinion, were transmitted to test the accuracy and stimu

in that important department. In that department the great improvement of keeping accounts by double entry was adopted from the example

* "An effective mode of encouraging literature, understanding by that word, not rature," said Napoleon, "would be to estab- merely the belles-lettres, but history and lish a journal, of which the criticism is en- geography. It should consist of at least lightened, actuated by good intentions, and thirty chairs so linked together as to exfree of that coarse brutality which charac-hibit a living picture of instruction and directerises the existing newspapers, and is so tion, where every one who wishes to study contrary to the true interests of the nation. particular age should know at once whom Journals now never criticise with the inten- to consult, what books, monuments or chrotion of repressing mediocrity, guiding inex-nicles to examine; where every one who perience, or encouraging rising merit; all wishes to travel should know where to retheir endeavour is to wither, to destroy. I ceive positive instructions, both as to the am not insensible to the danger, that in government, literature, and physical producavoiding one rock you may strike upon tions of the country which he is about to another. It may doubtless happen, that if visit. It is a lamentable truth, that in this they dare not criticise, they may fall into great country a young man who wishes to the still greater abuse of indiscriminate study, or is desirous of signalising himself panegyric; and that the authors of those in any department, is obliged for long to books with which the world is inundated, grope in the dark, and literally lose years seeing themselves praised in journals which in fruitless researches before he discovers the all are obliged to read, should believe them- true repositories of the information for which selves heaven-born geniuses, and, by the he seeks. It is a lamentable fact, that in this facility of their triumphs, encourage still great country we have no depot for the premore despicable imitation. Articles should servation of knowledge, on the situation, be selected for the journals where reasoning government, and present state of different is mingled with eloquence; where praise for portions of the globe; but the student must deserved merit is tempered with censure for have recourse either to the office of foreign faults. Merit, however inconsiderable, should affairs, where the collections are far from be sought for and rewarded. A young man complete, or to the office of the minister of who has written an ode worthy of praise, and marine, where he will with difficulty find any which has attracted the notice of the minis- one who knows anything of what is asked. ter, has already emerged from obscurity; the I desire such institutions; they have long public is fixed; it is his part to do the rest."-formed the subject of my meditation, beNapoleon to the Minister of the Interior: 19th cause in the course of my various labours April 1807. BIGNON, vi. 262, 264. I have repeatedly experienced their want. "You should occupy yourself with the-Napoleon to the Minister of the Interior : 19th project of establishing a university for lite- April 1807. BIGNON, vi. 267, 269.

of commerce, first by the recommendation of the Emperor,* and, after its advantages had been fully demonstrated by experience, formally enforced by a decree of the government. Nor, amidst weightier cares, were the fine arts neglected. The designs for the Temple of Glory ordered by the decree of 9th November from Posen, were submitted to the Emperor's consideration, and that one selected which has since been realised in the beautiful peristyle of the Madeleine; while all the departments of France were ordered to be searched for quarries of granite and marble capable of furnishing materials of durability and elegance for its interior decorations, worthy of a monument designed for immortal duration.†

18. The official exposition of the finances of France during this year exhibited the most flattering prospect in the accounts published; but the picture was entirely fallacious, so far as the total expenditure was concerned,

"The good order which you have established in the affairs of the treasury, and the emancipation which you have effected of its operations from the control of bankers, is an advantage of the most important kind, which will eminently redound to the benefit of our commerce and manufactures."-Napoleon to the Minister of Finance: Osterode, 24th March 1807. In truth, however, what the Emperor here called the emancipation of the treasury from the bankers, arose not so much from the regulations of the minister of that department, as from the extraneous sources from whence the chief supplies for the army were now derived, and which rendered the anticipation of revenue by discounting longdated treasury bills at the bank of France unnecessary. He admitted this himself in the same letter-"I am now discharging the arrears of the army from the beginning of October 1806, to the end of February 1807; we shall see hereafter how this will be arranged with the treasury: in the mean time, the payment comes from Prussia, and that will put us greatly at ease." The pay thus extracted from the conquered states amounted to the enormous sum of 3,300,000 francs, or £132,000 a-month, supposing 150,000 men only so maintained, which for these five months alone was no less than 16,500,000 fr., or £660,000 sterling.-BIGNON, iv. 274, 276.

"After having attentively considered," said Napoleon, "the different plans submitted to my examination, I have not felt the smallest doubt on that which I should adopt. That of M. Vignon alone fulfils my wishes. It is a temple which I desire, and not a church. What could you erect as a church which could keep its ground against the Pan

because a large portion of the supplies were drawn by war contributions from foreign states, and more than half the army was quartered for all its expenses on the vanquished territories. The revenue of the empire, as presented in the budget, amounted to 683,057,933 francs, or £27,318,000, and its expenditure to 777,850,000 francs, or £31,106,000. But the Emperor did not reveal to the public what was nevertheless true, that the contributions levied on the countries lying between the Rhine and the Vistula, between the 14th October 1806, when the war commenced, and the 14th June 1807, when it terminated, amounted to the enormous, and, if not proved by authentic documents, incredible sum of 604,227,922 francs, or £24,220,000; that above a million annually was extracted from the kingdom of Italy; that the arrears paid up by Austria for the great war contribution of 1805 were double that sum; that the war theon, Notre-Dame, or, above all, St Peter's at Rome? Everything in the temple should be in a chaste, severe, and durable style; it should be fitted for solemnities at all times, at all hours; the imperial throne should be a curule chair of marble, seats of marble for the persons invited, an amphitheatre of marble for the performers. No furniture should be admitted but cushions for the seats; all should be of granite, of marble, and of iron. With this view, searches should be made in all the provinces for quarries of marble and granite. They will be useful, not merely for this monument, but for others, which I have it in view to construct at future times, and which by their nature will require thirty, forty, or fifty years for their construction." Not more than 3,000,000 of francs (£120,000) should be required, the temples of Athens having not cost much more than the half of that sum; fifteen millions have been absorbed, I know not how, in the Pantheon, but I should not object to an expenditure of five or six millions for the construction of a temple worthy of the first city of the world."-Napoleon to the Minister of the Interior: Finkenstein, 18th April 1807. NON, vi. 270, 272. It was from this determination of the Emperor that the present exquisite structure of the Madeleine took its rise; but his real design in the formation, on so durable and gigantic a scale, of this noble monument, was, as already mentioned, still more extensive than the honour of the Grand Army; and he in secret intended it as an expiatory monument to Louis XVI., Marie Antoinette, and the other victims of the Revolution.-Ante, Chap. XLIV. § 17, note; and LAS CASES, i. 370, 371.

BIG