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M。 Bignon to write to me； and to assure me again that he will be
delighted to become acquainted with me at the waters of Nemidorff；
where he intends to spend some time。 But on this subject I shall
not alter the determination I have already mentioned to you。
Yours； etc。；
（Signed） BERNADOTTE。
STADE； 10th Thermidor （29th July； 1805）。
CHAPTER XXXIII。
1805。
Treaty of alliance between England and RussiaCertainty of an
approaching warM。 Forshmann； the Russian MinisterDuroc's mission
to BerlinNew project of the King of SwedenSecret mission to the
BalticAnimosity against FranceFall of the exchange between
Hamburg and ParisDestruction of the first Austrian armyTaking of
UlmThe Emperor's displeasure at the remark of a soldierBattle of
TrafalgarDuroc's position at the Court of PrussiaArmaments in
RussiaLibel upon Napoleon in the Hamburg 'Corespondent'
Embarrassment of the Syndic and Burgomaster of HamburgThe conduct
of the Russian Minister censured by the Swedish and English
Ministers。
At the beginning of August 1805 a treaty of alliance between Russia and
England was spoken of。 Some persons of consequence； who had the means of
knowing all that was going on in the political world； had read this
treaty； the principal points of which were communicated to me。
Article 1st stated that the object of the alliance was to restore the
balance of Europe。 By art。 2d the Emperor of Russia was to place 36；000
men at the disposal of England。 Art。 3d stipulated that neither of the
two powers would consent to treat with France； nor to lay down arms until
the King of Sardinia should either be restored to his dominions or
receive an equivalent indemnity in the northeast of Italy。 By art。 4th
Malta was to be evacuated by the English； and occupied by the Russians。
By art。 5th the two powers were to guarantee the independence of the
Republic of the Ionian Isles； and England was to pledge herself to assist
Russia in her war against Persia。 If this plan of a treaty； of the
existence of which I was informed on unquestionable authority； had been
brought to any result it is impossible to calculate what might have been
its consequences。
At that time an immediate Continental war was confidently expected by
every person in the north of Europe； and it is very certain that； had not
Napoleon taken the hint in time and renounced his absurd schemes at
Boulogne； France would have stood in a dangerous situation。
M。 Forshmann； the Russian charge d'affaires； was intriguing to excite the
north of Europe against France。 He repeatedly received orders to obtain
the insertion of irritating articles in the 'Correspondent'。 He was an
active； intriguing； and spiteful little man； and a declared enemy of
France； but fortunately his stupidity and vanity rendered him less
dangerous than he wished to be。 He was universally detested； and he
would have lost all credit but that the extensive trade carried on
between Russia and Hamburg forced the inhabitants and magistrates of that
city to bear with a man who might have done them； individually；
considerable injury。
The recollection of Duroc's successful mission to Berlin during the
Consulate induced Napoleon to believe that that general might appease the
King of Prussia； who complained seriously of the violation of the
territory of Anspach； which Bernadotte； in consequence of the orders he
received； had not been able to respect。 Duroc remained about six weeks
in Berlin。
The following letter from Duroc will show that the facility of passing
through Hesse seemed to excuse the second violation of the Prussian
territory； but there was a great difference between a petty Prince of
Hesse and the King of Prussia。
I send you； my dear Bourrienne； two despatches； which I have
received for you。 M。 de Talleyrand； who sends them； desires me to
request that you will transmit General Victor's by a sure
conveyance。
I do not yet know whether I shall stay long in Berlin。 By the last
accounts I received the Emperor is still in Paris； and numerous
forces are assembling on the Rhine。 The hopes of peace are
vanishing every day； and Austria does everything to promote war。
I have received accounts from Marshal Bernadotte。 He has effected
his passage through Hesse。 Marshal Bernadotte was much pleased with
the courtesy he experienced from the Elector。
The junction of the corps commanded by Bernadotte with the army of the
Emperor was very important； and Napoleon therefore directed the Marshal
to come up with him as speedily as possible； and by the shortest road。
It was necessary he should arrive in time for the battle of Austerlitz。
Gustavus； King of Sweden； who was always engaged in some enterprise；
wished to raise an army composed of Swedes； Prussians； and English； and
certainly a vigorous attack in the north would have prevented Bernadotte
from quitting the banks of the Elbe and the Weser； and reinforcing the
Grand Army which was marching on Vienna。 But the King of Sweden's
coalition produced no other result than the siege of the little fortress
of Hameln。
Prussia would not come to a rupture with France； the King of Sweden was
abandoned； and Bonaparte's resentment against him increased。 This
abortive project of Gustavus contributed not a little to alienate the
affections of his subjects； who feared that they might be the victims of
the revenge excited by the extravagant plans of their King； and the
insults he had heaped upon Napoleon； particularly since the death of the
Due d'Enghien。
On the 13th of September 1805 I received a letter from the Minister of
Police soliciting information about Swedish Pomerania。
Astonished at not obtaining from the commercial Consuls at Lubeck and
Stettin any accounts of the movements of the Russians； I had sent to
those ports； four days before the receipt of the Police Minister's
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
p