Buonaparte quitted Vienna on the 16th of October; was congratulated by the public bodies of Paris, on the 14th of November, as “the greatest of heroes, who never achieved victories but for the happiness of the world”; and soon after, by one of the most extraordinary steps of his personal history, furnished abundant explanation of the motives which had guided his diplomacy at Schoenbrunn.

CHAPTER XXVII

Napoleon divorces Josephine—­Marries the Archduchess Maria Louisa—­Deposes Louis Buonaparte—­Annexes Holland and the whole Coast of Germany to France—­Revolution in Sweden—­Bernadotte elected Crown Prince of Sweden—­Progress of the War in the Peninsula—­Battle of Busaco—­Lord Wellington retreats to the Lines of Torres Vedras.

The treacherous invasion of Spain, and the imprisonment of the Pope, were but the first of a series of grand political errors, destined to sap the foundations of this apparently irresistible power.  On his return to Paris, Napoleon proudly proclaimed to his senate, that no enemy opposed him throughout the continent of Europe—­except only a few fugitive-bands of Spanish rebels, and “the English leopard"[60] in Portugal, whom ere long he would cause to be chased into the sea.  In the meantime, the Pensinula was too insignificant an object to demand either his own presence, or much of their concern:  the general welfare of the empire called on them to fix their attention on a subject of a very different nature; namely, the situation of the imperial family.  “I and my house,” said Napoleon, “will ever be found ready to sacrifice everything, even our own dearest ties and feeling, to the welfare of the French people.”

This was the first public intimation of a measure which had for a considerable period occupied much of Napoleon’s thoughts, and which, regarded at the time (almost universally) as the very master-stroke of his policy, proved in the issue no mean element of his ruin.

Josephine had loved Napoleon, and been beloved passionately by him in his youth.  She had shared his humbler fortune; by her connections in Paris, and especially by her skilful conduct during his Egyptian expedition, and immediately afterwards, she had most materially assisted him in the attainment of the sovereign dignity:  she had subsequently adorned his court, and gratified his pride, by the elegance of her manners, and won to herself the attachment of his people, by her sincere good nature and active benevolence.  Her power over him was known to be great, and no one ever doubted but that it had uniformly been exerted on the side of mercy.  She was considered as the good angel who, more frequently and effectually than any influence besides, interfered to soothe the fierce passions and temper the violent acts of her lord.  Her devotion to him was perfect:  she partook his labours as far as he would permit her to do so, submitted to all his caprices, and, with a dark presentiment that his ambition would one day cast her aside, continued to centre the whole of her existence in the contemplation of his glory.