together; and, however disposed a certain number of prelates, particularly the Italians, might be to separate these two points of discussion, yet the influence of the Church and well-contrived intrigues gradually gave preponderance to the wishes of the Pope.  The Emperor, having discovered that a secret correspondence was carried on by several of the Bishops and Archbishops who had seats in the Council, determined to get rid of some of them, and the Bishops of Ghent, Troyes, Tournay, and Toulouse were arrested and sent to Vincennes.  They were superseded by others.  He wished to dissolve the Council, which he saw was making no advance towards the object he had in view, and, fearing that it might adopt some act at variance with his supreme wish, every member of the Council was individually required to make a declaration that the proposed changes were conformable to the laws of the Church.  It was said at the time that they were unanimous in this individual declaration, though it is certain that in the sittings of the Council opinions were divided.  I know not what His Holiness thought of these written opinions compared with the verbal opinions that had been delivered, but certain it is though still a captive at Savona, he refused to adhere to the concessions granted in the secret declarations.

The conflicts which took place in Spain during the year 1811 were unattended by any decisive results.  Some brilliant events, indeed, attested the courage of our troops and the skill of our generals.  Such were the battle of Albufera and the taking of Tarragona, while Wellington was obliged to raise the siege of Badajoz.  These advantages, which were attended only by glory, encouraged Napoleon in the hope of triumphing in the Peninsula, and enabled him to enjoy the brilliant fetes which took place at Paris in celebration of the birth of the King of Rome.

On his return from a tour in Holland at the end of October Napoleon clearly saw that a rupture with Russia was inevitable.  In vain he sent Lauriston as Ambassador to St. Petersburg to supersede Caulaincourt, who would no longer remain there:  all the diplomatic skill in the world could effect nothing with a powerful Government which had already formed its determination.  All the Cabinets in Europe were now unanimous in wishing for the overthrow of Napoleon’s power, and the people no less, ardently wished for an order of things less fatal to their trade and industry.  In the state to which Europe was reduced no one could counteract the wish of Russia and her allies to go to war with France—­Lauriston no more than Caulaincourt.

The war for which Napoleon was now obliged to prepare forced him to neglect Spain, and to leave his interests in that country in a state of real danger.  Indeed, his occupation of Spain and his well-known wish to maintain himself there were additional motives for inducing the powers of Europe to enter upon a war which would necessarily divide Napoleon’s forces.  All at once the troops which were in Italy and the north of Germany moved towards the frontiers of the Russian Empire.  From March 1811 the Emperor had all the military forces of Europe at his disposal.  It was curious to see this union of nations, distinguished by difference of manners,