—­[It should be remarked that Napoleon was far from being anxious for the war with Russia.  Metternich writing on 26th March 1811, says “Everything seems to indicate that the Emperor Napoleon is at present still far from desiring a war with Russia.  But it is not less true that the Emperor Alexander has given himself over, ’nolens volens’, to the war party, and that he will bring about war, because the time is approaching when he will no longer be able to resist the reaction of the party in the internal affairs of his Empire, or the temper of his army.  The contest between Count Romanzov and the party opposed to that Minister seems on the point of precipitating a war between Russia and France.”  This, from Metternich, is strong evidence.]—­

language, religion, and interests, all ready to fight for one man against a power who had done nothing to offend them.  Prussia herself, though she could not pardon the injuries he had inflicted upon her, joined his alliance, but with the intention of breaking it on the first opportunity.  When the war with Russia was first spoken of Savary and I had frequent conversations on the subject.  I communicated to him all the intelligence I received from abroad respecting that vast enterprise.  The Duc de Rovigo shared all my forebodings; and if he and those who thought like him had been listened to, the war would probably have been avoided.  Through him I learnt who were the individuals who urged the invasion.  The eager ambition with which they looked forward to Viceroyalties, Duchies, and endowments blinded them to the possibility of seeing the Cossacks in Paris.

The gigantic enterprise being determined on, vast preparations were made for carrying it into effect.  Before his departure Napoleon, who was to take with him all the disposable troops, caused a ‘Senatus-consulte’ to be issued for levying the National Guards, who were divided into three corps.  He also arranged his diplomatic affairs by concluding, in February 1812, a treaty of alliance, offensive and defensive, with Prussia, by virtue of which the two contracting powers mutually guaranteed the integrity of their own possessions, and the European possessions of the Ottoman Porte, because that power was then at war with Russia.  A similar treaty was concluded about the beginning of March with Austria, and about the end of the same month Napoleon renewed the capitulation of France and Switzerland.  At length, in the month of April, there came to light an evident proof of the success which had attended M. Czernischeff’s intrigues in Paris.  It was ascertained that a clerk in the War Office, named Michel, had communicated to him the situation of the French forces in Germany.  Michel was condemned to death, for the time was gone by when Bonaparte, confident in his genius and good fortune, could communicate his plans to the spy of General Melas.