To keep up the appearance of wishing to conclude peace as soon as reasonable propositions should be made to him, Napoleon sent for his Minister for foreign Affairs, who speedily arrived at Vienna, and General Savary was sent on a mission to the Emperor Alexander.  The details of this mission I have learned only from the account of it given by the Duc de Rovigo in his apologetic Memoirs.  In spite of the Duke’s eagerness to induce a belief in Napoleon’s pacific disposition, the very facts on which he supports his argument lead to the contrary conclusion.  Napoleon wished to dictate his conditions before the issue of a battle the success of which might appear doubtful to the young Emperor of Russia, and these conditions were such as he might impose when victory should be declared in favour of our eagles.  It must be clear to every reflecting person that by always proposing what he knew could not be honourably acceded to, he kept up the appearance of being a pacificator, while at the same time he ensured to himself the pleasure of carrying on the war.

CHAPTER III.

1805.

My functions at Hamburg—­The King of Sweden at Stralsund—­ My bulletin describing the situation of the Russian armies—­Duroc’s recall from Berlin—­General Dumouriez—­Recruiting of the English in Hanover—­The daughter of M. de Marbeof and Napoleon—­Treachery of the King of Naples—­The Sun of Austerlitz—­Prince Dolgiorouki Rapp’s account of the battle of Austerlitz—­Gerard’s picture—­ Eugene’s marriage.

I must now relate how, in conformity with my instructions, I was employed in Hamburg in aiding the success of the French army.  I had sent an agent to observe the Russian troops, which were advancing by forced marches to the banks of the Elbe.  This agent transmitted to me from Gadbusch an account of the routes taken by the different columns.  It was then supposed that they would march upon Holland by the way of Bremen and Oldenburg.  On the receipt of thus intelligence the Electorate of Hanover was evacuated by the French, and General Barbou, who had commanded there concentrated his forces in Hamelin.

On the 2d of November 1805 the King of Sweden arrived at Stralsund.  I immediately intimated to our Government that this circumstance would probably give a new turn to the operations of the combined army, for hitherto the uncertainty of its movements and the successive counter-orders afforded no possibility of ascertaining any determined plan.  The intention seemed to be, that all the Swedo-Russian troops should cross the Elbe at the same point; viz., Lauenburg, six miles from Hamburg.

There was not on the 5th of November a single Russian on the southern bank of the Elbe.

The first column of the grand Russian army passed through Warsaw on the 1st of November, and on the 2d the Grand-Duke Constantine was expected with the Guards.  This column, which amounted to 6000 men, was the first that passed through Prussian Poland.