It is difficult to conceive the great courage and presence of mind sometimes found in men so degraded as are the wretches who fill the office of spies.  I had an agent amongst the Swedo-Russians, named Chefneux, whom I had always found extremely clever and correct.  Having for a long time received no intelligence from him I became very anxious,—­an anxiety which was not without foundation.  He had, in fact, been arrested at Lauenburg, and conducted, bound, tied hand and foot, by some Cossacks to Luneburg.  There was found on him a bulletin which he was about to transmit to me, and he only escaped certain death by having in his possession a letter of recommendation from a Hamburg merchant well known to M. Alopaeus, the Russian Minister in that city.  This precaution, which I had taken before he set out, saved his life.  M. Alopaeus replied to the merchant that, in consequence of his recommendation the spy should be sent back safe and sound, but that another time neither the recommended nor the recommender should escape so easily.  Notwithstanding this, Chefneux would certainly have paid with his head for the dangerous business in which he was embarked but for the inconceivable coolness he displayed under the most trying circumstances.  Though the bulletin which was found upon him was addressed to M. Schramm, merchant, they strongly suspected that it was intended for me.  They demanded of the prisoner whether he knew me; to which he boldly replied that he had never seen me.  They endeavoured, by every possible means, to extort a confession from him, but without success.  His repeated denials, joined to the name of M. Schramm, created doubts in the minds of his interrogators; they hesitated lest they should condemn an innocent man.  They, however, resolved to make a last effort to discover the truth, and Chefneux, condemned to be shot, was conducted to the plain of Luneburg.  His eyes were bandaged, and he heard the command of preparation given to the platoon, which was to fire upon him; at that moment a man approaching him whispered in his ear, in a tone of friendship and compassion, “They are going to fire; but I am your friend; only acknowledge that you know M. de Bourrienne and you are safe.”—­“No,” replied Chefneux in a firm tone; “if I said so I should tell a falsehood.”  Immediately the bandage was removed from his eyes, and he was set at liberty.  It would be difficult to cite a more extraordinary instance of presence of mind.

Much as I execrate the system of espionage I am nevertheless compelled to admit that the Emperor was under the necessity of maintaining the most unremitting vigilance amidst the intrigues which were going forward in the neighbourhood of Hamburg, especially when the English, Swedes, and Russians were in arms, and there were the strongest grounds for suspecting the sincerity of Prussia.

On the 5th of January 1806 the King of Sweden arrived before the gates of Hamburg.  The Senate of that city, surrounded on all sides by English, Swedish, and Russian troops, determined to send a deputation to congratulate the Swedish monarch, who, however, hesitated so long about receiving this homage that fears were entertained lest his refusal should be followed by some act of aggression.  At length, however, the deputies were admitted, and they returned sufficiently well satisfied with their reception.