Hostilities commenced on the 10th of October 1806 between France and Prussia, and I demanded of the Senate that a stop should be put to the Prussians recruiting.  The news of a great victory gained by the Emperor over the Prussians on the 14th of October reached Hamburg on the 19th, brought by some fugitives, who gave such exaggerated accounts of the loss of the French army that it was not until the arrival of the official despatches on the 28th of October that we knew whether to mourn or to rejoice at the victory of Jena.

The Duke of Brunswick, who was dangerously wounded at the battle of Auerstadt, arrived on the 29th of October at Altona.—­[This Prince was in the seventy-second year of his age, and extremely infirm.]—­His entrance into that city afforded a striking example of the vicissitudes of fortune.  That Prince entered Altona on a wretched litter, borne by ten men, without officers, without domestics, followed by a troop of vagabonds and children, who were drawn together by curiosity.  He was lodged in a wretched inn, and so much worn out by fatigue and the pain of his eyes that on the day after his arrival a report of his death very generally prevailed.  Doctor Unzer was immediately sent for to attend the unfortunate Duke, who, during the few days that he survived his wounds, saw no one else except his wife, who arrived on the 1st of November.  He expired on the 10th of the same month.

—­[For the mistimed but rather pathetic belief of the old dying Duke in the courtesy with which he and his States would be treated by the French, see Beugnot, tome 1. p. 80:  “I feel sure that there is a courier of the Emperor’s on the road to know how I am."]—­

At this juncture Bernadotte returned to Hamburg.  I asked him how I was to account for his conduct while he was with Davoust, who had left Nuremberg to attack the Prussian army; and whether it was true that he had refused to march with that general, and afterwards to aid him when he attacked the Prussians on the Weimar road.  “The letters I received,” observed I, “state that you took no part in the battle of Auerstadt; that I did not believe, but I suppose you saw the bulletin which I received a little after the battle, and which stated that Bonaparte said at Nuremberg, in the presence of several officers, ’Were I to bring him before a court-martial he would be shot.  I shall say nothing to him about it, but I will take care he shall know what I think of his behaviour.  He has too keen a sense of honour not to be aware that he acted disgracefully.”—­“I think him very likely,” rejoined Bernadotte, “to have made these observations.  He hates me because he knows I do not like him; but let him speak to me and he shall have his answer.  If I am a Gascon, he is a greater one.  I might have felt piqued at receiving something like orders from Davoust, but I did my duty.”