Indignant at such audacious robbery, I instantly proceeded to the spot and sent away the gendarmes, telling them it was not their duty to protect robbers, and that it was my business to listen to any just claims which might be advanced.  Under Clarke’s government at Berlin the inhabitants were subjected to all kinds of oppression and exaction.  Amidst these exactions and infamous proceedings, which are not the indispensable consequences of war, the Dutch generals distinguished themselves by a degree of rapacity which brought to mind the period of the French Republican peculations in Italy.  It certainly was not their new King who set the example of this conduct.  His moderation was well known, and it was as much the result of his disposition as of his honest principles.  Louis Bonaparte, who was a King in spite of himself, afforded an example of all that a good man could suffer upon a usurped throne.

When the King of Prussia found himself defeated at every point he bitterly repented having undertaken a war which had delivered his States into Napoleon’s power in less time than that in which Austria had fallen the preceding year.  He wrote to the Emperor, soliciting a suspension of hostilities.  Rapp was present when Napoleon received the King of Prussia’s letter.  “It is too late,” said he; “but, no matter, I wish to stop the effusion of blood; I am ready to agree to anything which is not prejudicial to the honour or interests of the nation.”  Then calling Duroc, he gave him orders to visit the wounded, and see that they wanted for nothing.  He added, “Visit every man on my behalf; give them all the consolation of which they stand in need; afterwards find the King of Prussia, and if he offers reasonable proposals let me know them.”

Negotiations were commenced, but Napoleon’s conditions were of a nature which was considered inadmissible.  Prussia still hoped for assistance from the Russian forces.  Besides, the Emperor’s demands extended to England, who at that moment had no reason to accede to the pretensions of France.  The Emperor wished England to restore to France the colonies which she bad captured since the commencement of the war, that Russia should restore to(o) the Porte Moldavia and Wallachia, which she then occupied; in short, he acted upon the advice which some tragedy-king gives to his ambassador:  “Demand everything, that you may obtain nothing.”  The Emperor’s demands were, in fact, so extravagant that it was scarcely possible he himself could entertain the hope of their being accepted.  Negotiations, alternately resumed and abandoned, were carried on with coldness on both sides until the moment when England prevailed on Russia to join Prussia against France; they then altogether ceased:  and it was for the sake of appearing to wish for their renewal, on bases still more favourable to France, that Napoleon sent Duroc to the King of Prussia.  Duroc found the King at Osterode, on the other side of the Vistula.  The only answer he received from His Majesty was, “The time is passed;” which was very much like Napoleon’s observation; “It is too late.”