Whilst Duroc was on his mission to the King of Prussia I was myself negotiating at Hamburg.  Bonaparte was very anxious to detach Sweden from the coalition, and to terminate the war with her by a separate treaty.  Sweden, indeed, was likely to be very useful to him if Prussia, Russia, and England should collect a considerable mass of troops in the north.  Denmark was already with us, and by gaining over Sweden also the union of those two powers might create a diversion, and give serious alarm to the coalition, which would be obliged to concentrate its principal force to oppose the attack of the grand army in Poland.  The opinions of M. Peyron, the Swedish Minister at Hamburg, were decidedly opposed to the war in which his sovereign was engaged with France.  I was sorry that this gentleman left Hamburg upon leave of absence for a year just at the moment I received my instructions from the Emperor upon this subject.  M. Peyron was succeeded by M. Netzel, and I soon had the pleasure of perceiving that his opinions corresponded in every respect with those of his predecessor.

As soon as he arrived M. Netzel sought an interview to speak to me on the subject of the Swedes, who had been taken prisoners on the Drave.  He entreated me to allow the officers to return to Sweden on their parole.  I was anxious to get Netzel’s demand acceded to, and availed myself of that opportunity to lead him gradually to the subject of my instructions.  I had good reason to be satisfied with the manner in which he received my first overtures.  I said nothing to him of the justice of which he was not previously convinced.  I saw he understood that his sovereign would have everything to gain by a reconciliation with France, and he told me that all Sweden demanded peace.  Thus encouraged, I told him frankly that I was instructed to treat with him.  M. Netzel assured me that M. de Wetterstedt, the King of Sweden’s private secretary, with whom he was intimate, and from whom he showed me several letters, was of the same opinion on the subject as himself.  He added, that he had permission to correspond with the King, and that he would; write the same evening to his sovereign and M.. de Wetterstedt to acquaint them with our conversation.

It will be perceived, from what I have stated, that no negotiation was ever commenced under more favourable auspices; but who could foresee what turn the King of Sweden would take?  That unlucky Prince took M. Netzel’s letter in very ill part, and M. de Wetterstedt himself received peremptory orders to acquaint M. Netzel with his sovereign’s displeasure at his having presumed to visit a French Minster, and, above all, to enter into a political conversation with him, although it was nothing more than conversation.  The King did not confine himself to reproaches; M. Netzel came in great distress to inform me he had received orders to quit Hamburg immediately, without even awaiting the arrival of his successor.  He regarded his disgrace as complete.  I had the pleasure of seeing M. Netzel again in 1809 at Hamburg, where he was on a mission from King Charles XIII.