Some time after General Gardanne set out on the famous embassy to Persia; for which the way had been paved by the success of the mission of my friend, Amedee Jaubert.  This embassy was not merely one of those pompous legations such as Charlemagne, Louis xiv., and Louis XVI. received from the Empress Irene, the King of Siam, and Tippoo Saib.  It was connected with ideas which Bonaparte had conceived at the very dawn of his power.  It was, indeed, the light from the East which fast enabled him to see his greatness in perspective; and that light never ceased to fix his attention and dazzle his imagination.  I know well that Gardanne’s embassy was at first conceived on a much grander scale than that on which it was executed.  Napoleon had resolved to send to the Shah of Persia 4000 infantry, commanded by chosen and experienced officers, 10,000 muskets, and 50 pieces, of cannon; and I also know that orders were given for the execution of this design.  The avowed object of the Emperor was to enable the Shah of Persia to make an important diversion, with 80,000 men, in, the eastern provinces of Russia.  But there was likewise another, an old and constant object, which was always, uppermost in Napoleon’s mind, namely the wish to strike at England in the very heart of her Asiatic possessions.  Such was the principal motive of Gardanne’s mission, but circumstances did not permit the Emperor, to, give, it, all the importance he desired.  He contented himself with sending a few officers of engineers and artillery, to Persia, who, on their arrival, were astonished at the number of English they found there.

CHAPTER XI.

1807

Abuse of military power—­Defence of diplomatic rights—­Marshal Brune —­Army supplies—­English cloth and leather—­Arrest on a charge of libel—­Dispatch from M. Talleyrand—­A page of Napoleon’s glory—­ Interview between the two Emperors at Tilsit,—­Silesia restored to the Queen of Prussia—­Unfortunate situation in Prussia—­ Impossibility of reestablishing Poland in 1807—­Foundation of the Kingdom of Westphalia—­The Duchy of Warsaw and the King of Saxony.

Meanwhile the internal affairs of the towns over which my diplomatic jurisdiction extended soon gave me more employment than ever.  The greatest misfortune of the Empire was, perhaps, the abuse of the right arrogated by the wearers of epaulettes.  My situation gave me an opportunity of observing all the odious character of a military government.  Another in my place could not have done all that I did.  I say this confidently, for my, situation was a distinct and independent one, as Bonaparte had told me:  Being authorised to correspond directly with the Emperor; the military chiefs feared, if they did not yield to my just representations, that I would made private reports; this apprehension was wonderfully useful in enabling me to maintain the rights of the towns, which had adopted me as their first citizen.