I never let slip an opportunity of mitigating the rigour of Fouche’s orders, which, indeed, were sometimes so absurd that I did not attempt to execute them.  Of this an instance occurs to my recollection.  A printer at Hamburg had been arrested on the charge of having printed a libel in the German language.  The man was detained in prison because, very much to his honour, he would not disclose the name of the writer of the pamphlet.  I sent for him and questioned him.  He told me, with every appearance of sincerity, that he had never but once seen the man who had brought him the manuscript.  I was convinced of the truth of what he said, and I gave an order for his liberation.  To avoid irritating the susceptibility of the Minister of Police I wrote to him the following few lines:—­“The libel is the most miserable rhapsody imaginable.  The author, probably with the view of selling his pamphlet in Holstein, predicts that Denmark will conquer every other nation and become the greatest kingdom in the world.  This alone will suffice to prove to you how little clanger there is in rubbish written in the style of the Apocalypse.”

After the battle of Eylau I received a despatch from M. de Talleyrand, to which was added an account in French of that memorable battle, which was more fatal to the conqueror than to the other party,—­I cannot say the conquered in speaking of the Russians, the more especially when I recollect the precautions which were then taken throughout Germany to make known the French before the Russian version.  The Emperor was exceedingly anxious that every one should view that event as he himself viewed it.  Other accounts than his might have produced an unfavourable impression in the north.  I therefore had orders to publish that account.  I caused 2000 copies of it to be issued, which were more than sufficient for circulation in the Hanse Towns and their territories.

The reader will perhaps complain that I have been almost silent with respect to the grand manoeuvres of the French army from the battle of Eylau to that of Friedland, where, at all events, our success was indisputable.  There was no necessity for printing favourable versions of that event, and, besides, its immense results were soon felt throughout Europe.  The interview at Tilsit is one of the culminating points of modern history, and the waters of the Niemen reflected the image of Napoleon at the height of his glory.  The interview between the two Emperors at Tilsit, and the melancholy situation of the King of Prussia, are generally known.  I was made acquainted with but few secret details relative to those events, for Rapp had gone to Dantzic, and it was he who most readily communicated to me all that the Emperor said and did, and all that was passing around him.—­

   —­[Savory gives the following account of the interview between
   Napoleon and Alexander at Tilsit.