CHAPTER XII.

1807.

Effect produced at Altona by the Treaty of Tilsit—­The Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin’s departure from Hamburg—­English squadron in the Sound—­Bombardment of Copenhagen—­Perfidy of England—­Remark of Bonaparte to M. Lemercier—­Prussia erased from the map—­Napoleon’s return to Paris—­Suppression of the Tribunate—­Confiscation of English merchandise—­Nine millions gained to France—­M.  Caulaincourt Ambassador to Russia—­Repugnance of England to the intervention of Russia—­Affairs of Portugal—­Junot appointed to command the army—­ The Prince Regent’s departure for the Brazils—­The Code Napoleon—­ Introduction of the French laws into Germany—­Leniency of Hamburg Juries—­The stolen cloak and the Syndic Doormann.

The Treaty of Tilsit, as soon as it was known at Altona, spread consternation amongst the emigrants.  As to the German Princes, who were awaiting the issue of events either at Altolna or Hamburg, when they learned that a definitive treaty of peace had been signed between France and Russia, and that two days after the Treaty of Tilsit the Prussian monarchy was placed at the mercy of Napoleon, every courier that arrived threw them into indescribable agitation.  It depended on the Emperor’s will whether they were to be or not to be.  The Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin had not succeeded in getting himself re-established in his states, by an exceptional decision, like the Duke of Weimar; but at length he obtained the restitution of his territory at the request of the Emperor Alexander, and on the 28th of July he quitted Hamburg to return to his Duchy.

The Danish charge d’affaires communicated to me about the same time an official report from his Government.  This report announced that on Monday, the 3d of August, a squadron consisting of twelve ships of the line and twelve frigates, commanded by Admiral Gambier, had passed the Sound.  The rest of the squadron was seen in the Categat.  At the same time the English troops which were in the island of Rugen had reembarked.  We could not then conceive what enterprise this considerable force had been sent upon.  But our uncertainty was soon at an end.  M. Didelot, the French Ambassador at Copenhagen, arrived at Hamburg, at nine o’clock in the evening of the 12th of August.  He had been fortunate enough to pass through the Great Belt, though in sight of the English, without being stopped.  I forwarded his report to Paris by an extraordinary courier.

The English had sent 20,000 men and twenty-seven vessels into the Baltic; Lord Cathcart commanded the troops.  The coast of Zealand was blockaded by ninety vessels.  Mr. Jackson, who had been sent by England to negotiate with Denmark, which she feared would be invaded by the French troops, supported the propositions he was charged to offer to Denmark by a reference to this powerful British force.  Mr. Jackson’s proposals had for their object nothing less than to induce the