Before taking complete possession of Rome, and making it the second city of the Empire, the vaunted moderation of Bonaparte was confined to dismembering from it the legations of Ancona, Urbino, Macerata, and Camerino, which were divided into three departments; and added to the Kingdom of Italy.  The patience of the Holy See could no longer hold out against this act of violence, and Cardinal Caprara, who had remained in Paris since the coronation, at last left that capital.  Shortly afterwards the Grand Duchies of Parma and Piacenza were united to the French Empire, and annexed to the government of the departments beyond the Alps.  These transactions were coincident with the events in Spain and Bayonne before mentioned.

After the snare laid at Bayonne the Emperor entered Paris on the 14th of August, the eve of his birthday.  Scarcely had he arrived in the capital when he experienced fresh anxiety in consequence of the conduct of Russia, which, as I have stated, had declared open war with Sweden, and did not conceal the intention of seizing Finland.  But Bonaparte, desirous of actively carrying on the war in Spain, felt the necessity of removing his troops from Prussia to the Pyrenees.  He then hastened the interview at Erfurt, where the two Emperors of France and Russia had agreed to meet.  He hoped that this interview would insure the tranquillity of the Continent, while he should complete the subjection of Spain to the sceptre of Joseph.  That Prince had been proclaimed on the 8th of June; and on the 21st of the same month he made his entry into Madrid, but having received, ten days after, information of the disaster at Baylen, he was obliged to leave the Spanish capital.

   —­[The important battle of Daylen, where the French, under General
   Dupont, were beaten by the Spaniards, was fought on the 19th of July
   1808.]—­

Bonaparte’s wishes must at this time have been limited to the tranquillity of the Continent, for the struggle between him and England was more desperate than ever.  England had just sent troops to Portugal under the command of Sir Arthur Wellesley.  There was no longer any hope of a reconciliation with Great Britain:  The interview at Erfurt having been determined on, the Emperor, who had returned from Bayonne to Paris, again left the capital about the end of September, and arrived at Metz without stopping, except for the purpose of reviewing the regiments which were echeloned on his route, and which were on their march from the Grand Army to Spain.

I had heard some time previously of the interview which was about to take place, and which was so memorable in the life of Napoleon.  It excited so much interest in Germany that the roads were covered with the equipages of the Princes who were going to Erfurt to witness the meeting.  The French Emperor arrived there before Alexander, and went forward three leagues to meet him.  Napoleon was on horseback, Alexander in a carriage.  They embraced, it is said, in a manner expressive of the most cordial friendship.  This interview was witnessed by most of the sovereign Princes of Germany.  However, neither the King of Prussia nor the Emperor of Austria was present.  The latter sovereign sent a letter to Napoleon, of which I obtained a copy.  It was as follows: