The Republic of Batavia—­The crown of Holland offered to Louis—­ Offer and refusal of the crown of Spain—­Napoleon’s attempt to get possession of Brabant—­Napoleon before and after Erfart—­ A remarkable letter to Louis—­Louis summoned to Paris—­His honesty and courage—­His bold language—­Louis’ return to Holland, and his letter to Napoleon—­Harsh letter from Napoleon to Louis—­Affray at Amsterdam—­Napoleon’s displeasure and last letter to his brother—­ Louis’ abdication in favour of his son—­Union of Holland to the French Empire—­Protest of Louis against that measure—­Letter from M. Otto to Louis.

When Bonaparte was the chief of the French Republic he had no objection to the existence of a Batavian Republic in the north of France, and he equally tolerated the Cisalpine Republic in the south.  But after the coronation all the Republics, which were grouped like satellites round the grand Republic, were converted into kingdoms subject to the Empire, if not avowedly, at least in fact.  In this respect there was no difference between the Batavian and Cisalpine Republics.  The latter having been metamorphosed into the Kingdom of Italy, it was necessary to find some pretext for transforming the former into the Kingdom of Holland.  The government of the Republic of Batavia had been for some time past merely the shadow of a government, but still it preserved, even in its submission to France, those internal forms of freedom which console a nation for the loss of independence.  The Emperor kept up such an extensive agency in Holland that he easily got up a deputation soliciting him to choose a king for the Batavian Republic.  This submissive deputation came to Paris in 1806 to solicit the Emperor, as a favour, to place Prince Louis on the throne of Holland.  The address of the deputation, the answer of Napoleon, and the speech of Louis on being raised to the sovereign dignity, have all been published.

Louis became King of Holland much against his inclination, for he opposed the proposition as much as he dared, alleging as an objection the state of his health, to which certainly the climate of Holland was not favourable; but Bonaparte sternly replied to his remonstrance, “It is better to die a king than live a prince.”  He was then obliged to accept the crown.  He went to Holland accompanied by Hortense, who, however, did mot stay long there.  The new King wanted to make himself beloved by his subjects, and as they were an entirely commercial people the best way to win their affections was not to adopt Napoleon’s rigid laws against commercial intercourse with England.  Hence the first coolness between the two brothers, which ended in the abdication of Louis.

I know not whether Napoleon recollected the motive assigned by Louis for at first refusing the crown of Holland, namely, the climate of the country, or whether he calculated upon greater submission in another of his brothers; but this is certain, that Joseph was not called from the throne of Naples to the throne of Spain until after the refusal of Louis.  I have in my possession a copy of a letter written to him by Napoleon on the subject.  It is without date of time or place, but its contents prove it to have been written in March or April 1808.  It is as follows:—­