Every person of common sense must have perceived that Austria, in taking up arms, reckoned, if not on the assistance, at least on the neutrality of Russia.  Russia was then engaged with two enemies, the Swedes and the Turks, over whom she hoped to triumph.  She therefore rejoiced to see France again engage in a struggle with Austria, and there was no doubt that she would take advantage of any chances favourable to the latter power to join her in opposing the encroachments of France.  I never could conceive how, under those circumstances, Napoleon could be so blind as to expect assistance from Russia in his quarrel with Austria.  He must, indeed, have been greatly deceived as to the footing on which the two Courts stood with reference to each other—­their friendly footing and their mutual agreement to oppose the overgrowing ambition of their common enemy.

The English, who had been compelled to quit Spain, now returned there.  They landed in Portugal, which might be almost regarded as their own colony, and marched against Marshal Soult, who left Spain to meet them.  Any other man than Soult would perhaps have been embarrassed by the obstacles which he had to surmount.  A great deal has been said about his wish to make himself King of Portugal.  Bernadotte told me, when he passed through Hamburg, that the matter had been the subject of much conversation at headquarters after the battle of Wagram.  Bernadotte placed no faith in the report, and I am pretty sure that Napoleon also disbelieved it.  However, this matter is still involved in the obscurity from which it will only be drawn when some person acquainted with the intrigue shall give a full explanation of it.

Since I have, with reference to Soult, touched upon the subject of his supposed ambition, I will mention here what I know of Murat’s expectation of succeeding the Emperor.  When Romanzow returned from his useless mission of mediation to London the Emperor proceeded to Bayonne.  Bernadotte, who had an agent in Paris whom he paid highly, told me one day that he had received a despatch informing him that Murat entertained the idea of one day succeeding the Emperor.  Sycophants, expecting to derive advantage from it, encouraged Murat in this chimerical hope.  I know not whether Napoleon was acquainted with this circumstance, nor what he said of it, but Bernadotte spoke of it to me as a certain fact.  It would, however, have been very wrong to attach great importance to an expression which, perhaps, escaped Murat in a moment of ardour, for his natural temperament sometimes betrayed him into acts of imprudence, the result of which, with a man like Napoleon, was always to be dreaded.