—­[It will perhaps scarcely be believed that the following words were actually delivered from the pulpit:  “God in his mercy has chosen Napoleon to be his representative on earth.  The Queen of Heaven has marked, by the most magnificent of presents, the anniversary of the day which witnessed his glorious entrance into her domains.  Heavenly Virgin! as a special testimony of your love for the French, and your all-powerful influence with your son, you have connected the first of your solemnities with the birth of the great Napoleon.  Heaven ordained that the hero should spring from your sepulchre.”—­Bourrienne.]—­

Could anything be more revolting than the sycophancy of those Churchmen who declared that “God chose Napoleon for his representative upon earth, and that God created Bonaparte, and then rested; that he was more fortunate than Augustus, more virtuous than Trajan; that he deserved altars and temples to be raised to him!” etc.

Some time after the Festival of St. Napoleon the King of Westphalia made a journey through his States.  Of all Napoleon’s brothers the King of Westphalia was the one with whom I was least acquainted, and he, it is pretty well known, was the most worthless of the family.  His correspondence with me is limited to two letters, one of which he wrote while he commanded the ‘Epervier’, and another seven years after, dated 6th September 1809.  In this latter he said: 

“I shall be in Hannover on the 10th.  If you can make it convenient to come there and spend a day with me it will give me great pleasure.  I shall then be able to smooth all obstacles to the loan I wish to contract in the Hanse Town.  I flatter myself you will do all in your power to forward that object, which at the present crisis is very important to my States.  More than ample security is offered, but the money will be of no use to me if I cannot have it at least for two years.”

Jerome wanted to contract at Hamburg a loan of 3,000,000 francs.  However, the people did not seem to think like his Westphalian Majesty, that the contract presented more than ample security.  No one was found willing to draw his purse-strings, and the loan was never raised.

Though I would not, without the Emperor’s authority, exert the influence of my situation to further the success of Jerome’s negotiation, yet I did my best to assist him.  I succeeded in prevailing on the Senate to advance one loan of 100,000 francs to pay a portion of the arrears due to his troops, and a second of 200,000 francs to provide clothing for his army, etc.  This scanty supply will cease to be wondered at when it is considered to what a state of desolation the whole of Germany was reduced at the time, as much in the allied States as in those of the enemies of France.  I learnt at the time that the King of Bavaria said to an officer of the Emperor’s household in whom he had great confidence, “If this continues we shall have to give up, and put the key under the door.”  These were his very words.