‘my son,’ and he loved to converse with me, especially on the subject of the Egyptian expedition.  One day he asked me for my work on Egypt, which he said he wished to read; and as you know it is not quite orthodox, and does not perfectly agree with the creation of the world according to Genesis, I at first hesitated; but the Pope insisted, and at length I complied with his wish.  The Holy Father assured me that he had been much interested by the perusal of the book.  I made some allusion to the delicate points; upon which he said, ’No matter, no matter, my son; all that is exceedingly curious, and I must confess entirely new to me.’  I then,” continued M. Denon, “told His Holiness why I hesitated to lend him the work, which, I observed, he had excommunicated, together with its author.  ‘Excommunicated you, my son?’ resumed the Pope in a tone of affectionate concern.  ’I am very sorry for it, and assure you I was far from being aware of any such thing.’”

When M. Denon related to me this anecdote he told me how greatly he had admired the virtues and resignation of the Holy Father; but he added that it would nevertheless have been easier to make him a martyr than to induce him to yield on any point until he should be restored to the temporal sovereignty of Rome, of which he considered himself the depositary, and which he would not endure the reproach of having willingly sacrificed.  After settling the place of the Pope’s residence Napoleon set off for Dresden, accompanied by Maria Louisa, who had expressed a wish to see her father.

The Russian enterprise, the most gigantic, perhaps, that the genius of man ever conceived since the conquest of India by Alexander, now absorbed universal attention, and defied the calculations of reason.  The Manzanares was forgotten, and nothing was thought of but the Niemen, already so celebrated by the raft of Tilsit.  Thither, as towards a common centre, were moving men, horses, provisions, and baggage of every kind, from all parts of Europe.  The hopes of our generals and the fears of all prudent men were directed to Russia.  The war in Spain, which was becoming more and more unfortunate, excited but a feeble interest; and our most distinguished officers looked upon it as a disgrace to be sent to the Peninsula.  In short, it was easy to foresee that the period was not far distant when the French would be obliged to recross the Pyrenees.  Though the truth was concealed from the Emperor on many subjects, yet he was not deceived as to the situation of Spain in the spring of 1812.  In February the Duke of Ragusa had frankly informed him that the armies of Spain and Portugal could not, without considerable reinforcements of men and money, hope for any important advantages since Ciudad-Rodrigo and Badajoz had fallen into the hands of the English.