[Constant wrote this before the return, in 1840, of the ashes of Napoleon to rest on “the banks of the Seine, amid the French people whom he loved so well,” where in a massive urn of porphyry, and beneath the gilded dome of the Invalides, in the most splendid tomb of the centuries, sleeps now the soldier of Lodi, Marengo, Austerlitz, Wagram, and Waterloo.—­TRANS.]

The virtuous Maximilian was able to leave to a worthy son the scepter which he had received from him who perished an exile at St. Helena.  Prince Louis, the present King of Bavaria, and to-day perhaps the best king in Europe, was not so tall as his august father, neither was his face so handsome; and, unfortunately, he was afflicted with an extreme deafness, which made him raise his voice without knowing it, and in addition to this his utterance was impeded by a slight stammering.  This prince was grave and studious; and the Emperor recognized his merit, but did not rely upon his friendship.  This was not because he thought him wanting in loyalty, for the prince royal was above such suspicion; but the Emperor was aware that he belonged to a party which feared the subjection of Germany, and who suspected that the French, although they had so far attacked only Austria, had ideas of conquest over all the German powers.

However, what I have just stated in regard to the prince royal relates only to the years subsequent to 1806; for I am certain that at that epoch his sentiments did not differ from those of the good Maximilian, who was, as I have said, full of gratitude to the Emperor.  Prince Louis came to Paris at the beginning of this year; and I saw him many times at the court theater in the box of the prince arch-chancellor, where they both slept in company and very profoundly.  This was also such a habit with Cambaceres, that when the Emperor asked for him, and was told that monseigneur was at the theater, he replied, “Very well, very well; he is taking his siesta; let us not disturb him!”

The King of Wurtemburg was large, and so fat that it was said of him God had put him in the world to prove how far the skin of a man could be stretched.  His stomach was of such dimensions that it was found necessary to make a broad, round incision in front of his seat at the table; and yet, notwithstanding this precaution, he was obliged to hold his plate on a level with his chin to drink his soup.  He was very fond of hunting, either on horseback, or in a little Russian carriage drawn by four horses, which he often drove himself.  He was fond of horseback riding, but it was no easy task to find a mount of size and strength sufficient to carry so heavy a burden.  It was necessary that the poor animal should be progressively trained; and in order to accomplish this the king’s equerry fastened round the horse a girth loaded with pieces of lead, increasing the weight daily till it equalled that of his Majesty.  The king was despotic, hard, and even cruel, ever ready to sign the sentence