in that character, I was not so as Minister and Consul-General at Hamburg.  My situation, which was of little consequence at the time I was appointed to it, was later on rendered exceedingly important by circumstances.  It was, in fact, a sort of watch-tower of the Government, whence all the movements of northern Germany were observed; and during my residence in the Hanse Towns I continually experienced the truth of what Bonaparte said to me at my farewell audience—­“Yours is a place independent and apart.”

It is absurd to say that the kindness I showed to M. Hue was an attempt to ingratiate myself with the Bourbons.  My attentions to him were dictated solely by humanity, unaccompanied by any afterthought.  Napoleon had given me his confidence, and by mitigating the verity of his orders I served him better than they who executed them in a way which could not fail to render the French Government odious.  If I am accused of extending every possible indulgence to the unfortunate emigrants, I plead guilty; and, far from wishing to defend myself against the charge, I consider it honourable to me.  But I defy any one of them to say that I betrayed in their favour the interests with which I was entrusted.  They who urged Bonaparte to usurp the crown of France served, though perhaps unconsciously, the cause of the Bourbons.  I, on the contrary, used all my endeavours to dissuade him from that measure, which I clearly saw must, in the end, lead to the restoration, though I do not pretend that I was sufficiently clear-sighted to guess that Napoleon’s fall was so near at hand.  The kindness I showed to M. Hue and his companions in misfortune was prompted by humanity, and not by mean speculation.  As well might it be said that hernadotte, who, like myself, neglected no opportunity of softening the rigour of the orders he was deputed to execute, was by this means working his way to the throne of Sweden.

Bernadotte had proceeded to Denmark to take the command of the Spanish and French troops who had been removed from the Hanse Towns to occupy that kingdom, which was then threatened by the English.  His departure was a great loss to me, for we had always agreed respecting the measures to be adopted, and I felt his absence the more sensibly when I was enabled to make a comparison between him and his successor.  It is painful to me to detail the misconduct of those who injured the French name in Germany, but in fulfilment of the task I have undertaken, I am bound to tell the truth.

In April 1808 General Dupas came to take the command of Hamburg, but only under the orders of Bernadotte, who retained the supreme command of the French troops in the Hanse Towns.  By the appointment of General Dupas the Emperor cruelly thwarted the wishes and hopes of the inhabitants of Lower Saxony.  That General said of the people of Hamburg, “As long as I see those . . . driving in their carriages I can get money from them.”  It is, however, only just to add, that his dreadful exactions were not made on his own account, but for the benefit of another man to whom he owed his all, and to whom he had in some measure devoted his existence.