the greatest part of Europe, but your dominion does not extend to the nation which I have been called to govern; my ambition is limited to the defence of Sweden.  The effect produced upon the people by the invasion of which I complain may lead to consequences which it is impossible to foresee; and although I am not a Coriolanus, and do not command the Volsci, I have a sufficiently good opinion of the Swedes to assure you that they dare undertake anything to avenge insults which they have not provoked, and to preserve rights to which they are as much attached as to their lives.

I was in Paris when the Emperor received Bernadotte’s letter on the occupation of Swedish Pomerania.  When Bonaparte read it I was informed that he flew into a violent rage, and even exclaimed, “You shall submit to your degradation, or die sword in hand!” But his rage was impotent.  The unexpected occupation of Swedish Pomerania obliged the King of Sweden to come to a decided rupture with France, and to seek other allies, for Sweden was not strong enough in herself to maintain neutrality in the midst of the general conflagration of Europe after the disastrous campaign of Moscow.  The Prince Royal, therefore, declared to Russia and England that in consequence of the unjust invasion of Pomerania Sweden was at war with France, and he despatched Comte de Lowenhjelm, the King’s aide de camp, with a letter explanatory of his views.  Napoleon sent many notes to Stockholm, where M. Alquier, his Ambassador, according to his instructions, had maintained a haughty and even insulting tone towards Sweden.  Napoleon’s overtures, after the manifestations of his anger, and after the attempt to carry off the Prince Royal, which could be attributed only to him, were considered by the Prince Royal merely as a snare.  But in the hope of reconciling the duties he owed to both his old and his new country he addressed to the Emperor a moderate letter: 

This letter throws great light on the conduct of the Emperor with respect to Bernadotte; for Napoleon was not the man whom any one whatever would have ventured to remind of facts, the accuracy of which was in the least degree questionable.  Such then were the relations between Napoleon and the Prince Royal of Sweden.  When I shall bring to light some curious secrets, which have hitherto been veiled beneath the mysteries of the Restoration, it will be seen by what means Napoleon, before his fall, again sought to wreak his vengeance upon Bernadotte.

Oh the 4th of December I had the honour to see the Princess Royal of Sweden,—­[Madame Bernadotte, afterwards Queen of Sweden, was a Mademoiselle Clary, and younger sister to the wife of Joseph Bonaparte]—­who arrived that day at Hamburg.  She merely passed through the city on her way to Stockholm to join her husband, but she remained but a short time in Sweden,—­two months, I believe, at most, not being able to reconcile herself to the ancient Scandinavia.  As to the Prince Royal, he soon became inured to the climate, having been for many years employed in the north.