My return to Hamburg—­Government Committee established there—­ Anecdote of the Comte de Chaban—­Napoleon’s misunderstanding with the Pope—­Cardinal Fesch—­Convention of a Council—­Declaration required from the Bishops—­Spain in 1811—­Certainty of war with Russia—­Lauriston supersedes Caulaincourt at St. Petersburg—­The war in Spain neglected—­Troops of all nations at the disposal of Bonaparte—­Levy of the National Guard—­Treaties with Prussia and Austria—­Capitulation renewed with Switzerland—­Intrigues with Czernischeff—­Attacks of my enemies—­Memorial to the Emperor—­Ogier de la Saussaye and the mysterious box—­Removal of the Pope to Fontainebleau—­Anecdote of His Holiness and M. Denon—­Departure of Napoleon and Maria Louisa for Dresden—­Situation of affairs in Spain and Portugal—­Rapp’s account of the Emperor’s journey to Dantzic—­ Mutual wish for war on the part of Napoleon and Alexander—­Sweden and Turkey—­Napoleon’s vain attempt to detach Sweden from her alliance with Russia.

As I took the most lively interest in all that concerned the Hanse Towns, my first care on returning to Hamburg was to collect information from the most respectable sources concerning the influential members of the new Government.  Davoust was at its head.  On his arrival he had established in the Duchy of Mecklenburg, in Swedish Pomerania, and in Stralsund, the capital of that province, military posts and custom-houses, and that in a time of profound peace with those countries, and without any previous declaration.  The omnipotence of Napoleon, and the terror inspired by the name of Davoust, overcame all obstacles which might have opposed those iniquitous usurpations.  The weak were forced to yield to the strong.

At Hamburg a Government Committee was formed, consisting of the Prince of Eekmuhl as President, Comte de Chaban, Councillor of State, who superintended the departments of the Interior and Finance, and of M. Faure, Councillor of State, who was appointed to form and regulate the Courts of Law.  I had sometimes met M. de Chaban at Malmaison.  He was distantly related to Josephine, and had formerly been an officer in the French Guards.  He was compelled to emigrate, having been subjected to every species of persecution during the Revolution.

M. de Chaban was among the first of the emigrants who returned to France after the 18th Brumaire.  He was at first made Sub-Prefect of Vendome, but on the union of Tuscany with France Napoleon created him a member of the Junta appointed to regulate the affairs of Tuscany.  He next became Prefect of Coblentz and Brussels, was made a Count by Bonaparte, and was afterwards chosen a member of the Government Committee at Hamburg.  M. de Chaban was a man of upright principles, and he discharged his various functions in a way that commanded esteem and attachment.