I had scarcely entered upon the exercise of my functions as Postmaster-General when, on the morning of the 2d of April, I was surprised to see a Prussian general officer enter my cabinet.  I immediately recognised him as General Blucher.  He had commanded the Prussian army in the battle which took place at the gates of Paris.  “Sir,” said he, “I consider it one of my first duties on entering Paris to thank you for the attention I received from you in Hamburg.  I am sorry that I was not sooner aware of your being in Pains.  I assure you that had I been sooner informed of this circumstance the capitulation should have been made without a blow being struck.  How much blood might then have been spared!”—­“General,” said I, “on what do you ground this assurance?”—­“If I had known that you were in Paris I would have given you a letter to the King of Prussia.  That monarch, who knows the resources and intentions of the Allies, would, I am sure, have authorised you to decide a suspension of arms before the neighbourhood of Paris became the theatre of the war.”—­“But,” resumed I, “in spite of the good intentions of the Allies, it would have been very difficult to prevent resistance.  French pride, irritated as it was by reverses, would have opposed insurmountable obstacles to such a measure.”—­“But, good heavens! you would have seen that resistance could be of no avail against such immense masses.”—­“You are right, General; but French honour would have been defended to the last.”—­“I am fully aware of that; but surely you have earned glory enough!”—­“Yet our French susceptibility would have made us look upon that glory as tarnished if Paris had been occupied without defence ...  But under present circumstances I am well pleased that you were satisfied with my conduct in Hamburg, for it induces me to hope that you will observe the same moderation in Paris that I exercised there.  The days are past when it could be said, Woe to the conquered.”—­“You are right; yet,” added he, smiling, “you know we are called the northern barbarians.”—­“Then, General,” returned I, “you have a fair opportunity of showing that that designation is a libel.”

Some days after Blucher’s visit I had the honour of being admitted to a private audience of the King of Prussia.  Clarke and Berthier were also received in this audience, which took place at the hotel of Prince Eugene, where the King of Prussia resided in Paris.  We waited for some minutes in the salon, and when Frederick William entered from his cabinet I remarked on his countenance an air of embarrassment and austerity which convinced me that he had been studying his part, as great personages are in the habit of doing on similar occasions.  The King on entering the salon first noticed Berthier, whom he addressed with much kindness, bestowing praises on the French troops, and complimenting the Marshal on his conduct during the war in Germany.  Berthier returned thanks for these well-merited praises, for though he was not remarkable for strength of understanding or energy of mind, yet he was not a bad man, and I have known many proofs of his good conduct in conquered countries.