the Elbe. Even supposing that, by an unprecedented series of victories, these dangers are averted for the moment, and the French battalions, loaded with honours, regain the Rhine, how is Poland, still torn by intestine faction, and destitute of any solid institutions, without fortresses, or the defence of mountain ranges, to withstand her formidable military neighbours? How is France, at the distance of four hundred leagues, to protect a power whose internal weakness has always been such that it has never been able to protect itself against its own provinces? If a barrier is to be erected against Russian ambition, and a state formed dependent on the French alliance for its existence, far better to look for it in Prussia, whose history exhibits as remarkable a rise as that of Poland does a decline, and the solidity of whose institutions, not less than the firmness of her national character, has been decisively exhibited in her contest with all the military forces of Europe during the Seven Years' War." 10. Pressed by so many difficulties, and struck in an especial manner by the danger of bringing the forces of Austria upon his rear, while engaged in the hardships of a winter campaign in Poland, Napoleon resolved upon a middle course.* Irrevocably fixed upon humbling Prussia to the dust, and entirely indifferent to the irritation which he might excite among its people, he resolved to rouse to the uttermost the inhabitants of Prussian Poland; but at the same time sedulously to abstain from any invitations to Galicia to revolt, and even to hold out no encour agement to the Russian provinces of "I love the Poles," said he to Rapp, after having received one of their deputations; "their ardour pleases me. I could wish to render them an independent people, but it is no easy undertaking. Too many nations are interested in their spoilsAustria, Russia, Prussia. If the match is once lighted, there is no saying where it would stop. My first duty is towards France, and it is no part of it to sacrifice its interests to Poland-that would lead us too far. We must leave its destinies in the hands of the supreme disposer of all things-to Time. It will possibly teach us hereafter what course we ought to pursue."-BOUR. vii. 250. | Lithuania to join the standard of Polish independence. Kosciusko, who, since his heroic achievements in 1794, had lived in retirement near Fontainebleau, was invited by Napoleon to join his countrymen; and a proclamation, drawn up in his name, was even published in the French papers, in which he promised speedily to put himself at their head; but the course of time soon dispelled the illusion, and it became painfully evident to the Poles that their illustrious hero, despairing of success, or having no confidence in their pretended allies, was resolved to bear the responsibility of no future insurrections under such auspices. In fact, he had been profoundly affected by the indifference manifested by all the European powers to the fate of Poland on occasion of the final partition, and thoroughly impressed with the idea that no efficacious co-operation could be expected from any of them. While, therefore, he rendered full justice to the military talents of Napoleon, he did not the less despair of seeing the deliverance of Sarmatia in good faith attempted by his despotic arms. task of rousing the Poles in the Prussian dominions was therefore committed to Dombrowski and Wybicki; the former of whom had acquired a deserved celebrity at the head of the Polish Legion in Italy, while the latter possessed such influence with his countrymen as to promise great advantage to the cause of Napoleon. The 11. At the same time, every care was taken to excite the feelings and diminish the apprehensions of the Poles of Prussia; heart-stirring proclamations in Kosciusko's name were addressed to them by the generals of their na +"Kosciusko," said this fabricated epistle, dated 1st November, "is about to place himself in the midst of you. He sees in your deliverers no ambitious conquerors; the great nation is before you; Napoleon expects you; Kosciusko calls you. I fly to your succour, never more to leave your side. Worthy of the great man whose arm is stretched forth for your deliverance, I attach myself to your cause never again to abandon it. The bright days of Poland have returned; we are under the ægis of a monarch accustomed to overcome difficulties by miracles.' -HARDENBERG, ix. 329. tion in the Italian army; but that found from misfortune. 12. Napoleon was not insensible to the important effects of this national enthusiasm, both in augmenting the resources of his own army, and intercepting those of his opponents; but at the same time he felt the necessity of not rousing all Poland in a similar manner, or incurring the immediate hostility of Austria, by threatening the tenure by which she held her Polish acquisitions. He resolved, therefore, to moderate the general fervour, and confine it to the provinces of Prussia, where it was intended to excite a conflagration; and this was done by the bulletin which appeared on the 1st December:- "The love which the Poles entertain for their country, and the sentiment of nationality, is not only preserved entire in the heart of the people, but it has become more pro Their first passion, the universal wish, is to become again a nation. The rich issue from their chateaus to demand with loud cries the re-establishment of the nation, and to offer their children, their fortune, their influence, in the cause. That spectacle is truly touching. Already they have everywhere resumed their ancient costumes, their ancient customs. Is, then, the throne of Poland about to be restored, and is the nation destined to resume its existence and independence? From the depth of the tomb is it destined to start into life? God alone, who holds in his hands the combination of great events, is the arbiter of that great political problem, but certainly never was an event more memorable or worthy of interest." Situated as Napoleon was, the reserve of this language was an act of humanity as well as justice to the unhappy race whose destiny it still held in suspense; but it contributed powerfully to allay the rising enthusiasm of the Russian and Austrian provinces of the ancient commonwealth; and the prudent, despairing of any national resurrection from such an ally, began to ask, "if the restoration of the republic of Poland could in good faith be expected from the man who had extinguished the liberty of his own country? 13. One chance, and only one, remained to Napoleon of smoothing away the difficulties which surrounded the restoration of Poland, and that consisted in the proposal, which at this time he made to Austria, to exchange its share of Poland for its old province of Silesia. During the negotiation with Prussia for a separate peace, he only held out the prospect of this exchange in a doubtful manner to the cabinet of Vienna; but no sooner had the King of Prussia refused to ratify the armistice of Charlottenburg, than General Andréossi was authorised to propose it formally to that power. Count Stadion replied, that the good faith of the Imperial government would not permit them to accept a possession whose surrender was not assented to by Prussia; and it would indeed have been an extraordinary fault in policy, peror, as it is indispensable for the seas well as breach of morality, to have curity of France and Italy. He would thus despoiled a friendly power and re-esteem the successes of the present war opened an ancient wound, at the very of little value, if they did not give him moment when a concentration of all the means of reinstating the Sublime energies was required to resist the ene- Porte in complete independence. In my who threatened to destroy all the Eu- conformity with these principles, the ropean states. In consequence of this Emperor is determined that, until the refusal, the conduct of Napoleon, in re- Sultan shall have recovered the full gard to Poland, became still more guard- and entire command both of Moldavia ed; and, although a provisional govern- and Wallachia, and is completely sement and local administration were cured in his own independence, the formed at Warsaw, yet none but na- French troops will not evacuate any tives of Prussian Poland were admitted part of the countries they have conto any share in the direction of affairs. quered, or which may hereafter fall Meanwhile the conduct of Austria was into their power." The same resoluso dubious as to inspire no small dis- tion was publicly announced in the quietude for the rear of the Grand bulletins, when intelligence of the illArmy. Already sixty thousand men judged invasion of the principalities were assembled in Bohemia; new troops arrived; and yet, within six months were daily directed towards Galicia, afterwards, though Turkey had faithand the greatest activity was displayed | fully and gallantly stood to the French in forming magazines in both these alliance under circumstances of exprovinces. When questioned concern-treme peril, Napoleon, as will shortly ing these armaments, the cabinet of Vienna returned only evasive answers, alleging the necessity of making their frontiers respected by the numerous armies by which they were surrounded. Napoleon saw well that the Austrians were dissembling, but he concealed his resentment, and merely sent General Andréossi to Vienna to keep a more vigilant eye on the warlike preparations which were going forward. 14. During his stay at Posen, the French Emperor made, on repeated occasions, the strongest professions of his resolution to support the Turks against the invasion of the Russians. To the Prussian plenipotentiaries at Charlottenburg he declared, "That the greatest of all the evils which Prussia has occasioned to France by the late war, is the shock they have given to the independence of the Ottoman Porte; as the imperious commands of the Emperor of Russia have brought back to the government of Wallachia and Moldavia the hospodars, justly banished from their administration; which, in effect, reduces their principalities to the rank of Russian provinces. But the full and complete independence of the Ottoman empire will ever be the object most at heart with the Em appear, signed a treaty at Tilsit, by which not only were Wallachia and Moldavia ceded to Russia, but provision was made for the partition of the whole Turkish dominions in Europe! 15. While this great political question was under discussion, during the fortnight that the Emperor's stay continued at Posen, the army in great force approached the Vistula; but the severity of the weather, and the incessant fatigue of the troops, in the long and dreary marches through that monotonous country at so inclement a season, produced a general feeling of despondency among the soldiers, and gave rise to a fermentation which even Napoleon deemed alarming. To the intoxication consequent on the victory of Jena had succeeded a mortal disquietude, when, immediately after such glorious successes, instead of the cantonments and repose which they expected, they found themselves dragged on in the depth of winter to begin a new campaign, amidst pathless snows and gloomy forests. Even the heroic Lannes was so impressed with these difficulties, that he wrote to Napoleon in the strongest terms, advising the cessation of hostilities, and describing able expedition! Soldiers! we shall not again lay down our arms till a general peace has secured the power of our allies, and restored to our commerce liberty and its colonies. On the Elbe and the Oder we have conquered Pondicherry, our establishments in the Eastern Seas, the Cape of Good Hope, and the Spanish colonies. Who has given the Russians right to hope that they can balance the weight of destiny? Who has authorised them to overturn such great designs? Are not they and we the soldiers of Austerlitz?" Even in the forests of Poland, and amidst ice and snow, the thoughts of Napoleon were incessantly fixed on England and the East; and it was to overthrow her power on the banks of the Ganges that a campaign was undertaken in the depth of winter on the shores of the Vistula. the anarchy and confusion which pre-imagine that they see the soldiers of vailed in Poland, from which no effi- Sobieski returning from his memor cient aid could be expected.* In order to dispel these sinister presentiments, Napoleon took advantage of the anniversary of the battle of Austerlitz to address an animating proclamation to his army. "Soldiers! this day year, at this very hour, you were on the memorable field of Austerlitz. The Russian battalions fied in terror before you, or, surrounded on all sides, laid down their arms to their conquerors. On the day following they read the words of peace, but they were deceitful. Hardly had they escaped, by the effects of a generosity perhaps blamable, from the disasters of the third coalition, than they set on foot a fourth; but the new ally on whose skilful tactics they placed all their hopes, is already destroyed. His strongholds, his capital, his magazines, two hundred and eighty standards, seven hundred fieldpieces, five first-rate fortresses, are in our power. The Oder, the Wartha, the deserts of Poland, have been alike unable to restrain your steps. Even the storms of winter have not arrested you an instant; you have braved all, surmounted all. Everything has flown at your approach. In vain have the Russians endeavoured to defend the capital of the ancient and illustrious Poland. The French eagle hovers over the Vistula: the brave and unfortunate Poles, when they behold you, * "After the success of the Prussian war, Lannes wished to halt upon the Oder, and expressed that opinion without restraint. On arriving at Bromberg after a severe march, he wrote to Buonaparte that he had traversed a sandy, barren, uninhabited country, with the exception of the climate only fit to be compared with the desert to be crossed in passing from Egypt to Syria; that the soldiers were cast down and stricken with the fever arising from the damp soil and season; that the Poles were little disposed for insurrection, and trembling under the yoke of their masters; that their disposition should not be estimated by the factitious enthusiasm of a few nobles attracted to Posen by the love of noise and novelty. That at bottom they were ever frivolous, divided, and disorganised, and that in striving to reconstitute them as a nation, the blood of France would be spent in vain in a work neither solid nor permanent."-THIERS, Consulat et l'Empire, vii. 267. 16. This proclamation, dictated by a profound knowledge of the French character, produced an extraordinary effect upon the soldiers. It was distributed with profusion over all Germany, and none but an eyewitness could credit the influence which it had in restoring the spirit of the men. The veterans in the front line forgot their fatigues and privations, and thought only of soon terminating the war by a second Austerlitz on the banks of the Vistula; those who were approaching by forced marches in the rear, redoubled their exertions to join their comrades in the more forward stations, and counted the days till they gained sight of the eagles which appeared to be advancing to immortal renown. The better to improve upon these dispositions, and at the same time establish a durable record of the glorious achievements of his troops, Napoleon, by a decree published on the same day, gave orders for the erection of a splendid edifice on the site of the convent of the Madeleine, at the end of the Boulevards Italiens at Paris, with the inscription "The Emperor Napoleon to the soldiers of the Grand Army." In the interior were to be inscribed, on tablets of marble, the names of all those who had been present in the battles of Marengo, Austerlitz, and Jena; on tablets of gold, the names of all those who had fallen in these memorable conflicts. There also were to be deposited the arms, statues, standards, colours, and monuments of every description, taken during the two campaigns by the Grand Army. Every year a great solemnity was to commemorate, on the 2d December, the glory of these memorable days; but, in the discourses or odes made on the occasion, no mention was ever to be made of the Emperor: like the statues of Brutus and Cassius at the funeral of Junia, his exploits, it was well known, would only be the more present to the mind from being withdrawn from the sight. 17. This project took a strong hold of the imagination of Napoleon : he gave immediate orders for the formation of plans for the edifice, and the purchase of all the buildings in the vicinity, in order to form a vast circular place of uniform buildings around it; and, as a previous decree had directed the construction of the Bourse or public exchange on that situation, he shortly after directed the minister of the interior to look out for another isolated situation for that structure, "worthy of the grandeur of the capi * "I will have nothing in wood. The spectators should be ranged on benches of marble forming the steps of this amphitheatre of the public.-Nothing in this temple should be movable and changeable; everything, on the contrary, should be fixed in its place. No wood must be used in the construction of such a temple.-Granite and iron are the materials for such a monument. -Granite must be found for the other monuments which I shall institute, which by their nature, may admit of thirty, forty, or fifty years for their construction. I intend to erect such a temple as might have stood at Athens, and has not hitherto existed in Paris. All the interior sculpture must be in marble, and sculpture fitted to grace the saloons and banqueting rooms of the wives of Paris bankers, must not be proposed. Mere ornament is neither simple nor noble; nothing that is not durable must be employed in this monument. I repeat that we must have no upholsterers' work, not even curtains."-NAPOLEON au Ministre de l'Interieure Finkenstein, 30th May 1807; THIERS' Consulat et l'Empire.-Napoleon was endowed with the real soul of an artist; like Michael AnVOL, VI. tal, and the greatness of the business which will one day be transacted within its walls." The Place which it fronted was to retain its title "de la Concorde," "for that it is," said Napoleon, "which renders France invincible." He was desirous that the monument should be an imitation of the Pantheon, or some other Grecian temple, and constructed entirely of the most durable and costly materials. The interior, in the form of an amphitheatre, was to be arranged with seats of solid marble; iron, bronze, and granite, intermingled with letters of gold, were alone to be employed in the inside. Among the designs presented, he at once fixed on that which has since been adopted for that exquisite structure.* Such was the origin of those beautiful edifices, the Church of the Madeleine and the Exchange at Paris; and which, carried on through other reigns, and completed under another dynasty, with that grandeur of conception and perseverance in execution by which the public edifices in Paris are distinguished, will for centuries attract the educated from all countries to Paris, as the centre of modern architectural beauty. To the world, at that time, Napoleon revealed no other design in the structure of the gelo, he would have placed another Pantheon in the air. Had fortune not made him the first general, he was qualified to have become the greatest artist of modern times another proof among the many which history affords of the truth of Johnson's observation, that "genius is nothing but strong natural parts accidentally turned in one direction.' Yet, strange mixture of the great and the little in that extraordinary mind, even when engaged with those lofty designs destined to perpetuate glorious deeds to remote ages, he could not forget the senseless jealousies of the moment. His observation as to the sculptures in the salons of the bankers' wives at Paris was a hit at Madame Recamier, the object of his extreme jealousy on account of her beauty, which almost balanced his colossal fame, and whose suite of rooms had been richly ornamented in that style, -another proof of the truth of the same great moralist's observation," that no one ever raised himself from a private station to great eminence among men, who did not unite commanding qualities to meannesses which would be inconceivable in ordinary men." U |