On the 11th of October he arrived in Hamburg, where
he stayed only three days. He passed nearly
the whole of that time with me, and he communicated
to me many curious facts connected with the secret
history of the times, and among other things some
particulars respecting the battle of Wagram.
I was the first to mention to the new Prince Royal
of Sweden the reports of the doubtful manner in which
the troops under his command behaved. I reminded
him of Bonaparte’s dissatisfaction at these
troops; for there was no doubt of the Emperor being
the author of the complaints contained in the bulletins,
especially as he had withdrawn the troops from Bernadotte’s
command. Bernadotte assured me that Napoleon’s
censure was unjust; during the battle he had complained
of the little spirit manifested by the soldiers.
“He refused to see me,” added Bernadotte,
“and I was told, as a reason for his refusal,
that he was astonished and displeased to find that,
notwithstanding his complaints, of which I must have
heard, I had boasted of having gained the battle,
and had publicly complimented the Saxons whom I commanded.”
Bernadotte then showed me the bulletin he drew up
after the battle of Wagram. I remarked that
I had never heard of a bulletin being made by any
other than the General who was Commander-in-Chief during
a battle, and asked how the affair ended. He
then handed to me a copy of the Order of the day,
which Napoleon said he had sent only to the Marshals
commanding the different corps.
Bernadotte’s bulletin was printed along with
Bonaparte’s Order of the Day, a thing quite
unparalleled.
Though I was much interested in this account of Bonaparte’s
conduct after the battle of Wagram; yet I was more
curious to hear the particulars of Bernadotte’s
last communication with the Emperor. The Prince
informed me that on his return from Plombieres he
attended the levee, when the Emperor asked him, before
every one present, whether he had received any recent
news from Sweden.
He replied in the affirmative. “What is
it?” inquired Napoleon. “Sire, I
am informed that your Majesty’s charge d’afaires
at Stockholm opposes my election. It is also
reported to those who choose to believe it that your
Majesty gives the preference to the King of Denmark.”—“At
these words,” continued Bernadotte, “the
Emperor affected surprise, which you know he can do
very artfully. He assured me it was impossible,
and then turned the conversation to another subject.
“I know not what to think of his conduct in
this affair. I am aware he does not like me;—but
the interests of his policy may render him favourable
to Sweden. Considering the present greatness
and power of France, I conceived it to be my duty
to make every personal sacrifice. But I swear
to Heaven that I will never commit the honour of Sweden.
He, however, expressed himself in the best possible
terms in speaking of Charles XIII. and me. He
at first started no obstacle to my acceptance of the
