ought to be in front of a jacket, how many behind, and the manner in which the skirts ought to be cut.  Not a tailor in the army knew better than King Frederick how many measures of cloth it took to make a jacket.  In fact,” continued he laughing, “I was nobody in comparison with them.  They continually tormented me about matters belonging to tailors, of which I was entirely ignorant, although, in order not to affront them, I answered just as gravely as if the fate of an army depended upon the cut of a jacket.  When I went to see the King of Prussia, instead of a library, I found that he had a large room, like an arsenal, furnished with shelves and pegs; on which were hung fifty or sixty jackets of different patterns.  Every day he changed his fashion and put on a different one.  He attached more importance to this than was necessary for the salvation of a kingdom.” (O’Meara’s Napoleon in Exile.)]—­

I, however, learned one circumstance peculiarly worthy of remark which occurred in the Emperor’s apartments at Tilsit the first time he received a visit from the King of Prussia.  That unfortunate monarch, who was accompanied by Queen Louisa, had taken refuge in a mill beyond the town.  This was his sole habitation, whilst the Emperors occupied the two portions of the town, which is divided by the Niemen.  The fact I am about to relate reached me indirectly through the medium of an offices of the Imperial Guard, who was on duty in Napoleon’s apartments and was an eye-witness of it.  When the Emperor Alexander visited Napoleon they continued for a long time in conversation on a balcony below, where as immense crowd hailed their meeting with enthusiastic shouts.  Napoleon commenced the conversation, as he did the year preceding with the Emperor of Austria, by speaking of the uncertain fate of war.  Whilst they were conversing the King of Prussia was announced.  The King’s emotion was visible, and may easily be imagined; for as hostilities were suspended, and his territory in possession of the French, his only hope was in the generosity of the conqueror.  Napoleon himself, it is said, appeared moved by his situation, and invited him, together with the Queen, to dinner.  On sitting down to table Napoleon with great gallantry told the beautiful Queen that he would restore to her Silesia, a province which she earnestly wished should be retained in the new arrangements which were necessarily about to take place.

   —­[Las Cases mentions that at the time of the treaty of Tilsit
   Napoleon wrote to the Empress Josephine as follows: 

“’The Queen of Prussia is really a charming woman.  She is fond of coquetting with me; but do not be jealous:  I am like oilcloth, along which everything of this sort elides without penetrating.  It would cost me too dear to play the gallant’

“On this subject an anecdote was related in the salon of Josephine.  It was said that the Queen of Prussia one day had a beautiful