complications was added the fear； soon only too well justified； of seeing
Austria from an inoffensive and unbiased mediator become a declared
enemy。
Before going farther； I deem it best to refer again to two or three
occurrences I have inadvertently omitted which took place during our stay
at Dresden previous to what might be called the second campaign of 1813。
The first of these was the appearance at Dresden of the Duke of Otranto；
whom his Majesty had summoned。
He had been very rarely seen at the Tuileries since the Duke of Rovigo
had replaced him as minister of general police； and I noticed that his
presence at headquarters was a great surprise to every one； as he was
thought to be in complete disgrace。 Those who seek to explain the causes
of the smallest events think that his Majesty's idea was to oppose the
subtle expedients of the police under M。 Fouche to the then all…powerful
police of the Baron de Stein； the armed head of all the secret parties
which were forming in every direction； and which were regarded； not
without reason； as the rulers of popular opinion in Prussia and Germany；
and； above all； in the numerous schools； where the students were only
awaiting the moment for taking up arms。 These conjectures as to M。
Fouche's presence at Dresden were without foundation。 The Emperor in
recalling him had a real motive； which he； however； disguised under a
specious pretext。 Having been deeply impressed by the conspiracy of
Malet； his Majesty thought that it would not be prudent to leave at Paris
during his absence a person so discontented and at the same time so
influential as the Duke of Otranto； and I heard him many times express
himself on this subject in a manner which left no room for doubt。 But in
order to disguise this real motive； the Emperor appointed M。 Fouche
governor of the Illyrian provinces in place of Count Bertrand； who was
given the command of an army…corps； and was soon after appointed to
succeed the adorable General Duroc in the functions of grand marshal of
the palace。 Whatever the justice of this distrust of Fouche； it is very
certain that few persons were so well convinced of the superiority of his
talents as a police officer as his Majesty himself。 Several times when
anything extraordinary occurred at Paris； and especially when he learned
of the conspiracy of Malet； the Emperor； recalling in the evening what
had impressed him most deeply during the day； ended by saying； 〃This
would not have happened if Fouche had been minister of police！〃 Perhaps
this was undue partiality； for the Emperor assuredly never had a more
faithful and devoted servant than the Duke of Rovigo； although many jests
were made in Paris over his custom of punishing by a few hours
imprisonment。
Prince Eugene having returned to Italy at the beginning of the campaign
in order to organize a new army in that country； we did not see him at
Dresden； the King of Naples； who had arrived on the night of the 13th or
14th August presented himself there almost alone； and his contribution to
the grand army consisted of only the small number of Neapolitan troops he
had left there on his departure for Naples。
I was in the Emperor's apartment when the King of Naples entered； and saw
him for the first time。 I did not know to what cause to attribute it；
but I noticed that the Emperor did not give his brother…in…law as cordial
a welcome as in the past。 Prince Murat said that he could no longer
remain idle at Naples； knowing that the French army to which he still
belonged was in the field； and he asked only to be allowed to fight in
its ranks。 The Emperor took him with him to the parade； and gave him the
command of the Imperial Guard； and a more intrepid commander would have
been difficult to find。 Later he was given the general command of the
cavalry。
During the whole time of the armistice； spun out rather than filled with
the slow and useless conferences of the Congress of Prague； it would be
impossible to describe the various labors in which the Emperor occupied
himself from morning till evening； and often far into the night。 He
could frequently be seen bending over his maps； making； so to speak； a
rehearsal of the battles he meditated。 Nevertheless； greatly exasperated
by the slowness of the negotiations as to the issue of which he could no
longer delude himself； he ordered； shortly before the end of July； that
everything should be prepared and in readiness for a journey he intended
making as far as Mayence。 He made an appointment to meet the Empress
there； and as she was to arrive on the 25th； the Emperor consequently
arranged his departure so as to arrive only a short time after。 I recall
this journey only as a fact； since it was signalized by nothing
remarkable； except the information the Emperor received at this time of
the death of the Duke of Abrantes； who had just succumbed at Dijon to a
violent attack of his former malady。 Although the Emperor was already
aware that he was in a deplorable state of mental alienation； and must
consequently have expected this loss； he felt it none the less sensibly；
and sincerely mourned his former aide…decamp。
The Emperor remained only a few days with the Empress； whom he met again
with extreme pleasure。 But as important political considerations
recalled him； he returned to Dresden； visiting several places on his
route； and the 4th of August we returned to the capital of Saxony。
Travelers who had seen this beautiful country only in a time of peace
would have recognized it with difficulty。 Immense fortifications had
metamorphosed it into a warlike town； numerous batteries had been placed
in the suburbs overlooking the opposite bank of the Elbe。 Everything
assumed a warlike attitude； and the Emperor's time became so completely
and entirely absorbed that he remained nearly three days without leaving
his cabinet。
Nevertheless； in the midst of the preparations for war all arrangements
were made to celebrate on the 10th of August the Emperor's fete； which
had been advanced five days； because； as I have previously observed； the
armistice expired precisely on the anniversary of Saint…Napoleon； and； as
may be readily inferred from his natural passion for war； the resumption
of hostilities was not an addition to his fete which he would be likely
to disdain。
There was at Dresden； as had been customary at Paris； a special
representation at the theater on the evening before the Emperor's fete。
The actors of the French theater played two comedies on the 9th at five
o'clock in the evening； which representation was the last； as the actors
of the French Comedy received orders immediately afterwards to return to
Paris。 The next day the King of Saxony； accompanied by all the princes
of the royal family； repaired at nine o'clock in the morning to the
Marcolini palace； in order to pay his respects to the Emperor； after
which a grand morning reception was held as was the custom at the
Tuileries； and a review； at which the Emperor inspected a part of his
guard； several regiments； and the Saxon troops； who were invited to dine
by the French troops。 On that day the city of Dresden without much
exaggeration might have been compared to a great dining…hall。 In fact；
while his Majesty was dining in state at the palace of the King of
Saxony； where the whole family of this prince was assembled； the entire
diplomatic corps was seated at the table of the Duke of Bassano； Baron
Bignon； envoy from France to Warsaw； feasted all the distinguished Poles
present in Dresden； Count Darn gave a grand dinner to the French
authorities； General Friant to the French and Saxon generals； and Baron
de Serra； minister from France to Dresden； to the chiefs of the Saxon
colleges。 This day of dinings was concluded by a supper for nearly two
hundred guests； which General Henri Durosnel； Governor of Dresden； gave
that evening at the close of a magnificent ball at the residence of M。 de
Serra。
On our return from Mayence to Dresden I learned that the residence of
General Durosnel was the rendezvous of all the highest circles of
society； both Saxon and French。 During the absence of his Majesty； the
general； taking advantage of this leisure； gave numerous fetes； among
others one to the actors and actresses of French Comedy。 I recall in
this connection an amusing anecdote which was related to me at the time。
Baptiste junior； with no lack either of decorum or refinement；
contributed greatly to the amusement of the evening； being presented
under the name of my Lord Bristol； English diplomat； en route to the
Council of Prague。 His disguise was so perfect； his accent so natural；
and his phlegm so imperturbable； that many persons of the Saxon court
were completely deceived； which did not in the least astonish me； and I
thereby saw that Baptiste junior's talent for mystification had lost
nothing since the time when I had been so highly diverted at the
breakfasts of Colonel Beauharnais。 How many events had occurred since
that time。
The Emperor； seeing that nothing could longer delay the resumption of
hostilities； had consequently divided the two hundred thousand men of his
infantry into fourteen army c