nothing more to do than to write at the bottom "Dispatched for execution according to the "laws of the republic, or of the empire. My in"terference was at an end, the public result ac complished, and popular opinion did justice to "the transaction. It was the most formidable and "dreadful of my tribunals. Did any question arise "abroad respecting certain grand political com"binations or some delicate points of diplomacy? "The objects were indirectly hinted at in the Mo"niteur. They instantly attracted universal atten“tion and became the topics of general investi"gation. This conduct was at once the orderly 66 66 signal for the adherents of the throne, and an appeal for all parties to public opinion. The Mo"niteur has been reproached for the acrimony and "virulence of its notes against the enemy. But "before we condemn them, we are bound to take "into consideration the benefits they may have "produced, the anxiety with which they occasion"ally perplexed the enemy, the terror with which 66 they struck a hesitating cabinet, the stimulus "which they gave to our allies, the confidence and "audacity with which they inspired our troops," &c. The conversation next turned upon the liberty of the press, and the Emperor asked our opinions. We talked for a long time very idly on the subject, and threw out a great number of commonplace ideas. Some were hostile to it. 'Nothing," 66 66 said they, "can resist the liberty of the press. It " is capable of overthrowing every government, of "agitating every society, of destroying every repu"tation." "It is only," observed others, "its pro"hibition that is dangerous. If it be restricted, it "becomes a mine that must explode, but if left to "itself it is merely an unbent bow, that can inflict no wound." Here the Emperor obscrved, that he was far from being convinced with regard to that point, but that it was no longer the question for consideration; that there were institutions at present, and the liberty of the press was among the number, on the excellence of which we were no longer called upon to decide, but solely to determine the possibility of withholding them from the overbearing influence of popular opinion. He declared, that the prohibition under a representative government was a gross anachronism, a downright absurdity. He had, therefore, on his return from the isle of Elba, abandoned the press to all its excesses, and he was well assured, that they had, in no respect, contributed to his recent downfall. When it was proposed in council, in his presence, to discuss the means of sheltering the authority of the State from its attacks, he pleasantly remarked, "Gentlemen, it is probably "yourselves you wish to protect, for, with respect "to me, I shall henceforth continue a stranger to "all such proceedings. The press has exhausted "itself upon me during my absence, and I now 66 heartily defy it to produce any thing new or pro"voking against me." The War, and Royal Family of Spain.-Ferdinand at Valencey.-Errors in the Affairs of Spain. - Historical Sketch of these events, &c.—Napoleon's admirable Letter to Murat. June 14.-The Emperor had been ill the whole of the night, and continued so during the day; he had a bath for his feet, and was not inclined to go out; he dined alone in his apartment and sent for me towards the evening. The Emperor began the conversation, of which the constant subject was the Spanish war. It has been seen in the notice, which I have already taken of it, that the Emperor took upon himself the whole blame of the measure. I wish to avoid repetitions as much as possible, and shall, therefore, allude to those topics only which appeared new to me. "The old King and Queen," said the Emperor, "at the moment of the event, were the objects "of the hatred and contempt of their subjects. "The Prince of Asturias conspired against them, "forced them to abdicate, and at once united in "his own person the love and hopes of the nation. "That nation was, however, ripe for great changes "and demanded them with energy. I enjoyed vast 66 popularity in the country, and it was in that state "of things that all these personages met at Bay See the third part. 66 66 66 66 onne; the old king calling upon me for vengeance against his son, and the young prince soliciting my protection against his father, and imploring a wife at my hands. I resolved to convert "this singular occasion to my advantage, with the "view of freeing myself from that branch of the "Bourbons, of continuing in my own dynasty the 66 66 family system of Louis XIV. and of binding Spain to the destinies of France. Ferdinand was "sent to Valencey, the old king to Marseilles, as " he wished, and my brother Joseph went to reign "at Madrid with a liberal constitution, adopted by 66 a junta of the Spanish nation, which had come "to receive it at Bayonne." 66 66 "It seems to me," continued he, "that Europe, “and even France, has never had a just idea of "Ferdinand's situation at Valencey. There is a strange misunderstanding in the world with respect to the treatment he experienced, and still "more so, with respect to his wishes and personal opinions as to that situation. The fact is, that "he was scarcely guarded at Valencey, and that "he did not wish to escape. If any plots were "contrived to favour his evasion, he was the first "to make them known. An Irishman, (Baron de 66 Colli) gained access to his person, and offered, "in the name of George the Third to carry him "off; but Ferdinand, far from embracing the offer, instantly communicated it to the proper authority. "His applications to me for a wife at my hands 66 "were incessant, "He spontaneously wrote to me "letters of congratulation upon every event that "occurred in my favour. He had addressed pro"clamations to the Spaniards, recommending their "submission; he had recognised Joseph. All these were circumstances, which might, indeed, have "been considered as forced upon him; but he re"quested from him the insignia of his grand "order; he tendered to me the services of his 66 66 66 brother, Don Carlos, to take the command of "the Spanish regiments, which were marching to Russia, proceedings to which he was, in no respect, obliged. To sum up all, he earnestly soli"cited my permission to visit my court at Paris, "and if I did not lend myself to a spectacle, “which would have astonished Europe, by display 66 ing the full consolidation of my power, it was "because the important circumstances which "called me abroad, and my frequent absence from "the capital, deprived me of the proper opportunity." 66 Towards the beginning of a new year, at one of the levees, I happened to be next to the Chamberlain, Count d'Arberg, who had been doing duty at Valencey, near the persons of the princes of Spain. When the Emperor approached, he enquired if these princes conducted themselves with propriety, and added; "You have brought me 66 a very pretty letter; but between ourselves, it "was you that wrote it for them." D'Arberg |