been in his own power, he would himself most willingly have granted.

It is impossible to describe how much I felt astonished at this declaration, and how much I was confounded by the unexpected prospect of being thus brought into the presence of the greatest man of the age. Before I had recovered myself, the Grand Duke had rung the bell, and given some orders to his servant; in consequence of which, an officer in (I think) a green uniform entered the room. "Count," said the Grand Duke, "this is a young English gentleman, who has been stopped at the advanced posts." The officer immediately addressed me in English; and, after putting two or three unimportant questions, turned round to the Grand Duke, and said, "Yes, I see he is evidently an Englishman." "Well, Count," said Murat, 66 as you are going to Auma at any rate, you will be so good as to take this gentleman and his travelling companion with you in the carriage, and cause them to be examined by his Majesty the Emperor and King; telling him, at the same time, that they have already been examined by me, and that nothing occurred, which induced me to form any surmise to their prejudice." He then nodded to me very graciously; and, after bowing profoundly, I left the apartment, accompanied by the officer, and remained in the antichamber, whilst he went to inquire about the carriage and horses.

I soon learned that this gentleman was Count Frohberg, (or Mountjoy), grand veneur to the King of Bavaria, who stood very high in the confidence and good graces both of his own Sovereign and of Napoleon.

Whilst waiting for his return, I saw the Grand Duke pass through the antichamber, clad in a sumptuous uniform, with many stars, and leading to a repast a Lady, who, I was informed, was a Princess of Reuss. He stopped for a few minutes, and spoke to a Prussian officer, who had been taken prisoner, I believe, at the battle of Saalfield. I was not able to hear very distinctly what passed; but I understood him to be taxing the Prussians with temerity, in having attacked a French corps with a very inferior number; adding, that although the Prussians might not love the French, they at least ought to esteem them. After this short conversation, the Grand Duke made a slight inclination of the head, and followed the Princess into the other apartment.

Count Frohberg soon afterwards returned, and informed us, that the carriage was ready. We immediately got into it, and set out for Auma.

I found my new companion very kind-hearted and intelligent, a little sanguine and hasty in his temper, but evidently most suscepti

ble of gratitude and friendship. His countenance was pale, but animated. Our conversation was chiefly carried on in English; and he inquired with much eagerness after his British friends Before we had been many minutes in the carriage, he asked me whether I was acquainted with Lady Louisa Manners, (the present Countess of Dysart), accompanying his inquiry with a cordial encomium. I was unable at that time, (though now more fortunate,) to answer that question in the affirmative; but asked the Count in return, whether he knew her Ladyship's son-in-law, my intimate and excellent friend, Colonel Duff, (now Earl of Fife.) As soon as I mentioned, that I was a friend of Colonel Duff's, he shook me by the hand with the greatest warmth; and our common regard for my distinguished countryman, (a regard in which all who know him so largely sympathize), not only created a link of attachment between us, but mainly tended to render his exertions in my behalf more cordial and more unremitting.

We met, in the dark, a long row of waggons and artillery, at a narrow part of the road, where two carriages could not well pass abreast; and our carriage was obliged to draw up in a field, until these waggons and other conveyances had proceeded. It was in vain that my friend, the Count, dismounted angrily from the carriage, and authoritatively desired the drivers to draw up on one side, and allow our carriage to pass, telling them who he was, where he was going, and that he was expected to sup with the Emperor. They coolly laughed at all his earnestness; and one of them told him, that he was afraid his supper would be very cold before he got to his journey's end.

The Count did not recover his good humour, until some time after we had quitted the scene of our detention. The spectacle around us was most interesting. A number of fires were kindled in various directions, around which we perceived the French soldiers singing, shouting, sleeping, or cooking their victuals.

The Count was remarkably communicative; but without attempting to detail many interesting facts which he narrated, I cannot avoid recording one speech of his, which remained deeply impressed upon my mind.

I mentioned, that I had left the Prussian army in as high spirits, and as confident of victory, as the French; and that I therefore

* I had the satisfaction of being presented to his amiable widow, when at Munich, in 1816. The Countess informed me, that her husband had alluded to this adventure, and expressed much kindness towards me; and she was so obliging as to present to me a ring, which had belonged to him.

thought the issue of the contest rather doubtful. "A decisive battle," replied he, "will be fought before many days have elapsed; and I will beat you sixty Napoleons to one, that the victory will be ours. You say that the Prussians are in high spirits; but on what is their confidence grounded? Not surely in respect for the talents of their General, not on the remembrance of exploits of their own, nor in love for the service in which they are so ill used? The French, on the other hand, adore their leader, who so often has conducted them to victory :—their own past achievements inspire them with confidence in themselves:—they are attached to a service, in which they are well aware, that the meanest and most friendless may acquire reputation and advancement. The Emperor knows their character well, and has employed every means to conciliate affection to his person, as well as to enforce obedience to his authority. No service is permitted to pass unnoticed or unrecompensed. He is endowed with an excellent memory, and is often known to address even a private soldier or subaltern officer, whom he remembers to have seen at Austerlitz or Marengo, reminding them of their former good conduct, and calling upon them to act up to it in future. By such means, he not only captivates the heart of the person so noticed, but excites emulation on the part of all who witnessed such a scene, and who long, by future prowess, to attain a similar distinction. The very institution of the Legion of Honour, which is attainable by all classes, has greatly increased his popularity, and is become a general object of military ambition. In short, I believe I may say, that no General was ever more studious to captivate the affections, and win the confidence of his Army; nor was any ever more successful."

I do not pretend to say, that these are the exact words of Count Frohberg, but they express his sentiments without any exaggeration. He cherished a warm attachment for the person and character of Napoleon; but I am persuaded, that his opinion, though somewhat biassed by this feeling, was founded on personal knowledge, as well as on that accurate information, which his rank and station 'afforded him so many opportunities to acquire.

We arrived at Auma at a very early hour in the morning. The Count alighted from the carriage, and repaired to the house, at which the Emperor's head-quarters were situated. He returned almost immediately, and informed us, that his Majesty had retired to rest; but added, that he would come and let us know, as soon as the Emperor was ready to receive us.

The morning was very cold, and we remained, rather uncomfortably, in the calêche, (the leather in front of which closed but imperfectly,) for upwards of an hour. My friend Mr Regel and I agreed,

that we would not prepare any answers to any questions; but that, by narrating every circumstance exactly as it occurred, we should avoid every discrepancy, which could excite any suspicion. The Count at last returned, and informed us, that the Emperor was up, and wished to see us. This was to us an anxious moment; and we descended from the carriage with feelings which I shall not attempt to pourtray. "You need not be afraid," said the Count, "the Emperor wont eat you." I assured him, that I was not afraid of that, and that he, who had nothing to fear, was shivering from the cold as much as I was. This remark, however, made me summon up more resolution than a youth of sixteen might otherwise have felt under such circumstances. I had reminded Mr Regel, that it was now my turn to be examined first. We walked hastily across the street, and after ascending a staircase, found ourselves in the antichamber, in which there were a number of officers, and where I observed also some materials for breakfast. The Count opened a door, and beckoned me to follow him. I heard him say, "Voila, Sire, le jeune Anglois, dont je viens de parler à votre Majesté." The door closed as soon as I entered the room. I made a low bow; and, on raising my eyes from the ground, perceived standing before me a little figure, arrayed in a white night-cap and dressing gown; an officer in uniform, whom I found to be Marshal Berthier, the Minister at War, was standing by his side. The Emperor stood still, with his arms crossed, and a cup of coffee in his right hand he surveyed me attentively, and said, "Qui étes vous +?" My reply was, "Sire, Je suis sujet de S. M. Britannique ‡." "D'où venez-vous § ?" "Sire, Je viens de Gotha en Saxe; et en me rendant de la Leipzig, j'ai été arrêté par quelques soldats des avant-postes, qui m'ont mené à Gera chez le Grand Duc de Berg; et S. A. m'a envoyé ici pour avoir l'honneur d'être examiné par V. M. ||" "Par où êtes vous passé ?" "Sire, Je suis passé par Weimar, Erfurt, et Jena, d'où n'ayant pas pu procurer des chevaux pour nous conduire plus loin que jusqu'à Gleina”—“ Où est Gleina? et qu'est que c'est ?"

Behold, Sire, the young Englishman, of whom I have just spoken to your Majesty.

+ Who are you?

Sire, I am a subject of his Britannic Majesty.

§ Where do you come from?

|| Sire, I come from Gotha in Saxony; and in going from thence to Leip. zic, I was detained by some soldiers of the advanced guard, who brought me to the house of the Grand Duke of Berg, at Gera, and his Highness sent me here to have the honour of being examined by your Majesty.

"Gleina, Sire, est une petite village, appartenante au Duc de Gotha *."

Upon hearing that I had passed through these two places, he paused, and then said, "Tracez-moi le plan de votre route +." He then sat down at a table on which a map of Germany was spread, in every respect similar to the one which I had seen at the Grand Duke's. Berthier was seated at a smaller table, in the corner of the room, to take notes of what passed. I stood at Napoleon's left hand, and the Count placed himself exactly opposite. Napoleon, as soon as he had seated himself, placed his right elbow on the table, and leaning his face upon his thumb and forefinger, looked me full in the face, and said, “ Quel jour êtes vous parti de Gotha ‡?" At that moment, I had forgotten the exact day of our departure; and knowing the great importance of accuracy in regard to dates, I began to calculate backwards from that day, to the one upon which we left Gotha. This pause, though but a short one, excited the Emperor's impatience, and he repeated, in rather an angry tone, " Je vous demande, quel jour êtes vous parti de Gotha §?" His abrupt manner, and a significant look, which I saw him exchange with Berthier, would have very much interrupted my calculation, had I not fortunately at that moment concluded it, and named the exact day of our departure. He then looked for Gotha in the map, and asked me a number of questions as to the strength of the Prussians in that place,

-the reports prevalent in regard to their probable movements, &c. He next sought out Erfurt, and inquired whether I had observed any troops in motion between the two places? He was very minute in his interrogatories with regard to Erfurt. He asked how strong the garrison was there? I replied, that this was a point which I had not had any opportunity to ascertain. He asked me if I had been at the parade? I replied in the affirmative. "How many regiments were present?" Sire, I cannot tell,-the Duke of Brunswick was then at Erfurt, and there seemed to be almost as many officers as soldiers assembled on the parade. "Is Erfurt a well-fortified town ?" Sire, I know very little about the strength of fortifications." "Y

* Which road did you come by? Sire, I came by Weimar, Erfurt, and Jena; from whence, not having been able to procure horses to take us further than Gleina- "Where is Gleina, and what is it?" Sire, Gleina is a small village belonging to the Duke of Gotha.

+ Trace out the plan of your route.

On what day did you leave Gotha?

I ask you, what day did you leave Gotha?