(Principal Secretary), and certainly he could not have made a better choice.1 He made the Empress Maria Louisa Regent, and appointed a Council of Regency to assist her.

1 Meneval, who had held the post of Secretary to Napoleon from the time of Bourrienne's disgrace in 1802, had been nearly killed by the hardships of the Russian campaign, and now received an honourable and responsible but less onerous post. He remained with the Empress till 7th May 1815, when, finding that she would not return to her husband, he left her to rejoin his master.

1813.

177

47

CHAPTER IV.

1813.

Riots in Hamburg and Lübeck-Attempted suicide of M. Konning-Evacuation of Hamburg-Dissatisfaction at the conduct of General St. Cyr-The Cabinets of Vienna and the Tuileries-First appearance of the CossacksColonel Tettenborn invited to occupy Hamburg-Cordial reception of the Russians-Depredations-Levies of troops-Testimonials of gratitude to Tettenborn-Napoleon's new army-Death of General Morand-Remarks of Napoleon on Vandamme-Bonaparte and Gustavus Adolphus-Junction of the corps of Davoust and Vandamme-Reoccupation of Hamburg by the French-General Hogendorff appointed Governor of Hamburg-Exactions and vexatious contributions levied upon Hamburg and Lübeck-Hostages. A CONSIDERABLE time before Napoleon left Paris to join the army, the bulk of which was in Saxony, partial insurrections occurred in many places. The interior of France proper was indeed still in a state of tranquillity, but it was not so in the provinces annexed by force to the extremities of the Empire, especially in the north, and in the unfortunate Hanse Towns, for which, since my residence at Hamburg, I have always felt the greatest interest.1 The intelligence I received was derived from such unquestionable sources that I can pledge myself for the truth of what I have to state respecting the events which occurred in those provinces at

1 The total destruction of the French ascendency was not looked on with entire satisfaction in Germany. Even Muffling, who says (p. 392) that the German armies advanced from Leipsic with the device, "Let all sinners be forgiven, and let there be no more hell" (sin being help to the French and hell their dominion ?), allows that some Germans still adhered to Napoleon; and he points out (p. 393) that though the Princes hated Napoleon, there were great difficulties from their wish to retain the position they owed to him. Even as late as about 1825 a Prussian officer of high rank said to Niebuhr: "A war with France would be rather critical. The temper of the people on the Rhine has greatly improved no doubt, but it were well that many an inveterate old talker should die out before these provinces are made the seat of war" (Perthes, tome ii. P. 319).

the commencement of 1813; and subsequently I obtained a confirmation of all the facts communicated by my correspondents, when I was sent to Hamburg by Louis XVIII. in 1815.

M. Steuve, agent from the Court of Russia, who lived at Altona apparently as a private individual, profited by the irritation produced by the measures adopted at Hamburg. His plans were so well arranged that he was promptly informed of the route of the Grand Army from Moscow, and the approach of the Allied troops. Aided by the knowledge and activity of Sieur Hanft of Hamburg, M. Steuve profited by the discontent of a people so tyrannically governed, and seized the opportunity for producing an explosion. Between eight and nine o'clock on the morning of the 24th of February 1813 an occurrence in which the people were concerned was the signal for a revolt. An individual returning to Hamburg by the Altona gate would not submit to be searched by a fiscal agent, who in consequence maltreated him and wounded him severely. The populace instantly rose, drove away the revenue guard, and set fire to the guard-house. The people also, excited by secret agents, attacked other French posts, where they committed the same excesses. Surprised at this unexpected movement, the French authorities retired to the houses in which they resided. All the respectable inhabitants who were unconnected with the tumult likewise returned to their homes, and no person appeared out of doors.

General Carra St. Cyr1 had the command of Hamburg after the Prince of Eckmuhl's departure for the Russian campaign. At the first news of the revolt he set about packing up his papers, and Comte de Chaban, M. Konning, the Prefect of Hamburg, and M. Daubignosc, the Director of Police, followed his example. It was not till about four o'clock in the afternoon that a detachment of Danish hussars arrived at Hamburg, and the populace was then speedily

1 General Carra St. Cyr is not to be confused with the Marshal Gouvion de St. Cyr; he fell into disgrace for his conduct at Hamburg at this time, and was not again employed by Napoleon. Under the Restoration he became Governor of French Guiana.

1813. DISSOLUTION OF THE MILITARY COMMISSION. 49

dispersed. All the respectable citizens and men of property assembled the next morning and adopted means for securing internal tranquillity, so that the Danish troops were enabled to return to Altona. Search was then made for the ringleaders of the disturbance. Many persons were arrested, and a military commission, ad hoc, was appointed to try them. The commission, however, condemned only one individual, who, being convicted of being one of the most active rioters, was sentenced to be shot, and the sentence was carried into execution.

On the 26th of February a similar commotion took place at Lübeck. Attempts were made to attack the French authorities. The respectable citizens instantly assembled, protected them against outrage, and escorted them in safety to Hamburg, where they arrived on the 27th. The precipitate flight of these persons from Lübeck spread some alarm in Hamburg. The danger was supposed to be greater than it was because the fugitives were accompanied by a formidable body of troops.

But these were not the only attempts to throw off the yoke of French domination, which had become insupportable. All the left bank of the Elbe was immediately in a state of insurrection, and all the official persons took refuge in Hamburg. During these partial insurrections everything was neglected. Indecision, weakness, and cupidity were manifested everywhere. Instead of endeavours to soothe the minds of the people, which had been long exasperated by intolerable tyranny, recourse was had to rigorous measures. The prisons were crowded with a host of persons declared to be suspected upon the mere representations of the agents of the police. On the 3d of March a special military commission condemned six householders of Hamburg and its neighbourhood to be shot on the glacis for no other offence than having been led, either by chance or curiosity, to a part of the town which was the scene of one of the riots. These executions excited equal horror and indignation, and General Carra St. Cyr was obliged to issue a proclamation for the dissolution of the military commission by whom the men had been sentenced.

VOL. III.

71

The intelligence of the march of the Russian and Prussian troops, who were descending the Elbe, increased the prevailing agitation in Westphalia, Hanover, Mecklenburg, and Pomerania, and all the French troops cantoned between Berlin and Hamburg, including those who occupied the coast of the Baltic, fell back upon Hamburg. General Carra St. Cyr and Baron Konning, the Prefect of Hamburg, used to go every evening to Altona.1 The latter, worn out by anxiety and his unsettled state of life, lost his reason, and on his way to Hamburg, on the 5th of May, he attempted to cut his throat with a razor. His valet de chambre saved his life by rushing upon him before he had time to execute his design. It was given out that he had broken a bloodvessel, and he was conveyed to Altona, where his wound was cured, and he subsequently recovered from his derangement. M. Konning, who was a native of Holland, was a worthy man, but possessed no decision of character, and but little ability. At this juncture exaggerated reports were circulated respecting the approach of a Russian corps. A retreat was immediately ordered, and it was executed on the 12th of March. General Carra St. Cyr having no money for the troops, helped himself to 100,000 francs out of the municipal treasury. He left Hamburg at the head of the troops and the enrolled men of the custom-house service. He was escorted by the Burgher Guard, which protected him from the insults of the populace; and the good people of Hamburg never had any visitors of whom they were more happy to be rid.

This sudden retreat excited Napoleon's indignation. He accused General St. Cyr of pusillanimity, in an article inserted in the Moniteur, and afterwards copied by his order into all the journals. In fact, had General St. Cyr been better informed, or less easily alarmed, he might have kept

1 The Prefect, Baron von Konning, had just before assured the Government that his department professed the greatest devotion for the Emperor. This practical commentary on his statement was too much for him. Puymaigre (p. 148), who was on the spot, says that he attempted to hang himself, not to cut his throat, as Bourrienne says. "I was," continued Puymaigre, "surprised to see that later on he was one of the Ministers of Belgium. What is more surprising is that he retained his high functions for several years." Puymaigre (p. 149), defends Carra St. Cyr, saying that having only 1200 or 1500 men the General could not have maintained himself in a large town in a state of insurrection.