Napoleon had now attained the first object of his ambition; but his ambition expanded before him like the boundless horizon. The preparations now making for the coronation, which was shortly to take place, gave an impulse to trade which had a very favourable effect upon the mind of the trading classes in Paris. Great numbers of foreigners and people from the provinces visited the capital; and the return to luxury and the revival of old customs gave occupation to a great variety of trades-people, who could get no employment under the Directory, such as saddlers, carriage-makers, lacemen, embroiderers, and others. These positive interests created more partisans at Paris than either opinion or reflection, and it is but just to say that trade had not been so good for twelve years. The imperial crown jewels were exhibited to the public for some time at Biennais', the jewellers. The crown itself was of a light form, and, with its leaves of gold, appeared less the crown of France than the antique crown of the Cæsars. These valuable ornaments were deposited in the public treasury, together with the imperial insignia, which had been brought from Aix-la-Chapelle by order of Napoleon.

It can scarcely be expected that I should enter into a detail of the ceremony which took place on the 2d December, 1804-the glitter of gold, the waving plumes, and richly caparisoned horses of the imperial procession; the mule which preceded the pope's cortége, conformable to the custom of Rome, and which excited so much merriment amongst the Parisians, have already been often described.*

The following account of the imperial coronation will supply the omission of Bourrienne :

'The interior of the church of Notre Dame had been newly painted; galleries and pews magnificently adorned had been erected, and they were thronged with a prodigious concourse of spectators.

'The imperial throne was placed at the end of the nave, opposite the principal entrance, and on a very elevated platform. The pontifical throne was in the choir, beside the high altar.

The pope set out from the Tuileries, and proceeded along the quay to the archiepiscopal palace, whence he repaired to the choir by a private entrance.

'The em, eror set out with the empress by the Carrousel. The procession passed along the Rue St. Honore to the Rue des Lombards, then the Pont au Change, the Palace of Justice, the court of Notre Dame, and entered the archbishop's palace. Here rooms were prepared for the whole of the retinue, each of whom dressed in state for he occasion: some appeared in the costume of their posts of honour others in their uniforms.

The day after the coronation, all the troops then in Paris were assembled in the Champ-de-Mars, to have distributed to them the eagles which were to replace the republican colours. This spectacle I really enjoyed, for it was very pleasing to see Napoleon in the uniform of a colonel of the guards in the midst of his soldiers. It brought him back to my recollection as the commanderin-chief in Italy, and of the expedition to Egypt.

An immense platform had been erected in front of the military school, which, though now transformed into a barrack, could not have failed to recall the associations of early youth; behind which, was to be seen the throne of the emperor and empress. At a given signal all the

'On the outside of the church had been erected a long wooden gallery from the archiepiscopal palace to the principal entrance of the church. By this gallery came the emperor's retinue, which presented a truly magnificent sight. The procession was opened by the already numerous body of courtiers: next came the marshals of the empire wearing their honours; then the dignitaries and high officers of the crown; and lastly, the emperor in a dress of state. At the moment of his entering the cathedral there was a simultaneous shout, which made but one explosion, of Vive l'Empereur. The immense quantity of figures which appeared on the sides of this vast edifice formed a tapestry of the most extraordinary kind.

The procession passed along the middle of the nave, and arrived at the choir facing the high altar. This scene was not less imposing: he galleries round the choir were filled with the handsomest women whom the best company could produce, and most of whom rivalled in tae lustre of their beauty that of the jewels with which they were covered.

His holiness went to meet the emperor at a desk which had been placed in the middle of the choir: there was another on one side for the empress. After saying a short prayer there, they returned, and seated themselves on the throne at the end of the church facing the choir; there they heard mass, which was said by the pope. They went to make the offering, and came back; they then descended from the platform of the throne, and walked in procession to receive the holy unction. The emperor and empress, on reaching the choir, replaced themselves at their desks, where the pope performed the cere

mony.

He presented the crown to the emperor, who received it, put it himself upon his head, took it off, placed it on that of the empress, removed it again, and laid it on the cushion where it was at first. A smaller crown was immediately put upon the head of the empress. All the arrangements had been made beforehand; she was surrounded by her ladies; every thing was done in a moment, and nobody perceived the substitution which had taken place. The procession moved back to the platform. The emperor there heard Te Deum; the pope himself went thither at the conclusion of the service, as if to say, Ite, missa est. The Testament was presented to the emperor, who took off his glove, and pronounced his oath, with his hand upon the sacred ook.

He went back to the archiepiscopal palace the same way that he had come, and entered his carriage. The ceremony was very long; the procession returned by the Rue St. Martin, the Boulevard, the Place de la Concorde, and the Pont Tournant: it was getting dusk when the emperor arrived at the Tuileries.'

columns closed, and approached the throne. Then Napoleon, rising, gave orders for the distribution of the eagles; and delivered the following address to the depu tations of the different corps of the army. 'Soldiers! Behold your colours! These eagles will always be your rallying point. They will always be where your emperor will judge necessary for the defence of his throne and his people. Swear to sacrifice your lives for their defence; and, by your courage, to keep them constantly in the path of victory.-You swear.' It would be impossible to describe the acclamations which followed this address; there is something so seductive in popular enthusiasm, that even indifferent persons cannot avoid being carried along by it.

CHAP. XXII.

Remarkable Events contemporary with Napoleon's Coronation-his Letter to the King of England—Acts of Hostility against Spain on the part of EnglandOpening of the Sittings of the Legislative Body-my Appointment as Minister to Hamburg-Interview with Napoleon-his Views respecting Italy-Demands of the Holy See-Napoleon's Departure for Italylast Interview with the Pope at Turin-Alessandria— Napoleon crowned King of Italy at Milan-Symptoms of Dissatisfaction on the part of Austria and Russia-Napoleon returns to Paris, and departs for Boulogne-unfortunate Result of a Naval Engagement-my Departure for Hamburg-Military Observations, and Indications of War.

Two events of considerable importance in the politics of Europe occurred about the time of Napoleon's coronation. First, the conclusion of a treaty at Stockholm, on the 3d of December, 1804, the day after the coronation, between England and Sweden, by which the former agreed to pay to the latter a considerable subsidy; and secondly, the declaration of war between Spain and England.

The emperor, under these circumstances, was desirous to turn to account the influence of religious ideas, and the importance which the presence of the head of the Catholic church might give to his coronation. He had affected to

appear only as half a sovereign until he was consecrated; but then he considered that he had obtained the sanction of what has been called the right divine. He therefore, about a month after that event, addressed a letter to the King of England, similar in character to that which he addressed to him immediately after the 18th Brumaire, expressing his desire to be acknowledged by him as Emperor of the French. This letter, commencing with the words, Sir, my brother, called to the throne of France by Providence, by the suffrages of the Senate, the people, and the army, my first desire is peace,' &c. was a masterpiece of deceit; for, most certainly, the emperor would have been very unwilling to have seen peace re-established between France and England, more especially since the declaration of war by Spain had placed at his disposal the Spanish fleet, consisting of upwards of sixty ships of the line, under the command of Admiral Gravina.

England, irritated at the impotence of her efforts against France, sought to avenge herself in a way that could not be justified; for I consider it to be the duty of all governments to respect the rights of neutral states. Whatever might have been the submission of the cabinet of Madrid to that of the Tuileries, France alone was at war with England, nor had any of her allies, with the exception of Holland, made any demonstration of hostilities. Nothing, therefore, could justify the conduct of the British government in their interference with Spain.

Without any previous declaration of war, Admiral Moore insisted on searching four Spanish frigates, re turning from Mexico to Cadiz with treasure. The Spanish commander refused to submit to the demand, when an engagement ensued, in which the Spaniards being opposed to a superior force were obliged to submit; three of the frigates struck, and the fourth blew up. These outrages were not the only injuries which they experienced from the English cruizers; they burned even the Spanish merchant ships in the very harbours of the Peninsula, and intercepted and captured various convoys, although M. d'Auguada was still in London, as ambassador from Charles IV. These aggressions, which were contrary to the law of nations, irritated to such a degree the Spanish king, or rather, to speak truly, his minister, the too fa

mous Prince of Peace, that war was declared against England.

The conduct of England on this occasion seems to have been not only ill-judged, but impolitic; and if the English government had been better informed as to the secret designs of Napoleon, they would not, in all probability, have committed such an error as to oblige Spain to join the fortunes of Napoleon. It was under these circumstances, that the letter which we have just alluded to was addressed to the king of England. Its object was to induce the belief, that he was desirous of peace, but he could not possibly be deceived as to the effect which that communication would produce in London; and he could not be surprised when, instead of a letter from George III., whom he had styled his brother, he received a letter from the English minister, addressed to the minister for foreign affairs. It commenced thus:-His majesty had received the letter addressed to him by the head of the French government;' and went on to state, that nothing was nearer his majesty's heart than the restoration of peace to his people; but that he declined to reply, particularly without consulting the continental powers, and especially the emperor of Russia.'

This letter of the English minister made little impression upon the emperor; for, it was delivered to him while he was at the very height of his glory, and loaded with the congratulations which poured in from all quarters. The Senate and city of Paris gave magnificent fêtes, at which the emperor and empress were present; and, in short, his consecration was celebrated every where. Before the close of the year he convoked the legislative body, whose sittings he himself opened on the 27th of December, with all the pomp of the new ceremonial of the empire.

The year 1804 was fertile in great events, and it would be difficult to find in history so many circumstances exercising so great an influence on the destinies of Europe, crowded together within the short space of twelve months. The first half of the year offered the melancholy spectacle of the police machinations, of the cruel death of a young prince, and of a criminal trial which was followed by executions and pardons. The second half of the year was marked by the elevation of Bonaparte to the imperial throne; his journey through the