Napoleon and the Queen of Prussia

by L. Mühlbach

  CHAPTER XVII.

  THE SECRET COUNCIL OF STATE.

  The king leaned back, and, supporting his head on his arms, shaded hisface with his hands, as if it were a screen that was to conceal theexpression of his features. The queen turned with a sweet smile towardthe two gentlemen. "My husband having permitted it," she said, "pray,speak. Let me hear your views. And as I deem the opinions of both of youequally important, I do not know whom to request to commence. Let theoldest speak first."

  "Then, your majesty, I must speak," said Hardenberg, bowing low, "I knowthat I am seven years older than Baron von Stein. He surpasses me inwisdom as I do him in years."

  "Well, speak," said Louisa. "What do you think of this treaty?"

  "I think it is a new proof of the reckless pride of Bonaparte," saidHardenberg. "In order to appreciate it correctly it is necessary for usto look back into the past, and to remember how this war arose, whichthe emperor asserts to have been provoked by Prussia. But the king, ourmost gracious master, never desired war; on the contrary, he withstood,for a long while, the wishes of his ministers, his court, his people,and his army. He would have avoided the war, if Napoleon had allowed himto form a Confederation of the North, conservative in its tendencies,but not hostile to the Confederation of the Rhine. Deceived, menaced,insulted, the king continued negotiating to the last moment, and did notcease hoping that France would acknowledge that she was wrong, and yieldto the remonstrances and wishes of Prussia. The king was arming, it istrue, but only for the purpose of supporting his just and strictlypacific demands by such a military demonstration. Compelled by Napoleon,he had to obey the dictates of honor at last and draw his sword. Thefortunes of war decided against him; he was defeated. He commencednegotiating again; for the sake of the welfare of his people hesubmitted to the most rigorous terms which the conqueror imposed on him;but Napoleon, instead of appreciating this, became only the morearrogant and insatiable in his demands. The king's willingness to acceptthose terms was of no avail; the conditions which had been imposed onhim were repudiated and nullified. Every new triumph, every newcapitulation of a fortress, caused the emperor to render his demandsmore rigorous; and he dares now to offer a treaty, which would reducethe kingdom of Prussia to a single province--which could not but renderthe king's position even more precarious, and would be the depth ofhumiliation, without offering the least prospect of a speedy and lastingrecovery from our past disasters. If Prussia should accept this utterlyillusory compact, she would thereby deliver herself completely into thehands of an insatiable enemy, whose ambitious schemes are well known,and deprive herself of the only support still remaining. She wouldbetray Russia and not save herself by this treachery, but onlyaccelerate her own utter ruin. No one can dare to advise the king tosign such a paper, and, least of all, myself, after constantly opposingan alliance with France, even at a time when it would seemingly havebeen advantageous to Prussia. Your majesty ordered me to express myopinion, and I have done so to the best of my conviction."

  The queen thanked him by a slight bow, and then turned toward Baron vonStein. "And you?" she asked, "will you communicate to me your viewsabout this treaty which our envoys have already signed atCharlottenburg?"

  "Your majesty," said Baron von Stein, quickly, "I lack the wisecomposure and smiling calmness of Count von Hardenberg. It was not givenme to weigh the interests and the conduct of friends and foes withprudent tranquillity and magnanimous impartiality. I am no polishedcourtier, but only a blunt, upright German, and as such your majestymust allow me to speak to you. Well, my honest German heart revolts atwhat M. Napoleon is pleased to call a treaty of peace, and what, itseems to me, would be but a pact with degradation, dishonor, anddisgrace. If I had been in the place of Messrs. de Zastrow andLucchesini, I would have allowed my right hand to be cut off rather thanto be prevailed upon to sign any thing so ignominious; I would have diedrather than surrender at discretion in so humiliating a manner. I knowfull well that these gentlemen have done so only in order to save thepolitical existence of the king and his state. But how little do theyknow the intentions and schemes of our powerful adversary, whom only themost determined and obstinate resistance can induce to be moderate inhis exactions, and who, so soon as he has nothing to fear, shrinks fromnothing! As soon as the king, according to these stipulations, hassurrendered to him his fortresses and Silesian possessions, Napoleonwill give notice that he resumes hostilities within ten days, and theking having not sufficient power to offer him any resistance, the lossof his last and only possessions would be the natural consequence.Napoleon would even manage matters in such a way as to leave it toother hands to carry out this last spoliation. It is well known whatprospects he held out in Berlin to the deputation of the Poles, and bywhat words and promises he instigated them to rise. He now demands theremoval of our troops from Graudenz and its environs, that is to sayfrom Prussian Poland. He wishes to promote the insurrection in Poland,and to assist the Poles as efficiently as possible, so that we shouldlose these provinces during the cessation of hostilities. His majesty,moreover, is unable to enter into an engagement concerning thewithdrawal of the Russian troops, and the last fortresses, therefore,would be sacrificed in vain. But it is just as little in the power ofthe king to induce the Emperor of Russia to waive his just claimsagainst the Porte, or to deprive the Hospodars of Moldavia and Wallachiaof the protection pledged to them. The Russian emperor has alreadymarched his troops into Moldavia. The struggle with the Porte has begun,and his honor will not permit him to recede from the stand he has taken.Up to this hour he has remained unwaveringly faithful, in words as wellas in actions, to his Prussian ally. A large Russian army is alreadyapproaching our frontier, and it is said the Czar himself isaccompanying it in order to join the Prussian forces and then attackNapoleon. By signing the treaty of Charlottenburg, however, the King ofPrussia would not only have to reject the assistance offered him, but becompelled to turn his sword against him who, in his generous friendship,is coming to help him fight for the preservation of his states.

  "This so-called treaty of peace would raise up two new enemies againstPrussia, and without changing her old foe, France, into a firm andreliable friend. The first of these is Russia, which Prussia would havedeserted in the most perfidious manner; the second is Great Britain,which would wage war against the ally of France as well as againstFrance herself. Napoleon, by that decree against English goods,property, and subjects, throws down a new gauntlet to Great Britain, forit is the beginning of a blockade of the entire continent; and WilliamPitt, the great and heroic minister of King George, will assuredlyaccept the challenge. It will kindle anew the whole fire of his hatredand vengeance, and he will urge the full power of England againstFrance. Now, Talleyrand has declared loudly that Napoleon would allowPrussia to maintain her existence as an independent state, only ifEngland and Russia should make peace with him on acceptable terms.Neither, however, will do this, and Prussia, consequently, would beirretrievably lost by accepting these conditions; for she would thenhave three enemies and not a single ally. Not only honor, but alsoprudence commands us to reject the treaty. Not to obey the dictates ofthose two powers would be to hurl Prussia into an abyss ofwretchedness, where she would not hear the sympathetic lamentations ofa single ally, but the scornful laughter of the world. I hope that theking may preserve Prussia from such consequences, and graciously permitus to maintain, amid our disasters and sorrows, a clear conscience anderect head, as it behooves men more willing to die than give up honorand liberty!

  "Your majesty must pardon me if I have spoken too freely andunreservedly. But you commanded me to express my honest opinion. I havedone so, and pray you to forgive me if my words have not beensufficiently delicate and well chosen."

  "I have nothing to pardon, only to thank you," said the queen, "as wellas Count von Hardenberg. Both of you have permitted me to look into theinnermost recesses of your hearts. You have spoken according to yourhonest conviction: I thank you!" And turning her radiant eyes toward theking, Louisa added in a to
ne of profound emotion, "Your majesty, we havelost Magdeburg! But are not such men as these worth more than afortress? Fortresses may fall, but so long as we shall have such men byour side, Prussia will not be lost!"

  The king, who had been sitting all the while in the same attitude, hishead supported on his arm, and his face hidden behind his hand, slowlydropped it and looked long and inquiringly at the queen. "It is yourturn now to express your opinion," he said, calmly. "I believe you oweit to your advisers to tell them what you think of it. You thank thosewho speak to you honestly and truthfully, by answering them in the samemanner. I, therefore, request the queen now to speak in her turn, and totell us what she thinks of this treaty."

  "I think, my king and husband, that I would rather be killed by thefirst cannon-ball discharged against France than sanction thisignominious treaty," exclaimed the queen, with glowing cheeks, and withpassionate impetuosity. "I think that, in case you sign it, I shouldnever dare to set foot again in the palace of Charlottenburg, because itwould seem to me as though I were not allowed to raise my eyes either toman or to God, for the human heart turns away from the perfidious anddishonored, and God Himself has no mercy on them. I should think thewalls of this house would fall upon us to hide our shame--I shouldshrink shudderingly from every table, because that treaty might havebeen signed on it which is to render us recreant to duty, and to stealour unsullied honor. No! let us be humiliated, and succumb with a clearconscience, rather than accept the friendship and alliance of theCorsican, at the expense of principle!"

  "Ah!" muttered the king, bowing his head, "if words could be transformedinto swords, you would win battles for me to-day. Unfortunately,however, soldiers are necessary for that purpose, and I have no army.Your words may be the dragons' teeth from which armed warriors mayspring, but they might turn against ourselves and annihilate us!" Hepaused and looked down musingly. The queen dared not disturb hisreflections, and gazed at him in silence and with an air of tendersympathy. The two ministers looked no less grave, and waited until hewould interrupt the silence and address them.

  The king raised his head and looked at the clock. "Four o'clock," hesaid, rising more hastily than usual. "I have ordered the ministers andgenerals to assemble at the rooms of Minister von Haugwitz, and toldthem that I should be present. I like to be punctual. Let us go then,gentlemen; it is time for us to be at the conference."

  The two ministers rose to take leave of the queen. Louisa gave each ofthem her hand, which they kissed, and she dismissed them with a gratefulglance. The king kindly waved his hand, and, after they had left theroom, turned to the queen. "Farewell, dear Louisa," he said, offeringhis hand to her; "official duties are calling me, and so long as I amking I must not neglect them. I came to you in order to dispel my caresa little by chatting with you, and instead of doing so I had to bepresent at a meeting of a secret council of state. The unfortunate haveno time for recreation, and that may be useful and salutary, after all.Farewell, then; I must go to Haugwitz's rooms."

  He was about to leave, but the queen grasped his hand, and gazed with animploring glance searchingly at his calm and impenetrable countenance."Oh, my husband," she said, in a voice tremulous with emotion; "you aregoing to leave me thus? You do not utter a word of consolation andassurance?"

  The king kissed her on the forehead, and pointed to the clock. "It ishigh time for me to go to the conference," he said, and gentlydisengaging his hand hastened away.

  Louisa gazed after him until he had disappeared; she then raised herhands and eyes to heaven. "O my God," she whispered, "direct hisresolutions, and cause him to choose what is right! Oh, give me strengthto bear my misfortunes patiently, and not to despair and murmur, eventhough the king should decide on another course than the one my heartlongs for, and my reason believes to be right." On casting down hereyes, she happened to see the open piano, and hastening to it her whitehands commenced playing a soul-moving melody. She then sang, withtearful eyes and fervent voice: "_Wer nur den lieben Gott laesst walten,und hoffet auf ihn alle Zeit_--"

  Scarcely an hour had elapsed--the queen was still singing at the pianowhen the door behind her softly opened, and the king again entered. Thecarpet and the full notes of the piano prevented her hearing hisfootsteps. The king walked rapidly to his wife, and laid his hand on hershoulder. She started, and looked up to her husband with an inquiring,anxious glance, and rose slowly from her chair.

  "Louisa," said the king, solemnly, "I have just returned from theconference of the ministers at Haugwitz's rooms. Besides Prince Henryand myself, ten ministers, generals, and cabinet councillors werepresent. Seven advocated the ratification of the treaty ofCharlottenburg; four were opposed to it. The majority; therefore, werein favor of it."

  The queen turned pale, and the painful quivering of her lips betrayedher inward emotion. "There were eleven present besides you," said she,breathlessly. "Seven voted for ratifying the treaty; four were opposedto it! But what did the king say, who had to decide every thing? Did mybeloved husband side with the majority?"

  "The king," said Frederick William, slowly, "decided in favor of theminority."

  Louisa uttered a cry, and, seizing his hand, bent over and imprinted awarm kiss on it. "Oh, my dear husband, you did not accept theignominious Charlottenburg bargain?" she asked, joyfully. "You did notyield to the majority? My God! I thank Thee, for Thou hast fulfilled themost fervent wishes of my soul! Oh, my dear husband, if there were in myheart still a spot which love for you had not consecrated, it would benow! My whole heart is filled with pride, delight, and esteem for you.We shall not make peace, then, with the tyrant, or accept thehypocritical friendship of our mortal foe--we shall remain faithful toourselves, to our honor, and to our ally."

  "Yes, we shall reject that treaty," said the king. "We shall try tocarry on the war. But let us not yield to illusions; let us not endeavorto deceive ourselves by indulging in sanguine hopes! In again drawingthe sword, we have to struggle for our existence, and we may possiblyfail."

  "Better to be buried under the ruins of the throne than to sit on itwith the stigma of perfidy and dishonor!" exclaimed the queen. "Even thecrown would not cover such a stain!"

  "We may lose our state and our crown, and be compelled to flee asnameless beggars across the Russian frontier. Are you prepared for it?"

  Louisa passionately encircled her husband's neck with her arms, andlooked him in the face with-an air of unutterable tenderness. "I amprepared for every thing, provided I may stay with you," she said,affectionately. "Let the worst befall us, it will find me calm andcourageous, for I shall share it with you. Where you go I go. And thoughwe should have to flee from our invincible enemy into the remotest wildsof Russia, my heart would be glad, for honor would accompany us, andlove would be our comfort!"

  The king laid his hand on her head, as if blessing her, and clasped herin his arms. "You are a noble and heroic woman," he said, "and I thankGod from the bottom of my heart for having given me such a wife. Prayfor me, Louisa; pray for all of us! I will now go to receive the envoyof Napoleon, M. Duroc, and tell him that I must reject the treaty ofCharlottenburg." He pressed a kiss on the queen's brow, and then crossedthe room arm-in-arm with her. When about to go, he stood still andtenderly looked at her. "Ah, Louisa," he said, "I forgot to tell yousomething. After informing the conference that I should not ratify thetreaty, but continue the war, I commissioned Haugwitz to draw up amanifesto by which I would announce to my people the step I had resolvedupon. Count von Haugwitz, however, said he was unable to draw up such amanifesto, and offered his resignation, owing to his enfeebled health,and the disease of the eyes from which he is suffering."

  The queen smiled, and an emotion of joy illuminated her countenance."You have accepted his resignation?" she asked, breathlessly.

  "I have accepted it. He will set out to-day for his estates. I must atonce appoint his successor; for, in times such as these, I cannot dowithout a minister of foreign affairs. Can you recommend any one to mewhom you would deem especially qualified for
the position, and in whomyou have confidence?"

  The queen looked in surprise at her husband, and cast down her eyes, asif she feared he would read in them thoughts conflicting with her words."It does not behoove me to advise my sagacious and prudent husband,"she said. "His wisdom will always be able to find the right man for theright place, and to appoint a minister competent to promote theinterests of Prussia and her noble king."

  "Then you do not know of any one whom you would recommend to me?" askedhe.

  Louisa looked down, and silently shook her head.

  The king smiled. "Well," he said, "in that case I myself must make theselection, and I have already done so. Baron von Stein is the man whom Iwill appoint minister of foreign affairs." He did not give his wife timeto reply, but left the room quickly, and closed the door.

  The queen gazed after him, her eyes radiant with joy. "Oh," she said,"what a great and noble heart! He who conquers himself is a hero indeed.The king has overcome his own reluctance, and, contrary to hisinclination, selected the man whom his head appreciates, but whom hisheart does not love."