Napoleon and the Queen of Prussia

by L. Mühlbach

  CHAPTER XXXIII.

  JOHANNES VON MUeLLER.

  The French authorities had informed the municipality of Berlin thatpeace had been concluded at Tilsit, between the Emperor of the Frenchand the King of Prussia. They ordered that the inhabitants of Berlin, inview of this important event, should manifest their gratification in apublic manner. German singers were to perform a _Te Deum_ at thecathedral in honor of this treaty, and at night the people were to show,by a general illumination, that they rejoiced at the restoration ofpeace. The rulers of the city had issued orders to this effect, and thecitizens were obliged to obey, although deeply affected by thehumiliating terms of the treaty, which the _Berlin Telegraph_ hadcommunicated in a jubilant editorial. The capital of Prussia had tocelebrate the disgrace of the country by a festive illumination. But thepublic officials could not compel the people to give their hearts tosuch outward rejoicings, or even to manifest their approval by theirpresence. At the cathedral, the organist with his choristers sang theordered _Te Deum_ to the accompaniment of kettle-drums, but the churchwas empty. Only the French officers and a few hired renegades witnessedthe solemnity.

  At night, all Berlin was in a blaze of colored flame, but the streetswere deserted. No glad populace were thronging them--no cheering ormerry laughter was to be heard; only here and there, troops of Frenchsoldiers were loitering and singing loudly; or a crowd of idlers, suchas are to be found wherever their curiosity can be gratified, and who,devoid of honor and character, are the same in all cities. The betterclasses remained at home, and disdained to cast even a fugitive glanceon the dazzling scene. Nowhere had more lights been kindled than wereordered by the French authorities. At one house, however, on BehrenStreet, a more brilliant illumination was to be seen; variegated lampswere there artistically grouped around two busts that stood in strangeharmony, side by side, and excited the astonishment of all passers-by.They were the busts of Frederick the Great and Napoleon, on whoseforeheads beamed the same radiant light. At this house lived Johannesvon Mueller, the historian of Switzerland, who had caused this exhibitionto be made, and who surveyed his work with smiling face. "It is allright," he said to himself, "it is a beautiful spectacle--those splendidheads; and it does my heart good that I have succeeded in this annoyanceto my opponents. They shall see that I am not afraid of their attacks,and that I am quietly pursuing my career, in spite of their slanders.They call me a renegade, because I did not escape with the rest; theycall me a friend of the French, because I delivered a French address atthe Academy on the birthday of Frederick the Great, and their vulgarminds were displeased because in that speech I dared to compare Napoleonwith Frederick. It is also distasteful to them that I have renounced thetitle of secret councillor of war, and call myself, briefly and simply,Johannes Mueller. As if a title were not a superfluous addition toJohannes Mueller, whom Germany loved before he had a title, and whom shewill love when he has one no longer. Yes, my enemies envy my glory, theycall me a friend of the French simply because I do not abuse them intheir absence, and in their presence keep quiet and assume a stupidindifference. I keep my hands free; I write openly; I am no hiddenreviler of the French, but a public worshipper of all that is sublime.For this reason I have placed here, side by side, the busts of the twogreatest men to whom the last century has given birth. And now, greatheroes! shine upon me in the radiance which a man whom the people havehonored with the name of the German Tacitus, has kindled for you! Shedyour lustre on the city, and tell the Germans that Johannes von Muellerdoes homage to genius, regardless of nationality or birth! Watch overthe study of the historian, and while he works guard him from thespirits of evil!" He waved his hands to the busts, and was about to sitdown to his books and papers, when his old servant entered to inform himthat a gentleman wished to see the councillor of war immediately.

  "Michael Fuchs," exclaimed Mueller, "how often have I told you not toaddress me by that absurd title, which, I hope, I shall soon cast off asthe ripe chestnut its capsule. Councillor of War! For my part, I nevercounselled any one to commence this senseless war, and now that there ispeace, I scarcely regard myself as a Prussian functionary; and yet youcontinue repeating that ridiculous title!"

  "Well, well," said the old servant, smiling, "when we received thattitle four years ago, we were overjoyed and felt very proud. It istrue, times have changed, and I believe that Clarke, the French general,with whom we dined again to-day, does not like the title much. We may,therefore, cast it aside. But, sir, while we are quarrelling here, thegentleman outside is waiting to be admitted."

  "You are right, Michael Fuchs," said Johannes von Mueller, in a gentletone, as if he desired to pacify him; "let the stranger come in."

  Old Michael nodded pleasantly to his master. Opening the door andstepping out, he said aloud: "Come in, sir! I have announced you, and M.von Mueller awaits you."

  "He is a very good, faithful old fellow!" murmured Johannes von Mueller,meeting the visitor who was entering the room.

  "Oh, M. von Nostitz," exclaimed Mueller, joyously, "you here in Berlin! Ithought you were on your estates."

  "I was not on my estates, but at Memel with our king," said M. vonNostitz, gravely. "Honored with some commissions by his majesty, I havearrived here, and as one of them concerns you, Mr. Councillor, I havehastened to call upon you."

  "The king, then, has received my letter at last and grants myresignation?" asked Mueller, quickly.

  "The king has received your letter," replied M. von Nostitz.

  "And my resignation? You come to notify me that it has been accepted?"exclaimed Mueller, impatiently.

  "Then you are really in earnest about your request?" asked M. vonNostitz, almost sternly. "I must tell you that none of us would believeit, and that I have come to entreat you in the name of the king and thequeen--in the name of all your friends, who, faithful to their duty,followed the royal couple, to change your mind and remain with us. Thequeen, especially, refuses to believe that Johannes von Mueller, thegreat historian, who, but a few months ago, spoke and wrote for Prussiawith so ardent an enthusiasm, now intends to leave us voluntarily and toescape in faithless egotism from the calamities that have overwhelmed usall. I am to beg you in the name of the queen to remain with us. Hermajesty cannot and will not believe that you are in earnest about thisresolution to resign your office and leave the country. She hascommissioned me to beg you not to treat the state at this criticaljuncture in so ignominious a manner as to despair of it, and assures youthat your salary will always be punctually paid. She admonishes youthrough me to think of your numerous friends here, of the favorabledisposition of the Prussian government toward you, of the agreeable lifeyou are leading in Berlin, and, finally, of the work on Frederick theGreat, which you have just commenced, and to remain in the Prussianservice."

  "The kindness and solicitude manifested by her majesty cannot butprofoundly touch my heart," exclaimed Mueller, in a tremulous voice, "andI wish from the bottom of my heart, which is truly loyal and devoted tothe royal house of Prussia, that I were allowed to comply with thesegracious words. Her majesty and all my friends know the high opinion andsanguine hopes which I entertain with regard to Prussia, and that I feelconvinced Providence has intrusted to this state the championship oftruth, liberty, and justice in Germany."

  "The queen is right also in saying that I am leading quite an agreeablelife here; and that Berlin, if it should become a great centre ofeducation for the north, would be a highly interesting place. It is verytrue, too, that I have warm friends here; that I am living at a finevilla; that I have no indispensable duties to perform every day, andthat my salary has hitherto been promptly paid. But I confess I feelattracted toward my dear friends in Southern Germany and Switzerland. Iam longing for peace and quiet, to finish my history of the land ofTell, but here I do not see any prospect of it. I am afraid, on thecontrary, that the ferment and commotion of affairs will last a goodwhile yet. I have been assured that important reforms and reductions inthe financial administration of the country are in contemplati
on, andthat men of high rank, who have served the state for half a century, andare by no means wealthy, will suffer; how, then, could I hope that thesereforms would leave me untouched, when I have been but three years inthe Prussian service?"

  "That is to say, you are afraid of losing your salary, notwithstandingthe queen's assurances?" asked M. von Nostitz.

  "That is to say, I am unfortunately not rich enough to be contented withless; I have nothing but my salary, and have to pay my debts with it.When Prussia lost two-thirds of her revenues, I offered to give up myposition here, which yields me an income of three thousand dollars. Ibelieve that was honorable, and will cast no reproach on my characterand sentiments."

  "That is to say, sir, you tendered your resignation because the King ofWuertemberg offered you a professorship at the University of Tuebingen."

  "But I should never have accepted it had I not deemed it incumbent uponme not to receive any money at the hands of Prussia at a time when herexchequer is hardly able to pay the salary of a superfluous savant. Takeinto consideration that, when I accept this offer, which would firstnecessitate my removal from the Prussian service, I cannot assuredly becharged with having done so from motives of avarice. Other reasons impelme to leave a pleasant position in the finest city of Germany, and moveto a small university town, where I shall have only half the salary I amreceiving here. I shall live in a remote corner of the world, but beenabled to lead a calm, undisturbed life, and finish the works I havecommenced."

  "All my remonstrances, the wishes of the queen, the exhortations of yourfriends, are in vain, then?" asked M. von Nostitz.

  "I requested his majesty the King of Prussia in an autograph letter toaccept my resignation," said Mueller, evasively; "I want, above all, acategorical reply whether I must remain or go."

  "You may go, sir," exclaimed Nostitz, almost contemptuously. Taking apaper from his memorandum-book, he added, "here, sir, is yourdismission. I was ordered to deliver it into your hands only when mysolicitations and the representations made in the name of the queenshould make no impression upon you. You are free; the king dismisses youfrom the service; Prussia has nothing further to do with you. Seek yourfortune elsewhere; your glory you will leave here. Farewell!" Salutinghim haughtily, and without giving him time to reply, M. von Nostitzturned and left the room.

  Johannes von Mueller gazed after him with a long, mournful look. "Anotherman who will charge me before my friends and before the world withtreachery, perfidy, and meanness!" he said, shrugging his shoulders."Oh, stupidity and empty words! They want to accuse me of treacherybecause it suits them best, and because they refuse to comprehend that apoor savant ought at least to be protected from want in order to be ableto live for science. A reduction of salaries and pensions is impending;I owe it to myself and to the works I have commenced, to provide againstthis misfortune, and to seek a place where I can labor without beingdisturbed, and, thank God! I have found it. Now I may go to Tuebingen,for I am free!" He took the paper from the table, and hastily breakingthe seal read the contents. "Yes," he repeated, "I am free! I can go.All hail Tuebingen! so near the Alps, so near the grand old forest! Inthy tranquillity I will return to my early enthusiasm as to the bride ofmy youth! My history of Switzerland will at last be completed andbequeathed to posterity! Already methinks I breathe the pure air of themountains; and sunny Italy, while I cannot return to her, invites me tothee, quiet Tuebingen!"

  Johannes von Mueller did not perceive that, while he was speaking tohimself, the door behind him had softly opened, and a gentleman, wrappedin a cloak, his face shaded by a broad-brimmed hat, had entered the roomand overheard the last words. The savant, staring at the muscular formof this stranger, drew back in surprise. "What does this mean?" hemuttered. "Where is Michael Fuchs?"

  "Michael Fuchs is outside, and considers it very natural that an oldfriend should desire to surprise his master rather than be solemnlyannounced," said the stranger, approaching and taking off his hat.

  "Frederick von Gentz!" exclaimed Mueller, in a joyful voice, yet notaltogether free from fear. "My friend, you dare to come hither, and yetyou must know that the emperor of the French is highly exasperated atyou; that he believes you to be the author of all sorts of seditiouspamphlets, and that it would be very agreeable to him to have youarrested and confined."

  "Yes, it is true," said Gentz, in his careless, merry way, "NapoleonBonaparte does me the honor of being afraid of me and my pen, and wouldlike to render me harmless, as he did poor Palm. Once I was in imminentdanger of falling into the hands of his police, and I escaped indisguise, but only after a great deal of trouble."

  "And yet you dare to come to the seat of the French administration inGermany?" exclaimed Mueller. "Oh, my friend, your danger nearly deprivesme of the delight I feel in seeing you again, and I have to mingle myloving salutations with warnings and presentiments!"

  "You are right; I was rather bold in entering the cobweb of the Frenchspiders," said Gentz. "Still, it is not so dangerous as you believe, andyou may be perfectly at ease so far as I am concerned. I am here with acharming lady friend, the Princess Bagration. I figured on her passportas her private secretary, and have a regular Russian one of my own,purporting to be issued to M. de Gentzowitch. Besides, no one suspectsme here; we have just arrived, and will leave Berlin to-morrow beforedaybreak to return to Dresden. We are now at peace with France, and theauthorities here will hardly dare to lay hands on a subject of theEmperor of Russia, the friend and admirer of the Emperor of the French.You see, therefore, you need not be afraid about me, and I may safelychat with you for an hour here in your study."

  "Then, my dear friend, let me welcome you," exclaimed Mueller; "let usenjoy this hour, and renew the pledge of friendship." Mueller welcomedGentz with great cordiality, but the latter did not share the ardor ofhis friend.

  "You have remained faithful to our reminiscences?" Gentz asked, asMueller led him to the sofa, and sat by his side. "You have not forgottenthe past, and your heart still retains its old friendship?" Whileuttering these words, he fixed his dark eyes on the face of Johannes vonMueller, who seemed not to be able to bear his steadfast gaze, and becameembarrassed.

  "Oh, my friend!" he exclaimed, "how can you ask whether I remember otherdays? My heart frequently feels exalted at the idea of friendship, whichso few can appreciate at its true value. What attachment was that ofJonathan, himself a victorious warrior, for Jesse's noble son! How greatJonathan was, who knew that the throne of Israel would pass from hishouse to David! I was always affected by David's exclamation atJonathan's death. I thought of it just now. And Scipio had adisinterested friendship for Laelius, although he was aware that enviousmen desired to rob him of the glory of having conquered Carthage, andascribed every thing to the skilful plans of Laelius. Just as if, when Inarrate the heroic deeds of our ancestors, some one should say, 'Thebest passages were written by his friend!' What Scipio felt was onceillustrated, at a private dinner, by Ferdinand of Brunswick, the hero ofCrefeld and Minden. He also had a friend, and to him were attributed thesuccesses of the prince. Ferdinand himself smilingly said to me,'Between real friends it is a matter of indifference to whom the creditis given.' Oh, the spirits of David, Jonathan, and Scipio, must haverejoiced at these words as heartily as I did. So, my dear Gentz, you askme whether I have forgotten our friendship?"

  "Words, words!" exclaimed Gentz, indignantly. "Instead of deeds, youhave nothing but words. I will speak to you plainly, and with thesincerity of a true German. That is what I have come for."

  "Like a true German?" repeated Mueller. "Are there still any trueGermans? Are they not by this time extinct, leaving behind only slavesand renegades? This is not the age for true Germans, and if any reallyexist, they ought to hide themselves and be silent."

  "And you can say that--you who once called so enthusiastically fordeeds?" exclaimed Gentz, indignantly. "Listen to me, Johannes vonMueller! I tell you once more, it is for your sake that I have come. Iwanted to appear before you either as your guilty conscience or as
yourfriend, as your judge or as your ally. I refused to believe in all thatwas told me about you. I would trust only my own ears, my own eyes.Johannes von Mueller, I have come to ask you: Do you still remember theoath we took in so solemn a manner at Frankfort?"

  "I do," said Johannes von Mueller, timidly. "Carried away by theenthusiasm of our hopes, we covenanted for the welfare of Germany, andespecially for her deliverance from foreign tyranny."

  "We swore to unite in active love for Germany, and in active hatredagainst France," exclaimed Gentz, solemnly. "I have fulfilled my oath; Ihave toiled incessantly for the deliverance of Germany. The persecutionsI have suffered at the hands of the French, and Napoleon's wrath, speakfor me! I have well improved my time. But what have you done? Where arethe friends enlisted for our covenant? Where are the allies gatheredaround you to assist against France? The time for action is coming, andwe must be ready to fight the battle and expel the tyrant. Johannes vonMueller, where are the troops you have enlisted--the men you have gainedover to our cause?"

  "I have enlisted no troops--prepared no battles, and concentrated nocorps," said Mueller, sighing. "On the battle-field of Jena lie buriednot only our soldiers, but our hopes. The disaster is boundless; name,rights, existence--all gone! A new order of things is at hand. The greatperiod of many monarchies, since the downfall of the Roman empire, isclosed. No other path to prosperity and glory remains to us than that ofthe arts of peace; we cannot succeed by war."

  "It is true, then," exclaimed Gentz, mournfully, "that you are a traitorand a renegade, and have not been slandered! You have not only lost yourfaith, but the consciousness of your perfidy! Oh, I refused to believeit; I thought it was impossible. I did have confidence in you. It waswell known to me that you had long since lost your courage andinclination to struggle for our cause. I was also aware that, evenbefore the commencement of the war between Prussia and France, yourirresolution and timidity had increased. I was not greatly surprised,therefore, that you remained at Berlin when all faithful men left thecapital, or, as some assert, you returned hither agreeably to aninvitation from the French. After this, I was no longer astonished atseeing you repudiate your principles, your glory, your friends, thecause of Germany, every thing great and good that you had advocated foryears, and truckle in the most cowardly manner to the conqueror, carryon disgraceful secret negotiations with him, and issue equivocaldeclarations and confessions; but that you should betray all that oughtto be dear to you--that you should publicly renounce your principles--ofsuch treachery I never deemed you capable!"

  "And where did I commit any such treachery?" asked Mueller,reproachfully; "where did I secretly or publicly renounce all that hadhitherto been dear to me? Tell me, accuse me! I will justify myself!This will show you how ardently I love you, for I will accept you as ajudge of my actions, and allow you to acquit me or to find me guilty."

  "Be it so!" exclaimed Gentz. "I do not stand before you as anindividual; but as the voice of Germany--of posterity, that will judgeand condemn you if you are unable to justify yourself. Listen to thecharges, and reply to them! Why did you remain in Berlin when the courtfled; when all those who were loyal to the king and his cause left thecapital, because they refused to bow their heads to the French yoke?"

  "I remained because I did not see any reason for fleeing. I am noprominent politician; politics, on the contrary, are only a matter ofsecondary importance to me. My principal sphere is science, and everything connected with it. Now I was better able to serve it here thanelsewhere. I had my books here, and a large number was on the way to me;accordingly, I had to wait for them; besides I had commenced studyingthe royal archives of Berlin to obtain material for my history ofFrederick II. These are the reasons why I remained, and I confess to youthat I had no cause to repent of it. No one injured me, or asked anything dishonorable of me; no one insisted on my doing any thingincompatible with my duty and loyalty; on the contrary, all treated mepolitely. They seemed to regard me as one of the ancients, living onlyin and for posterity. Never before was the dignity of historical sciencehonored in a more delicate manner than by the treatment I received atthe hands of the French. Thus, amid the crash of falling thrones, I havequietly continued at my history of Switzerland, written articles forseveral reviews, and made extracts from many of the ancient classics,from the whole _Muratorian Thesaurus_, and from other printed andmanuscript volumes. This, my friend, is a brief sketch of the quiet andretired life I have led since the disastrous day of Jena."

  "You forgot to mention several essential points in your sketch," saidGentz, sternly. "You did not allude to your friendly intercourse withNapoleon's praetorians; you forgot even to refer to the remarkable visityou paid to the Emperor of the French. How could you, who so recently inpublic addresses had called upon every one to rise against theusurper--how could you dare to enter the lion's lair without fearinglest he strike you dead by a single blow? Napoleon Bonaparte mightinvite me twenty times in the most flattering manner, I should stilltake care to refuse, for I feel convinced that I should never return.The bullets that struck Palm's breast would be remoulded for me. How didit come that you did not feel any such apprehensions? How could you hopethat the French would forgive your former Prussian patriotism, unlessyou had made concessions to them--unless you had proved recreant to thecause to which you had hitherto adhered?"

  "I made no concessions. They were unnecessary; no one asked me to makethem," said Johannes von Mueller, gently. "I remained in Berlin, becauseI was unable to flee with my whole library, and because I was no morebribed by France than by England, or any other power."

  "Ah, I understand you; you will now turn the table, and accuse meinstead of justifying yourself. It is a very common thing nowadays totell marvellous stories about the large sums with which England hasbribed me to speak and write against the usurper, who tramples upon ourfreedom and nationality. You can scarcely open a newspaper withoutfinding in it, side by side with eulogies of the great German historian,and of the gratifying manner in which 'Napoleon, the hero, whoseeagle-eye discerns every thing, knew how to appreciate his merits,'systematic attacks against me, and allusions to the rumor that I hadbeen bribed by England."

  "I did not intend accusing you," said Mueller. "I am only justifyingmyself; first, as to my remaining here, and, secondly, as to the visit Ipaid to the Emperor Napoleon. He sent for me, and, rest assured, I didnothing whatever to bring about this invitation. Ought I to haverefused? He did not say a word about the king, the queen, myself, mywishes or plans. Dear friend, will you permit me to relate to you theparticulars of my interview with Napoleon? Will you listen to mequietly, so as to judge for yourself whether that visit, which has beencensured so severely, was really so great a crime, so terrible aperfidy against Germany, as my enemies have seen fit to pretend?"

  "Speak! I told you already that I come to accuse you in the name ofGermany and of posterity, and to listen to your justification."