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Emperor saluted him with； 〃Good…day； Monsieur le Due； be seated next to
me。〃
The marshal； astonished at being addressed by this title； thought at
first that his Majesty was jesting； but seeing that he made a point of
calling him Monsieur le； Due he was overcome with astonishment。 The
Emperor； to increase his embarrassment； said to him； 〃Do you like
chocolate； Monsieur le Duc？〃〃Butyes； Sire。〃〃Well； we have none for
breakfast； but I will give you a pound from the very town of Dantzig； for
since you have conquered it； it is but just that it should make you some
return。〃 Thereupon the Emperor left the table； opened a little casket；
took therefrom a package in the shape of a long square； and handed it to
Marshal Lefebvre； saying to him； 〃Duke of Dantzig； accept this chocolate；
little gifts preserve friendship。〃 The marshal thanked his Majesty； put
the chocolate in his pocket； and took his seat again at table with the
Emperor and Marshal Berthier。 A 'pate' in the shape of the town of
Dantzig was in the midst of the table； and when this was to be served the
Emperor said to the new duke； 〃They could not have given this dish a form
which would have pleased me more。 Make the attack； Monsieur le Duc；
behold your conquest； it is yours to do the honors。〃 The duke obeyed；
and the three guests ate of the pie； which they found much to their
taste。 On his return； the marshal； Duke of Dantzig； suspecting a
surprise in the little package which the Emperor had given him； hastened
to open it； and found a hundred thousand crowns in bank…notes。 In
imitation of this magnificent present； the custom was established in the
army of calling money； whether in pieces or in bank…notes； Dantzig
chocolate； and when the soldiers wished to be treated by any comrade who
happened to have a little money in his pocket； would say to him； 〃Come；
now； have you no Dantzig chocolate in your pocket？〃
The almost superstitious fancy of his Majesty the Emperor in regard to
coincidences in dates and anniversaries was strengthened still more by
the victory of Friedland； which was gained on June 14； 1807； seven years
to the very day after the battle of Marengo。 The severity of the winter；
the difficulty in furnishing supplies （for which the Emperor had however
made every possible provision and arrangement）； added to the obstinate
courage of the Russians； had made this a severe campaign； especially to
conquerors whom the incredible rapidity of their successes in Prussia had
accustomed to sudden conquests。 The division of glory which he had been
compelled to make with the Russians was a new experience in the Emperor's
military career； but at Friedland he regained his advantage and his
former superiority。 His Majesty； by a feigned retreat； in which he let
the enemy see only a part of his forces； drew the Russians into a decoy
on the Elbe； so complete that they found themselves shut in between that
river and our army。 This victory was gained by troops of the line and
cavalry； and the Emperor did not even find it necessary to use his
Guards； while those of the Emperor Alexander was almost entirely
destroyed in protecting the retreat； or rather the flight； of the
Russians； who could escape from the pursuit of our soldiers only by the
bridge of Friedland； a few narrow pontoons； and an almost impassable
ford。
The regiments of the line in the French army covered the plain； and the
Emperor； occupying a post of observation on a height whence he could
overlook the whole field of battle； was seated in an armchair near a
mill； surrounded by his staff。 I never saw him in a gayer mood； as he
conversed with the generals who awaited his orders； and seemed to enjoy
eating the black Russian bread which was baked in the shape of bricks。
This bread； made from inferior rye flour and full of long straws； was the
food of all the soldiers； and they knew that his Majesty ate it as well
as themselves。 The beautiful weather favored the skillful maneuvers of
the army； and they performed prodigies of valor。 The cavalry charges
especially were executed with so much precision that the Emperor sent his
congratulations to the regiments。
About four o'clock in the afternoon； when the two armies were pressing
each other on every side； and thousands of cannon caused the earth to
tremble； the Emperor exclaimed； 〃If this continues two hours longer； the
French army will be left standing on the plain alone。〃 A few moments
after he gave orders to the Count Dorsenne； general of the foot
grenadiers of the Old Guard； to fire on a brick…yard； behind which masses
of Russians and Prussians were intrenched； and in the twinkling of an eye
they were compelled to abandon this position； and a horde of
sharpshooters set out in pursuit of the fugitives。
The Guard made this movement at five o'clock； and at six the battle was
entirely won。 The Emperor said to those who were near him； while
admiring the splendid behavior of the Guard； 〃Look at those brave
fellows； with a good…will they would run over the stone…slingers and pop…
guns of the line； in order to teach them to charge without waiting for
them； but it would have been useless； as the work has been well done
without them。〃
His Majesty went in person to compliment several regiments which had
fought the whole day。 A few words； a smile； a salute of the hand； even a
nod； was sufficient recompense to these brave fellows who had just been
crowned with victory。
The number of the dead and prisoners was enormous； and seventy banners；
with all the equipments of the Russian army； were left in the hands of
the French。
After this decisive day； the Emperor of Russia； who had rejected the
proposals made by his Majesty after the battle of Eylau； found himself
much disposed to make the game on his own account； and General Bennigsen
consequently demanded an armistice in the name of his Emperor； which his
Majesty granted； and a short time after a treaty of peace was signed； and
the famous interview between the two sovereigns held on the banks of the
Niemen。 I shall pass over rapidly the details of this meeting； which
have been published and repeated innumerable times。 His Majesty and the
young Czar conceived a mutual affection from the first moment of their
meeting； and each gave fetes and amusements in honor of the other。 They
were in inseparable in public and private； and passed hours together in
meetings for pleasure only； from which all intruders were carefully
excluded。 The town of Tilsit was declared neutral； and French； Russians；
and Prussians followed the example set them by their sovereigns； and
lived together in the most intimate brotherhood。
The King and Queen of Prussia soon after joined their Imperial Majesties
at Tilsit； though this unfortunate monarch； to whom there remained hardly
one town of the whole kingdom he had possessed； was naturally little
disposed to take part in so much festivity。 The queen was beautiful and
graceful； though perhaps somewhat haughty and severe； which did not
prevent her being adored by all who surrounded her。 The Emperor sought
to please her； and she neglected none of the innocent coquetries of her
sex in order to soften the heart of the conqueror of her husband。 The
queen several times dined with the sovereigns； seated between the two
Emperors； who vied with each other in overwhelming her with attentions
and gallantries。 It is well known that the Emperor Napoleon offered her
one day a splendid rose； which after some hesitation she accepted； saying
to his Majesty with a most charming smile； 〃With Magdeburg； at least。〃
And it is well known also that the Emperor did not accept the condition。
The princess had among her ladies of honor a very old woman； who was most
highly esteemed。 One evening as the queen was being escorted into the
dining…hall by the two Emperors； followed by the King of Prussia； Prince
Murat； and the Grand Duke Constantine； this old lady of honor gave way to
the two latter princes。 Grand Duke Constantine would not take precedence
of her； but entirely spoiled this act of politeness by exclaiming in a
rude tone； 〃Pass； madame； pass on！〃 And turning towards the King of
Naples； added