at the time； but the infallible judgment the Emperor displayed in his
choice of plays and actors was most remarkable。 He generally gave M。
Corvisart the preference in deciding these matters； on which he descanted
with much complacence when his more weighty occupations allowed。 He was
usually less severe and more just than Geoffroy； and it is much to be
desired that the criticisms and opinions of the Emperor concerning
authors and actors could have been preserved。 They would have been of
much benefit to the progress of art。
In speaking of the retreat from Moscow； I related previously in my
memoirs that I had the good fortune to offer a place in my carriage to
the young Prince of Aremborg； and assisted him in continuing his journey。
I recall another occasion in the life of this prince； when one of my
friends was very useful to him； some particulars of which may not be
without interest。
The Prince of Aremberg； an ordnance officer of the Emperor； had； as we
know； married Mademoiselle Tascher； niece of the Empress Josephine。
Having been sent into Spain； he was there taken by the English； and
afterwards carried a prisoner to England。 His captivity was at first
very disagreeable； and he told me himself that he was very unhappy； until
he made the acquaintance of one of my friends； M。 Herz； commissary of
war； who possessed a fine mind； was very intelligent； spoke several
languages； and was； like the prince； a prisoner in England。 The
acquaintance formed at once between the prince and M。 Herz soon became so
intimate that they were constantly together； and thus passed the time as
happily as it can with one far from his native land and deprived of his
liberty。
They were living thus； ameliorating for each other the ennui of
captivity； when M。 Herz was exchanged； which was； perhaps； a great
misfortune for him； as we shall afterwards see。 At all events； the
prince was deeply distressed at being left alone； but； nevertheless； gave
M。 Herz several letters to his family； and at the same time sent his
mother his mustache； which he had mounted in a medallion with a chain。
One day the Princess of Aremberg arrived at SaintCloud and demanded a
private audience of the Emperor。
〃My son；〃 said she； 〃demands your Majesty's permission to attempt his
escape from England。〃〃Madame；〃 said the Emperor； 〃your request is most
embarrassing！ I do not forbid your son； but I can by no means authorize
him。〃
It was at the time I had the honor of saving the Prince of Aremberg's
life that I learned from him these particulars。 As for my poor friend
Herz； his liberty became fatal to him； owing to an inexplicable
succession of events。 Having been sent by Marshal Augereau to Stralsund
to perform a secret mission； he died there； suffocated by the fire of a
brass stove in the room in which he slept。 His secretary and his servant
nearly fell victims to the same accident； but； more fortunate than he；
their lives were saved。 The Prince of Aremberg spoke to me of the death
of M。 Herz with real feeling； and it was easy to see that； prince as he
was and allied to the Emperor； he entertained a most sincere friendship
for his companion in captivity。
CHAPTER； XXXI。
MILITARY ANECDOTES。
I have collected under the title of Military Anecdotes some facts which
came to my knowledge while I accompanied the Emperor on his campaigns；
and the authenticity of which I guarantee。 I might have scattered them
through my memoirs； and placed them in their proper periods； my not
having done so is not owing to forgetfulness on my part； but because I
thought that these incidents would have an added interest by being
collected together； since in them we see the direct influence of the
Emperor upon his soldiers； and thus can more easily form an exact idea of
the manner in which his Majesty treated them； his consideration for them；
and their attachment to his person。
During the autumn of 1804； between the time of the creation of the empire
and the coronation of the Emperor； his Majesty made several journeys to
the camp of Boulogne； and from this fact rumors arose that the expedition
against England would soon set sail。 In one of his frequent tours of
inspection； the Emperor； stopping one day near the end of the camp on the
left； spoke to a cannoneer from a guard ship； and while conversing with
him； asked him several questions； among others； the following； 〃What is
thought here of the Emperor？〃〃That 'sacre tondu' puts us out of breath
as soon as he arrives。 Each time he comes we have not a moment's repose
while he is here。 It might be thought he was enraged against those dogs
of English who are always beating us； not much to our own credit。〃
〃You believe in glory； then？〃 said the Emperor。 The cannoneer then
looked at him fixedly： 〃Somewhat； I think。 Do you doubt it？〃 〃No； I do
not doubt it； but money； do you believe in that also？〃〃Ah！ whatI see
do you mean to insult me； you questioner？ I know no other interest
than that of the state。〃〃No； no； my brave soldier； I do not intend to
insult you； but I bet that a twenty…franc piece would not be disagreeable
to you in drinking a cup to my health。〃 While speaking thus the Emperor
had drawn a Napoleon from his pocket； which he presented to the
cannoneer； whereupon the latter uttered a shout loud enough to be heard
by the sentinel at the west post some distance off； and even threw
himself on the Emperor； whom he took for a spy； and was about to seize
him by the throat when the Emperor suddenly opened his gray overcoat and
revealed his identity。 The soldier's astonishment may be imagined！ He
prostrated himself at the feet of the Emperor； overcome with confusion at
his mistake； but the latter； extending his hand； said； 〃Rise； my brave
fellow； you have done your duty； but you will not keep your word； I am
very sure； you will accept this piece； and drink to the health of the
'sacre tondo'； will you not？ 〃The Emperor then continued his rounds as
if nothing had occurred。
Every one admits to…day that never； perhaps； has any man been gifted to
the same degree as the Emperor with the art of addressing soldiers。 He
appreciated this talent highly in others； but it was not fine phrases
which pleased him； and accordingly he held that a master…piece of this
kind was the very short harangue of General Vandamme to the soldiers he
commanded the day of the battle of Austerlitz。 When day began to break
General Vandamme said to the troops； 〃My brave fellows！ There are the
Russians！ Load your pieces； pick your flints； put powder in the pan； fix
bayonets； ready andforward！〃 I remember one day the Emperor spoke of
this oration before Marshal Berthier； who laughed at it。 〃That is like
you；〃 he said。 〃Well； all the advocates of Paris would not have said it
so well； the soldier understands this； and that is the way battles are
won。〃
When after the first campaign of Vienna； so happily terminated by the
peace of Presburg； the Emperor was returning to Paris； many complaints
reached him against the exactions of certain generals； notably General
Vandamme。 Complaint was made； amongst other grievances； that in the
little village of Lantza this general had allowed himself five hundred
florins per day； that is to say； eleven hundred and twenty…five francs；
simply for the daily expenses of his table。 It was on this occasion the
Emperor said of him： 〃Pillages like a madman； but brave as Caesar。〃
Nevertheless； the Emperor； indignant at such exactions； and determined to
put an end to them； summoned the general to Paris to reprimand him； but
the latter； as soon as he entered the Emperor's presence； began to speak
before his Majesty had time to address him； saying； 〃Sire； I know why you
have summoned me； but as you know my devotion and my bravery I trust you
will excuse some slight altercations as to the furnishing of my table；
matters too petty； at any rate； to occupy your Majesty。〃 The Emperor
smiled at the oratorical skillfulness of General Vandamme； and contented
himself with saying； 〃Well； well！ say no more； but be more circumspect
in future。〃
General Vandamme； happy to have escaped with so gentle an admonition；
returned to Lantza to resume his command。 He was indeed more circumspect
than in the past； but he found and seized the occasion to revenge himself
on the town for the compulsory self…denial the Emperor had imposed on
him。 On his arrival he found in the suburbs a large number of recruits
who had come from Paris in his absence； and it occurred to him to make
them all enter the town； alleging that it was indispensable they should
be drilled under his own eyes。 This was an enormous expense to the town；
which would have been very willing to recall its complaints； and continue
his expenses at the rate of five hundred florins per day。
The Emperor does not figure in the following anecdote。 I will relate it；
however； as a good instance of the manners and the astuteness of our
soldiers on the campaign。
During the year 1806； a part of our troops having their quarters in
Bavaria； a soldier of the fourth regiment of the line； named Varengo； was
lodged at Indersdorff with a joiner。 Varengo wished to compel his host
to pay him two florins； or four livres ten sous； per day for his
pleasures。 He had no right to exact this。 To succeed in making it to
his interest to comply he set himself to make a continual racket in the
house。 The poor carpenter； not being able to endure it longer； resolved
to complain； but thought it prudent not to carry his complaints to the
officers of the company in which Varengo served。 He knew by his own
experience； at least by that of his neighbors； that these gentlemen were
by no means accessible to complaints of this kind。 He decided to address
himself to the general commanding； and set out on the road to Augsburg；
the chief place of the arrondissement。
On his arrival at the bureau of the town； he was met by the general； and
began to submit to him an account of his misfortunes； but unfortunately
the general did not know the German language； so he sent for his
interpreter； told the carpenter to explain himself； and inquired of what
he complained。 Now； the genera