Napoleon and the Queen of Prussia

  CHAPTER XXXV.

  FINANCIAL CALAMITIES.

  "Heaven be praised that you are again restored to us!" exclaimed thequeen, smiling gratefully, and offering her hand to Minister von Stein."Oh, believe me, such a sunbeam is welcome to us in these dreary days ofMemel."

  "It is true," said Stein, sighing. "Your majesty has passed disastrousdays, and I am glad that I am able again to assist my adored queen inher troubles."

  She shook her head mournfully. "I do not believe in the possibility ofany alleviation or change. We have suffered great misfortunes, andgreater may befall us. Since the days of Jena and Auerstadt our sorrowshave increased. We are constantly experiencing some new humiliation;even the treaty of Tilsit is not the climax of our calamities. They comeas an avalanche, and sometimes I wish to be buried beneath them."

  "Then the last ray of hope for Prussia would disappear," said Stein."If your majesty desert us, we are irretrievably lost, for your life,your courage, and your spirit, are the support of your husband. WithoutLouisa, Prussia and her king would perish."

  "Oh, it is true he loves me," cheerfully exclaimed the queen. "The kingtreats me more affectionately than ever. And that is great happinessafter a wedded life of fourteen years! I will be grateful to him as longas I live, and to Prussia for loving me. But, alas! I have no otherthanks for them than my devotion and my prayers!"

  "You have still your courage and a strong hope in the future of yourcountry. You must animate the desponding and strengthen the weak. Letthat be your majesty's great and holy duty."

  "You are right, I must not despair," responded the queen, "and I thankyou for having admonished me. Oh, it is sometimes very difficult to bearsuch disasters, and I feel that my health is giving way more and more.And tell me where am I to look for consolation? The storm is upon us,and where shall we find a refuge? How shall we escape the thunderbolt?"

  "In our hopes for a more glorious future," said Stein, energetically.

  "Future!" exclaimed Louisa. "There is no future without independence,and where is that to be found to-day? All are slaves and bow in the mostabject humility to a master who, in his turn, is but the slave of hisown boundless ambition and arrogance, and, alas! there is no man livingwho would dare to set bounds to them! Do you know how disdainfully ourenvoy, M. von Knobelsdorf, was treated? He was utterly unable to preferhis remonstrances and prayers that Prussia might be protected fromfurther extortion, and that the French armies might be withdrawn.Napoleon received him but once, and then, as it were, accidentally. ThePrince of Baden and Cambaceres were in the room, and our ambassador wasno more noticed than a crumb of bread. The emperor's attendants treatedhim in the same manner, and Minister Champagny remarked to Knobelsdorfthat they would see how Prussia behaved. He hoped we would comply asmuch as possible with the emperor's wishes, for such a course wouldalone be likely to give us relief, and that we ought to blame no one butourselves. Are you aware of this, and are you still hopeful and speak ofa happy future?"

  "Yes, I am aware of all this, and it is precisely for this reason Ispeak as I do," said Stein. "We must work to dispel the dangers to whichyour majesty referred; we must erect lightning-rods to attract thedangerous fire. If your majesty had a less vigorous soul, I shouldconceal from you the calamities still threatening Prussia,notwithstanding the treaty of Tilsit; but Queen Louisa is the genius ofPrussia, and I apply to her for assistance!"

  "Oh!" exclaimed the queen, anxiously, "bad tidings again, I suppose?"

  "Yes," said Stein, sadly--"bad tidings! We have received the lastpropositions or rather decrees of Napoleon. He imposes on Prussiacontributions amounting to one hundred and fifty millions, one-third tobe paid immediately in cash; bills will be accepted for fifty millions,and estates are to be ceded to France for the last fifty millions. Thefive fortresses of Graudenz, Kolberg, Stettin, Kuestrin, and Glogau aredemanded as security for the payment. Forty thousand French soldiers areto garrison the fortresses, ten thousand of whom will be cavalry,uniformed, armed, and fed by Prussia, which is to furnish twelvemillions for this purpose. The estates of the king in the districts ofMagdeburg and Brandenburg, between the Elbe and the Oder, and inPomerania, are to be ceded and disposed of in what manner the emperormay deem prudent. As the forty thousand men will be unable to findsufficient room in the five fortresses, certain districts of Prussiawill have to be assigned them."

  "And what remains then to the king?" exclaimed Louisa, with flamingeyes. "What remains to us?"

  "This must not be," said Stein. "We must leave nothing undone--we muststrain every nerve to prevent it. The disasters of Prussia compel us toshrink from nothing to avert this last and terrible blow, or the countrywill be hopelessly ruined. Oh, I cannot describe to you the distress,the misery, the disgrace I witnessed in the cities through which Ipassed on my journey. Your majesty knows that I was at Berlin; I sawthat Daru and Clarke behaved in the most reckless and scornful manner,refusing with sneers to listen to any remonstrances. They seemed to bebent on oppressing and impoverishing the country, and drinking the lastdrop of its heart's blood! I beheld everywhere the same heart-rendingspectacle that I witnessed at the capital. Every city and fortress hasits systematic tormentor in some governor or commander, distinguishedfor arrogance and cruelty. The distress is unutterable, and yet thepeople hope for speedy deliverance. The eyes of all are turning withtears, it is true, but with love and hope, to Memel, the heart of thePrussian monarchy. All the hopes of your subjects are centred in theking and the queen; to you they look for alleviation."

  "Alas!" exclaimed the queen, bursting into tears, "is there, then, anyway by which we can help them? Oh, name it! What can the king--what canI do to procure relief for Prussia?"

  "The greatest burden at this moment is the presence of the Frenchtroops, and the oppressive conduct of the public officials, who areopenly disregarding all the laws and institutions of the country, andtrampling under foot the most solemn rights. We must make every possibleeffort to rid Prussia of these men. To accomplish this, we must, in thefirst place, try to find means to pay the first third of thecontribution; and next, to induce Napoleon to grant us better terms forthe payment of the remainder. We must endeavor to induce him to consentto a gradual liquidation (which would be more in accordance with ourability), and without insisting on retaining the fortresses as security,and oppressing us with an army of forty thousand men. In this way ourexhausted treasury would not be required to pay the additional twelvemillions for equipping the French soldiers, and the country would bepreserved from the tyranny of a hostile occupation."

  "But you may depend on it, there is no way to soften that heart ofNapoleon," said the queen, sighing. "He is certainly a victoriouswarrior, but he is not great in the highest sense--he is not good, forhe knows neither compassion nor love. He has marked out his path inlines of blood, and he pursues it over the slain of the battle-field andthe ruins of once prosperous and happy nations. Napoleon has no pity,and our complaints would but gratify his pride."

  "And yet we must try to dispose him to comply with our wishes," saidStein. "The king has resolved upon writing to-day to the EmperorAlexander, and imploring him to instruct Count Tolstoy, his ambassadorin Paris, to remonstrate with Napoleon, and convince him of the crueltyand injustice of his demands. Oh, the king is ready, with an energydeserving the highest admiration, to do every thing to lessen theburdens under which his subjects are groaning. He himself has drawn up afinancial plan to procure the first twelve millions, which we shalloffer to pay immediately. He is ready to order reductions in the budgetof the army, the opera, the ballet, and the extraordinary pensions. Hehimself sets an example of self-denial and economy. He will reducefurther his household, and retain only the most indispensable servants.Notwithstanding my protestations, he insists on refusing to accept thecivil list due him."

  "Oh," exclaimed the queen, "who can call me unhappy when I am the wifeof the noblest of men? But I will also take part in these sacrifices,and I hope the king has also refused to accept the money paid me by thest
ate treasury."

  "No, your majesty. That should not be curtailed; I would never adviseit, and the king would not consent."

  "But I insist," replied the queen, firmly. "My king and husband mustforgive me if I choose for once to have a will of my own. If the king isready to suffer privations, then it is my right and duty to share them."

  "But your majesty ought to think of your children, who would alsosuffer. Pray take into consideration that the royal family would bereduced to a very small income, and that the most rigid economy couldnot preserve you from embarrassments. A portion of the royal estates isto be mortgaged or sold for the purpose of defraying part of the Frenchcontribution; considering the universal distress, it is very probablethat the income to be derived from the other estates will not be paid atall, or very tardily. The king, moreover, gave up very considerableresources by sending the large gold dinner-set to the mint to beconverted into coin, which he did not use for himself or his household,but paid into the state treasury. If your majesty, like the king,refuses to accept money from the treasury, pecuniary difficulties willarise, which will be the more painful to you, as your children willsuffer, deprived of the comforts to which they have been accustomed."

  "That will produce a salutary effect," said the queen, quickly."Circumstances educate men, and it will certainly be good for mychildren to be familiar with something more than the sunniest side oflife. If they had grown up in opulence, they would ever consider it as amatter of course; but that there may be a change, they learn now fromthe gravity of their father, and the tears of their mother. It isespecially good for the crown prince to become acquainted withadversity--when, as I hope, happier times come, he will betterappreciate his prosperity. Let them share our adverse fortune! I knowhow to protect them from real want. I have still some means left, andthe Lord will not forsake us. Do not call this stubbornness orpresumption. You know we have not refrained from every exertion tolessen our calamities. I have even gone so far as to beg the Duke deRovigo, who is now governor of East Prussia, to intercede with theemperor concerning the contributions, and to have restored to us ourestates, because they were our only possessions. Do you know the replythe duke made? He told me that all solicitations would be in vain, andeven the intercession of Russia would be of no avail in regard to thismatter. He added that there remained to us one way of procuring money,and he advised us to sell our plate and jewels."

  "The impudent villain!" exclaimed Stein, indignantly. "How could he goso far as to use such language toward your majesty!"

  "It is true," said the queen, gently, "it pained me grievously, andbrought tears. Not that my heart cares for worldly splendor, but thereis something inexpressibly offensive in the scorn with which those men,and particularly the Duke de Rovigo, imitate the example of theirmaster. But, after all, that sagacious duke was right, perhaps, foruseless jewels may be converted into money. I admit," added the queen,with a smile, "that I had never thought of it; it would never haveoccurred to me that we might get money by selling our personal property.In fact, I ought to be grateful to M. Savary for his advice."

  "Your majesty," said Stein, deeply affected, "you must not think ofselling your jewels. Better times will come. Even in these days ofadversity there will be occasions when you must show yourself to yourpeople at public festivities and demonstrations; they like to see theirqueen adorned in a regal and becoming manner."

  "My most becoming ornament will be simplicity, and the tears ofgratitude with which I shall receive those who wish to honor me."

  "But your jewels are the heirlooms of your children, your majesty."

  "The only inheritance of our children which we are not allowed to partwith is our honor," said the queen, firmly. "We would not sell it forall the empires of the world. That must remain to us. As for the rest,we must learn to do without it."

  "But it will greatly pain the king should your majesty sell your jewels.It will be another humiliation."

  "Oh, I can conceal it from him," exclaimed the queen. "I shall sellthose superfluous articles secretly. There will be no festivities here,and hence it will be unnecessary for me to appear in royal attire.Two-thirds of the money realized will pay the pensions of the king's oldservants; for I know the unsettled arrears cause my husband many a pang.When these worthy men, who are to be deprived of the salaries whichthey so richly deserve, send in their receipts, then let my husband findout whence we have obtained the money; then, I hope, he will forgive myhaving taken this step without his permission. You must assist me inthis matter, and take upon yourself the payment of the pensions andsalaries; will you promise me to do so?"

  Baron von Stein endeavored to reply, but the words died on his lips; hebowed over the hand the queen offered him, and tears fell on it as hepressed it to his lips.

  "Oh," said the queen, "was I not right in saying that I should neverlack ornaments? Are there any more precious than the sympathizing tearsof a high-minded man?"

  "Pardon me," whispered Baron von Stein. "I wish I could transmute theminto diamonds, and lay them at the feet of my queen."

  "And what," asked Louisa, "would they be worth compared with your nobleand faithful heart? We can do without jewelry, but not without yourservices."

  "Henceforth all my thought and energy shall be devoted to Prussia," saidthe minister. "But your majesty must be so kind as to assist me. I mustimplore you to unite with me to obtain from Napoleon less rigorousterms, and the withdrawal of the French troops."

  "Alas! what can I do? You see I am ready to do any thing to lessen thesorrows of Prussia. Tell me, therefore, what I am to do."

  "I have the honor to inform your majesty. I have drawn up a plan whichwill enable Prussia to pay this burdensome debt in the course of threeyears. It is true, we have to consent to large reductions, collect thewar-debt due from Russia, negotiate loans, impose on the subjects ofPrussia, besides the ordinary taxes, extraordinary contributions, and anincome-tax, and issue paper money. These onerous expedients will deliverus at least from the present pressure by furnishing us the means ofpaying the French contributions. It is only necessary to send my plan toParis--to deliver it safely into the hands of Napoleon, and induce himto accept it."

  "I hope you will not ask me to go to Paris for this purpose!" exclaimedthe queen, in dismay.

  "No," answered Stein, "I have proposed to his majesty to intrust thistask to his brother, Prince William. The king has approved myproposition, and sent for the prince to request him to undertake thisdifficult and dangerous mission."

  "He will joyfully consent to do so," exclaimed Louisa. "He loves hisking and his country, and will shrink from no sacrifice. Alas, he willhave to endure many a humiliation, and in vain; it will lead tonothing."

  "We must send powerful auxiliaries with him," said Stein, quickly. "Andnow I shall state the request which I desire to make to your majesty.You must support the prince, and help him in his difficult undertaking.I beseech you, therefore, to give him an autograph letter to Napoleon;condescend to entreat the emperor to be merciful and generous; depict tohim the distress of your country, the sufferings of your subjects, andthe privations of your family, and appeal to his magnanimity to desistfrom his demands, and accept our plan of payment. Oh, your majesty, inyour enthusiasm and patriotic love, you are inspired with a power ofexpression which even Napoleon will be unable to resist; and whatever hewould refuse to the prayers of the prince he will yield to those ofQueen Louisa!"

  "Never!" she exclaimed. "Never can I subject myself to this humiliation!Never can I stoop so low as to write to that man! Oh, you do not knowhow pitilessly he insulted me; otherwise you would not dare to ask me.Remember what I have already done, how low I have humbled myself, andall for nothing. Can I forget those days of Tilsit, when I seemed tolive only for the purpose of heightening the conqueror's pride by mywoe-begone appearance--when I felt as if chained in a triumphal car, andendeavored with a mournful smile to conceal my shame and misery, inorder to meet him politely whose heartless glances made my soul tremble?How can I write to
him whom I implored at Tilsit, but who carried hiscruelty so far as to make promises which he afterward renounced--whodesignated as acts of gallantry the assurances he had given in reply tothe tears of my motherly heart? If I could save Prussia, and secure thehappiness of my husband and children, I would willingly suffer death,but this renewed humiliation is beyond my strength."

  The minister, folding his arms, looked with deep emotion at the excitedqueen, as she rapidly walked up and down the apartment. Standing infront of him, she said in a gentle, imploring voice: "I am sure you feelthat your request cannot possibly be granted."

  "May I repeat to your majesty," said Stein, solemnly, "the words youuttered just now with regard to Prince William?--'The prince willjoyfully consent to undertake the difficult mission. He loves his kingand his country, and will shrink from no sacrifice.'"

  The queen burst into tears, and, turning away from Stein, again butslowly paced the room, her head thrown back, her eyes turned upward witha suppliant expression, and her lips quivering.

  "She is undergoing a terrible struggle," said Stein to himself, "but shewill be victorious, for her heart is noble, and eternal love is in herand with her." He was not mistaken. Gradually she grew calmer; her eyesbecame more cheerful, and her features assumed a serene expression.

  "Baron von Stein," she said, "I will do what you ask of me; I willconquer myself. As you believe it prudent, I will write to the EmperorNapoleon, and entreat him to spare Prussia. I desire you to draw up theletter for me, so that it may be only necessary to copy it."

  "I foresaw this, and complied with it in advance," said the minister,taking out his memorandum-book, and presenting a sheet of paper. "Here,"he said, "is a draught of the needed letter. If your majesty approve it,I venture to request you to copy it speedily, for this business must notbe delayed, and if the prince accepts the propositions of the king, itwould be advisable and necessary for him to set out to-day."

  The queen hastily glanced over the letter. "It is all right," she said;"I approve all you have written. I wish to get through at once with thispainful matter, and I request you to wait until I have copied it. Youmay take it with you, and lay it before the king."

  She hastened to her desk, and wrote rapidly, but at times hesitating, asthough her pen refused the humiliating words. But at last she finished,and having quickly read what she had written, she called Minister vonStein to her side. "Here," she said, sighing, and handing the paper tohim, "take it, the sacrifice has been made. Will my people," she added,weeping, "will my children be hereafter grateful to me for havinghumbled myself for their sake? Will they ever think how painful musthave been these sacrifices? Will they remember and thank me for them inhappier days?"

  "Your majesty," said Stein, enthusiastically, "never will they forgetsuch devotion to your country; and when our great-grandchildren talk ofthese days of wretchedness, they will say: 'Prussia could behumiliated, but she could never perish; for Louisa was her good genius,praying, acting, and suffering for her.'"

  "Well," whispered the queen, sadly, "my slumber in the grave will besweet." Starting suddenly, she laid her hand on her heart. "Oh," shegroaned, "how long before this troubled life of mine shall cease!--Iwill tell you something, Baron von Stein. Death is not far from me, andI feel that he comes nearer every day. There is no future for me onearth. But God's will be done. I read the other day somewhere,'Sufferings and afflictions are blessings when they are overcome.' Oh,how true that is! I myself say, in the midst of my afflictions that theyare blessings! How much nearer I am to God!--how clear and true my ideasof the immortality of the soul! Seen through these tears, the solemnfacts of the future come to me with resistless power. Adversity, ifrightly used, does instruct and bless. I do not complain therefore thatI have been called to weep." A low knocking at the door interrupted her,and the footman announced the arrival of Prince William.