The Emperor asked the Queen to dinner. Before they were seated, he took a very beautiful rose, and presented it to her. The motion of her hand seemed to express a refusal; but altering her mind she said, “Oui, mais au moins avec Magdeburg.” On this, the cruel Emperor replied, “I should observe to your Majesty, that it is I who give, and you who receive.” The dinner passed off in conversation of similar nature.
On the morrow the Queen was much enraged on learning that the treaty deprived her of Magdeburg. She appears to have parted from the French Emperor with feelings of hatred.
NAPOLEON’S INTERVIEW WITH THE PRUSSIAN QUEEN.
THE RETREAT FROM MOSCOW.
On the 24th of October, 1809, Napoleon, in effecting his retreat from Moscow, rose early in the morning to reconnoitre. While occupied in this hazardous duty, a party of Cossacks was observed rapidly approaching, when Rapp said to the Emperor, at the same time seizing the reins of his bridle, “It is the Cossacks; you must turn back.” Napoleon refused to retreat, and placed himself, with his attendants, on the highway side. The Cossacks, being more intent on plunder than prisoners, passed within a lance’s length, and failing to notice the prey which was within their grasp, threw themselves upon some wagons, which were more attractive. This retreat is well known to have been most disastrous to the French army. The men sank under the heavy sufferings they were compelled to endure from cold and privation—their route was marked by dead bodies; and the army presented a scene of greater misery than can possibly be conceived.
THE RETREAT FROM MOSCOW.