. Napoleon affected
to deride, but secretly estimated at its true importance, the danger of
such associations, if permitted to take firm root among a people so
numerous, so enthusiastic, and so gallant. Lastly, there is every reason
to believe that, cordial as the Czar's friendship had seemed to be at
Tilsit, Buonaparte appreciated the unpopularity of his "continental
system" in Russia, and the power of the aristocracy there, far too
accurately, not to entertain some suspicion that Alexander himself might
be compelled to take the field against him, should England succeed in
persuading Austria and Germany to rise in arms during his own absence in
Spain. For these reasons he had requested the Czar's presence at Erfurt;
and this conference was apparently as satisfactory to either as that of
Tilsit had been. They addressed a joint letter to the King of England,
proposing once more a general peace; but as they both refused to
acknowledge any authority in Spain save that of King Joseph, the answer
was of course in the negative. Buonaparte, however, had obtained his
object when he thus exhibited the Czar and himself as firmly allied. He
perceived clearly that Austria was determined on another campaign; gave
orders for concentrating and increasing his own armies, accordingly,
both in Germany and Italy; and--trusting to the decision and rapidity of
his own movements, and the comparative slowness of his ancient
enemy--dared to judge that he might still bring matters to an issue in
Spain, before his presence should be absolutely necessary beyond the
Rhine.

On the 14th of October the conferences of Erfurt terminated; on the 24th
Napoleon was present at the opening of the Legislative Session in Paris;
two days after he left that capital, and reached Bayonne on the 3rd of
November, where he remained, directing the movements of the last columns
of his advancing army, until the morning of the 8th. He arrived at
Vittoria the same evening: the civil and military authorities met him at
the gates of the town, and would have conducted him to a house prepared
for his reception, but he leapt from his horse, entered the first inn
that he observed, and calling for maps and a detailed report of the
position of all the armies, French and Spanish, proceeded instantly to
draw up his plan for the prosecution of the war. Within two hours he had
completed his task. Soult, who had accompanied him from Paris, and whom
he ordered to take the command of