ed
correspondence of Napoleon and of Pozzo di Borgo, the
histories of Bignon, Lefebvre, and Rambaud, and the
monumental work of Vandal: Napoleon et Alexandre Ier, are all
of the first importance. Bertrand: Lettres inedites de
Talleyrand a Napoleon, contains the replies of the minister
to his chief. Duckworth's check at Constantinople is fully
explained by Juchereau de Saint Denys: Revolutions de
Constantinople en 1807 et 1808. Cf. also Hassel: Geschichte
der Preussischen Politik, 1807 bis 1815. Choiseul-Gouffier:
Reminiscences sur Napoleon Ier et Alexandre Ier. Adami:
Louise de Prusse, Erinnerungen der Graefen von Voss. Savary:
Memoires. Life of Sir Robert Wilson.]

The Floating Pavilion -- Emperor, Czar, and King -- The Two
Principals -- Their Relation to Frederick William -- A Diplomatic
Novelty -- Napoleon's Motives -- Great Britain and the World's
Commerce -- The Orders in Council -- Napoleon's Decrees -- Russia
as an Ally -- The Ministers and the Negotiations -- Imperial
Amusements -- The Fate of Turkey -- The Two Friends -- Work after
Play.

On the morning of June twenty-fifth, 1807, there lay anchored in the
middle of the Niemen, before Tilsit, a pavilion ingeniously
constructed by French soldiers from boats and boards. It was gaily
decorated, according to the taste of their country, with flags and
garlands. The front bore a large monogram composed of the letters N
and A interlaced. Within were two comfortable rooms, one for the
sovereigns, one for their suites. At a signal two skiffs put out, one
from each shore, amid the mingled cheers of the French and Russian
guards, drawn up in view of each other across the intervening stream.
The dull roar of cannon intoned the tidings of reconciliation. In one
boat was Alexander, suitably arrayed in uniform; in the other was
Napoleon, wearing the traditional gray coat and undress hat. The
Emperor of the French was first on board the float, and received his
guest with all that winning grace which he could so well command.
After a formal embrace he began an informal conversation, which then
continued without a break as the two schemers withdrew to the
apartment arranged for their interview. The staff, at a respectful
distance, could catch nothing of what was said, and although the
interview lasted nearly two hours, no words of it