This of course refers to the meeting of Napoleon and Alexander at Erfurt, where, besides, were collected the Kings of Prussia, Saxony, Bavaria, Würtemberg, and Westphalia, the Prince Primate, the Princes of Anhalt, Coburg, Saxe Weimar, Darmstadt, Baden, Nassau, and Mecklenburg. The two great potentates rivalled each other in their courtesies. But solid business was also to be done; they did not meet simply to waste their time in fêtes. Napoleon engaged not to meddle with Alexander’s designs on Sweden and Turkey, and not to help the Poles. Alexander, on his side, promised not to interfere in Spain, and to recognise the Kings of Spain and Naples. And they wrote a joint letter to George the Third, proposing a general peace, on the basis that each should keep what he had. The English Government, however, asked that Spain and Sweden should be parties; but this, not suiting the designs of the Imperial thieves, the negotiations came to an end. Nap, with the Russian Emp’ror, now, Became quite free, we must allow; At Erfurth, the appointed spot, They met together, as I wot, And German kings and princes, too, Were present at this interview; Save Emp’ror Francis,[17] who, they say, Sent an apology that day. How many compliments were paid, How great the pomp that was display’d. Oh, nothing--nothing could be grander Than Bonaparte and Alexander! Alternately they dined together, And often rode out in fine weather; To be so jovial, gay, and free, Suited Napoleon to a T. Thro’ Alexander’s mediation With England, a negociation Was set a going, for the end Of leaving Spain without a friend. The British monarch, ever wise, Refus’d t’ abandon his allies, Still Spain by England was protected, And Boney’s terms with scorn rejected. An unknown artist (November 19, 1808) gives ‘The Progress of the Emperor Napoleon.’ At first he is represented as ‘A Ragged Headed Corsican Peasant’; next, ‘Studying mischief at the Royal Academy at Paris’; then ‘An Humble Ensign in a Republican Corps requesting a situation in the British Army’; afterwards, ‘A determined Atheistical Republican General, ordering his men to fire on the Parisians vollies of grape shot.’ He then changes to ‘A Turk at Grand Cairo’; afterwards he became ‘A runaway from Egypt’; then ‘A devout Catholic,’ and, finally, ‘An Emperor on a throne of iniquities’: on which throne is inscribed, ‘Murders--Duke d’Enghien, Prisoners at Jaffa, Palm, Capt. Williams, Pichegru, Cahon, Toussaint, &c., &c. Robberies innumerable.’ CHAPTER XLVII. RETREAT TO CORUNNA--THE BROKEN BRIDGE OVER THE DANUBE--WAGRAM-- JOSEPHINE’S DIVORCE. In the year 1809 there are very few caricatures of Napoleon. After the taking of Madrid, Sir John Moore thought it prudent to retreat, which he did, and, after many difficulties, reached Corunna. The repulse of the French there, although at the cost of Sir John Moore’s life, enabled the troops to be embarked.