Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1846-03-26
NAPOLEON AND METTERNICH.

NAPOLEON AND MEIIERNlCH.
The important interview which, In great
degree, decided the fate of Napoleon, took
place at Dresden, on the 2Sth of June.
Throughout the whcle conference Napole-
on acted without his usual policy; he had
been SO long accustomed TO dictate, that he
supposed he could continue to do so still,
notwithstanding the altered state Of his cir
cumstances. He had hitherto spoken only
with the lips of victor, upon the refusal
of whose conditions a fresh war of conquest
was to follow; but now the language of
command was as unwise as it was useless.
Instead of endeavoring, if not to conciliate,
at least not to offend the Austrian minister,
he at once began to reproach him with the
hardness of the negotiations, as intended
to benefit his adversares, and as manifest
ing desire to take advantage of his en-
barrassments, and to recover as much as
possible of the territory which he had sep
arated from the Austrian empire. ''lt is now
your business" said Napoleon, Ito ascer-
tain whether you can get a good ransom
from me without fighting, or whether you
will join the ranks of my enemies. Well,
let US see; let us begin the bargain: what
is it that you want?" To this language, so
highly unbecoming him who used it, and
so insulting to Meternch, the only reply
deigned was ''Lhat Austria only desired to
see the same moderation and respect for the
rights of nations which filled his own bo-
som restored to the general councils of Eu-
rope, and such a welI-balanced system in
troduced as should place the universal tram
guilty under the guarantee of an associa-
ton of independent states" Napoleon paid
no attention to this declaration, but pro-
Iceeded as if Austria were consulting her
own ACKNOWLEDGMENT alone. 81 come to the
point" he said; "will you accept Illyria
and remain neutral? If you will not inter-
lere ] can deal with Russia and Prussia ca
| silly enough" THE truth must be told, sire;
Austria cannot remain neuter; we must be
either with you or against you" After this
declaration, they retired to all inner cabinet,
where the views Of Austria were more fully
rage of Nsee.es ~ne almost ' unco on
trollable; they involved, indeed, the entire
dismemberment of the gigantic possessions
of France. The Pope was to be restored
Poland abandoned; Spain, Holland, the con-
federation of the RhneS and Switzerland
were to be resigned to their former rulers
"What," exclaimed the emperor, "condi-
tons like these to be extorted from me
without drawing the sword; and demanded
because Austria threatens me with war. II
I is gross affront to expect it. And is il
my father-in-law who entertains such views?
In what a position would he place me be-
| fore the people of France. All! Meter
mich, how much has Eng land given you to
act thus towards me?' To this coarse in
suit Metternich replied only by look OF
scorn and resentment. For some time they
paced the room in silence, without looking
at each other. Napoleon felt that he had
gone too far, and in order to afford an OPP
portunity of resuming the conversation, he
dropped his hat. At any other time oIdi-
nary courtesy would have led Metternich
to lift it up, and present it to the emperor;
but for this he was too grossly affronted
and Napoleon was obliged TO stoop for il
himself This must have convinced Bona
pare that his influence with Metternich and
with Austria had ceased, and that he who
had so long been the arbiter of others fate
was now suppliant for his own. The
discourse was after a while resumed by the
emperor in a colder and caImer manner; he
insisted that the congress should be assem-
bled, and on taking leave of the ambassador
shook him by the hand, and, like low
trader higging to make the best possible
bargain, said, "lllyria is not my last word
we can make more favorable terms.' The
last word, however, had been said; Meter
mich saw we'll that the ambitious views and
overbearing temper of Napoleon were the
same as when he dictated the treaty oil
Shonbrun, and that no lasting peace could
be made with him.