894 



ANNUAL REGISTEK, 1809. 



comparison with it." Every one 

 agreed in the justice of this remarlv, 

 and my curiosity was strongly ex- 

 pressed. 



On the day appointed, about 

 three o'clock, Mr. Younge accom- 

 panied me to the palace, where we 

 were immediately conducted to a 

 splendid saloon, which is termed 

 the Ambassador's Hall. Refresh- 

 ments were here handed round to 

 the company, which was very nu- 

 merous, and amongst them many 

 German princes in their grand 

 court-dress. The conversation be- 

 came very general ; those who had 

 seen Buonaparte, describing him to 

 those who were about to be intro- 

 duced. Every one agreed that he 

 was the most extraordinary man 

 that Europe had produced in many 

 centuries, and that even his appear- 

 ance was in no slight degree indica- 

 tive of his character. " He pos- 

 sesses an eye," said one gentleman, 

 " in which Lavater might have un- 

 derstood an hero. Mr. Younge 

 confirmed this observation, and 

 prepared me to regard him with 

 more than common attention. 



The doors of the saloon were at 

 length thrown open, and some of 

 the officers of the grand chamber- 

 lain, with white wands and em- 

 broidered robes and scarfs, bowing 

 low to the company, invited us, 

 by waving their staves, to follow 

 them up the grand staircase. Every 

 one now arranged themselves, in 

 pairs, behind their respective am- 

 bassadors, and followed the ushers 

 in procession, according to the 

 precedence of their respective 

 countries, the imperial, Spanish, 

 and Neapolitan ambassadors form- 

 ing the van. The staircase was 

 lined on both sides with grenadiers 

 of the legion of honour, most of 



whom, privates as well as officers, 

 were arrayed in the order. The 

 officers, as we passed, exchanged 

 salutes with the ambassadors ; and 

 as the imperial ambassador, who 

 led the procession, reached the 

 door of the anti-chamber, two 

 trumpeters on each side played a 

 congratulatory flourish. The ush- 

 ers who had led us so far, now 

 took their stations on each side the 

 door, and others, in more splendid 

 habit, succeeded them in the office 

 of conducting us. 



We now entered the anti-cham- 

 ber, in which was stationed the 

 regular guard of the palace. We 

 were here saluted both by privates 

 and officers, the imperial guard 

 being considered as part of the 

 household. From the anli-chamber 

 we passed onwards through nearly 

 a dozen most splendid apartments, 

 and at length reached the presence- 

 chamber. 



My eyes were instantly in search 

 of the emperor, who was at the 

 farther extremity, surrounded by a 

 numerous circle of officers and 

 counsellors. The circle opened on 

 our arrival, and withdrew behind 

 the emperor. The whole of our 

 company now ranged themselves, 

 the ambassadors in front, and their 

 several countrymen behind their 

 respective ministers. 



Buonaparte now advanced to the 

 imperial ambassador, with whom, 

 when present, he always begins the 

 audience. I had now an opportu- 

 nity toregard him attentively. His 

 person is below the middle size, 

 but well composed ; his features 

 regular, but in their tout ensemble 

 stern and commanding ; his com- 

 plexion sallow, and his general 

 mien military. He was dressed 

 very splendidly in purple velvet, 



the 



