Almost at the same time both emperors embarked each on his own barque. On that day the King of Prussia did not go to the meeting; he remained on the right bank of the river with us. Oh, how clearly — despite my young age — how unmistakably my soul understood the deep but silent grief of this true father of his people, this man of the most virtuous life! I gazed with my eyes full of tears and with such admiration at the monarch, who had preserved all the outer serenity and all the dignity of his rank, in the face of what seemed an irresistible and conclusive death!

But then the two imperial barques set sail from the shore and sailed. At that moment the enormity of the spectacle overcame all senses. All the eyes turned and fixed on the opposite bank of the river to the barque carrying this wonderful man, this unprecedented and unheard of commander since the days of Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar, whom he so much surpassed with his versatile talents and glory of conquering enlightened and educated peoples. I remember that he wore the ribbon of the Legion of Honor across his shoulder, and on his head — that little hat with its form so well known to all the world. I was struck by the resemblance of his stance to all the printed pictures of him then on sale everywhere. He even stood with his arms folded across his chest, as he is portrayed in pictures. Both barques docked at the pavilion almost simultaneously, but Napoleon’s barque was slightly in advance, so that it took him a few seconds to dismount from it and pass swiftly through the pavilion and welcome our Emperor as he was leaving the barque; they then entered the pavilion together. As far as I remember, all the people of both retinues did not enter the small pavilion, but remained on the raft of the large pavilion, getting to know each other and talking to each other. After about an hour, they were invited to enter the large pavilion to see the emperors.

Since Napoleon met Emperor Alexander as he was leaving the barque, etiquette required that Emperor Alexander escort Napoleon to the barque on which he arrived, which was done, and thus the first meeting was concluded.