On 20 March 1811, the son of Napoleon was born at the Tuileries Palace. Napoleon pronounced him the king of Rome. A few days later, a widow, whose only son was drawn to serve in the conscription, presented herself at the Tuileries, saying that she had a petition, and was ushered into Napoleon's presence. She fell upon her knees and requested that she might be conducted to the young king of Rome.
Napoleon, somewhat astonished at the singularity of this request, took the paper, which upon perusal was found to contain a prayer that her son might be exempted from the effects of the conscription laws. Smiling, Napoleon approached the cradle of his son, and read in a low voice the contents of the petition. Then, after pausing a while, he said, "Madame, I have read your petition to the king. As there is no answer, silence of course implies consent."
一八一一年三月二十日，拿破崙的兒子在杜伊勒利宮出世，拿破崙宣布冊封他為羅馬王。幾天之後，有獨子被徵召入伍的一個寡婦，來到杜伊勒利宮，說要上書陳情，獲帶到拿破崙跟前。她跪下，要求見年幼的羅馬王。
拿破崙聽到這奇怪的要求，有點愕然，取過陳情書，見是請求免卻那寡婦的兒子按徵兵法服役。拿破崙面帶微笑，走到他兒子的搖籃前，低聲把陳情書讀出，稍待片刻，然後說：「夫人，我給羅馬王讀了你的陳情書，他沒有回答，而沈默當然等於同意。」