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diff --git a/24718.txt b/24718.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..77ced73 --- /dev/null +++ b/24718.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10538 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Memoirs of the Private Life, Return, and +Reign of Napoleon in 1815, Vol. II, by Pierre Antoine Edouard Fleury de Chaboulon + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Memoirs of the Private Life, Return, and Reign of Napoleon in 1815, Vol. II + +Author: Pierre Antoine Edouard Fleury de Chaboulon + +Release Date: February 29, 2008 [EBook #24718] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRIVATE LIFE OF NAPOLEON *** + + + + +Produced by StevenGibbs, Christine P. Travers and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +[Transcriber's note: Obvious printer's errors have been corrected, +all other inconsistencies are as in the original. The author's +spelling has been maintained. + +Words are missing at the end of page 265 / start of page 266.] + + + + MEMOIRS + + OF THE + + PRIVATE LIFE, + + RETURN, AND REIGN + + OF + + NAPOLEON + + IN 1815. + + + _Ingrata patria, ne ossa quidem habes._ SCIPIO. + + + BY M. FLEURY DE CHABOULON, + + Ex-Secretary of the Emperor Napoleon and of his Cabinets, + Master of Requests to the Council of State, Baron, Officer + of the Legion of Honour, and Knight of the Order of Reunion. + + + VOL. II. + + + LONDON: + JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE-STREET. + 1820. + + + + + +MEMOIRS, + +&c. &c. + + +At the same period (May the 1st) the Emperor received a fresh proof of +the little confidence, that men deserve, and of the horrible facility, +with which they sacrifice their duties and their sentiments, to the +suggestions of their covetousness or their ambition. + +Of all the ministers of Napoleon there was not one, who, at the time +of his return, lavished on him so many protestations of fidelity and +devotion to his service, as the Duke of Otranto. "And this fidelity, +if he could have doubted it, would have been guarantied by the +mandate, under which he (M. Fouche) groaned, at the moment when the +return of Napoleon restored him to liberty, and perhaps to life[1]." + + [Footnote 1: Fragment of a letter from M. Fouche to the + Emperor, on the 21st of March.] + +Yet what was the astonishment of the Emperor, when the Duke of Vicenza +came to inform him, that a secret agent of M. de Metternich had +arrived at Paris from Vienna, and appeared to have had a mysterious +interview with M. Fouche! The Emperor immediately ordered M. Real, +prefect of the police, to make search after this emissary. He was +arrested, and declared: + +That, being employed by a banking-house at Vienna, to settle accounts +of interest with several bankers at Paris, he had been sent for by M. +de Metternich; and that this prince had entrusted him with a letter +for the French minister of police: + +That he was ignorant of the contents of this letter; but knew it was +interlined with sympathetic ink: and the prince had delivered to him a +powder for making the hidden characters appear: + +That Baron de Werner, diplomatic agent, was to be at Bale on the 1st +of May, to receive the answer of the Duke of Otranto: + +That a fictitious statement of an account had been given him, which +was to serve as a sign, to make known to M. Werner the agent sent by +the French minister: + +In fine, that he had delivered the letter and the account to the Duke +of Otranto, who had told him, to attend quickly to his business, and +return to Vienna as soon as possible. + +The Emperor immediately sent for M. Fouche, under pretence of +conversing with him on affairs of state. + +M. Fouche preserved the most profound silence on what had passed with +the envoy of M. de Metternich, and displayed no marks of embarrassment +or uneasiness. + +The first thought of Napoleon was, to seize the papers of his +treacherous minister: but persuaded, that he was too adroit, and too +prudent, to retain any traces of his treason, he deemed it preferable, +in order to come at the truth, to send some one to Bale, who should +introduce himself to M. Werner as from the Duke. Napoleon attached +great importance to this mission. He condescended to cast his eyes on +me to execute it; and, after having disclosed to me "_the perfidy of +that infamous Fouche,_" he said to me: "You will go immediately to the +Duke of Vicenza: he will give you passports both in the King's name +and in mine: you will learn at the frontier, which will avail you +most. Here is an order under my own hand, to all the generals, +prefects, and lieutenants of police, who may be on the Rhine, to +furnish you with the means of leaving and returning to France, and +with all the assistance you may require, within the kingdom and even +without. I command them, strictly to conform to every thing you may +judge proper to direct. I think you will pass. I have never heard of +this M. Werner, but M. de Metternich is a man of honour: he would not +be concerned in a plot against my life. I do not believe the business +is to renew the attempts of Georges, or the snares of the 3d of +Nivose. However, you will sound M. Werner on this head. I believe, +they are desirous of fomenting disturbances, and forming a conspiracy, +rather against my throne, than against my life. This point it is +essential to ascertain. I give you no farther instructions: you will +act as your own master: I rely entirely on you. If the safety of the +state be threatened, or if you discover any thing of importance, +apprise me of it by the telegraph, and send off a courier with all +speed. If you find there is nothing in it but the commencement of an +intrigue, nothing but a trial; waste no time in useless parleying, but +frankly avail yourself of the opportunity, to make M. de Metternich +acquainted with my situation, and my pacific intentions; and endeavour +to establish a reconciliation between me and Austria. I should also +like to know, what the allies think of Eugene; and whether they would +be disposed to call him to the head of affairs in a regency, if I +should lose my life on the field of battle. Go and see the Duke of +Vicenza, talk with him, and return in half an hour. I will see if I +have any thing more to say to you." Half an hour after, I returned. +The Emperor was in his saloon, surrounded by Marshal Ney and several +persons of consequence. Making a motion with his hand, he said to me: +"I rely upon you: fly." + +It was by such expressions, that he knew how to flatter self-love, and +animate zeal. I flew to Bale. Had it been necessary for me, in order +to justify the expectations of Napoleon, to cross the Rhine under the +mouths of the enemy's cannon, I should have done it. + +I began to employ the unlimited powers given me by the Emperor, by +directing provisionally, that no person coming from Paris should be +allowed to quit France. I was not willing to be preceded by the real +agent of the Duke of Otranto. + +The communication with Bale was not yet interrupted: but it was +necessary, to have a permit to enter the city, another to go out of +it, and, on the slightest suspicion, you were carried before the +director of the police, who, without taking his pipe out of his mouth, +gave orders, according to his own good pleasure, either to turn you +out at the gate, or to throw you into prison, I had provided myself +with a commission of inspector general of provision, and presented +myself at Bale under the pretence of making large purchases there. +Money will always secure a good reception in Switzerland. + +I repaired without meeting any obstacle to the Three Kings inn, where +M. Werner had alighted. He was already arrived. I announced to him, +that I had been commissioned by a person at Paris, to confer with him. +He showed me the account he had as a token; and I showed him _at a +distance_ that I had, for I knew it was good for nothing. It had been +written out from memory by our prisoner, the token having remained in +the hands of M. Fouche. + +M. Werner began by expressing to me with all the pomp of diplomatic +politeness the pleasure, which he felt at seeing me; that he had +expected me ever since the 1st of May (this was the 3d); and that he +began to fear, that M. Fouche was indifferent about entering into a +conference with the prince. This conjecture led me to suppose, that +nothing had yet been agreed upon or proposed. I answered M. Werner, +that in fact the Duke of Otranto had shown a little hesitation, +because the letter of M. de Metternich left _some uncertainty_; but +that, still filled with esteem and deference for this prince, he would +be eager to offer him every proof of his zeal, that should be in his +power; that he had chosen me for his interpreter, and that I should +take a pleasure in answering with unbounded confidence the _new_ +overtures, which M. Werner was no doubt commissioned to make to me. I +added, that the Duke of Otranto had recommended to me, to lay aside +diplomatic forms, and to explain myself with that complete _absence of +restraint_, which M. de Metternich must inspire. That in consequence, +I intreated him, to follow my example, and to tell me without +circumlocution, _what he expected of us_. + +He answered me, that M. de Metternich had retained the highest opinion +of M. Fouche's merit: that he imagined, a man like him could not +suppose, that Napoleon would maintain himself on the throne: that he +was persuaded, he had accepted the ministry of police, only to spare +France the calamities of a civil and a foreign war: and that, under +this persuasion, he hoped M. Fouche would not hesitate, to second the +efforts the allies were about to make, to get rid of Bonaparte, and +re-establish the Bourbons in France. + +I replied, that M. Fouche, whose patriotism was well known, had not +been able to contemplate without pain the misfortunes, with which +France was threatened; but that hitherto he had not perceived the +possibility of remedying them. "Frequently," I said, "people at a +distance see more clearly, than those who are nigh: what are the views +of M. de Metternich and the allies on this point? _what means do they +conceive may be employed, to get rid of Napoleon?_" + +"M. de Metternich," said he, "has not fully communicated to me his +views in this respect. I have even reason to believe, that nothing has +yet been determined; and that it is in order to arrive at some certain +result, that he is desirous of concerting matters with M. Fouche, who +must be better acquainted with the true state of affairs than he is. +As to the means of getting rid of Bonaparte, there is one, the issue +of which cannot be doubtful: this is force: but the allies are +unwilling to have recourse to it, unless in the last extremity; and +they would have wished, _that M. Fouche could have found means of +delivering France from Bonaparte_, without shedding fresh torrents of +blood." + +This ambiguous answer giving me some uneasiness, I replied: "I know but +two ways of overturning the throne of Napoleon: the first is, to +assassinate him!" As I pronounced these words, I turned my eyes a little +aside, that I might not embarrass M. Werner, and might observe him at my +ease. "Assassinate him!" exclaimed he with indignation: "such a step +never entered into the thoughts of M. de Metternich."--"So I presume; +and accordingly I began with expressing to you the high veneration, +which I feel for M. de Metternich. The second way," I continued, "is of +secretly uniting, or, to speak plainly, of conspiring against Napoleon; +and I do not see very clearly at present, _on whom we can reckon_: have +M. de Metternich and the allies _any connexions yet formed_?" + +"They have none," he answered: "scarcely have they had time to come to +any mutual understanding at Vienna. It is for M. Fouche to prepare and +arrange his plans: it is to him, that the allies are desirous of +confiding the care and honour of saving France from the calamities of +a new war, and from the tyranny prepared for her by the Emperor." + +Convinced by the turn the conversation had taken, that there had been +no previous connexion between the Duke of Otranto and M. de +Metternich; convinced, that the life of the Emperor, and the safety of +the state, were not threatened; I changed my style, and proceeded +straight to the end, which I had principally in view; that of +endeavouring to establish, if not a reconciliation, at least +conferences between France and Austria. + +"Do the allies then imagine," resumed I, "that it would be easy for M. +Fouche to stir France against Napoleon? There was a time, it is true, +when the Emperor was not liked; but the Bourbons have treated the +nation so ill, that they succeeded in rendering him regretted, so that +his enemies are become his partisans." + +"What you tell me," answered M. Werner with astonishment, "is +completely the reverse of the reports, that reach us from Paris." + +"I can assure you," continued I, "that they have deceived you. The +acclamations and good wishes, that accompanied Napoleon from the gulf +of Juan to Paris, ought however to have informed you, that he had in +his favour the unanimous suffrages of the army, and of the +nation."--"Say of the army."--"No: I persist in saying of the nation, +and of the army. From the moment when Napoleon re-appeared on French +ground, he was received with enthusiasm, not only by his soldiers, +but by the citizens also. If he had the suffrages of only a few +regiments in a state of insubordination, would he have traversed +France without any obstacle? Would he have received on his journey +that unanimous testimony of love and devotion, which the whole +population of Dauphiny, the Lyonese, and Burgundy, emulated each other +in displaying?"--"It is possible, that Bonaparte may have been well +received in some places; but a few solitary acclamations do not +express the wishes of a whole nation; and, had it not been for the +army, he would never have re-entered the Tuileries."--"It is certain, +that, if Napoleon had had the army against him, he could never have +dethroned Louis XVIII. with eight hundred men: but we must not +conclude, that, because the army declared for him, it was the army +alone, that re-established him on the throne. When he took Lyons, he +had with him only two thousand men; he had but eight thousand, when he +marched for Paris; and he had only eight hundred with him, when he +entered the capital. Had not the nation entertained the same +sentiments as the army, could he, with such a contemptible force, have +given the law to two millions of individuals scattered on his road; +and to the fifty thousand soldiers, national guards and volunteers, +who were assembled under the walls of Paris? If indeed the nation had +opposed the proceedings and wishes of the army, and the army had +overcome the nation, it might have been asserted with reason, that the +restoration of Napoleon was the work of the soldiers exclusively: but +you know, as well as I, that not a single act of violence was +committed, not a single musket was fired, and that they were every +where welcomed and feasted as friends and deliverers. I ask you, now, +what ought we to conclude from this union, this unanimity of +sentiments and actions?"-- + +"We may infer, that the people, naturally weak and timid, were afraid +of the army; and gave it a good reception, that they might not be +exposed to its violence: but this does not prove, that in the bottom +of their hearts they shared the sentiments of the army for Napoleon." + +"God alone knows what passes in the bottom of the heart: we mortals +can judge only by appearances, by men's words and actions. Now +actions, words, and appearances combine to prove evidently, that the +nation approved and shared the enthusiasm of the army. Besides, you +are wrong in thinking, that in France the people can entertain +sentiments different from those of the army. Under the ancient +monarchy, when the army was composed of the dissolute reduced to want, +of malefactors pursued by the hand of justice, there did not, and +could not, exist any affinity between the army and the nation: but now +that the army is a national body, composed of the sons and brothers of +our best citizens; and that these sons, these brothers, though +separated from their families, remain united with them in heart, mind, +and interests; the nation and the army are one. If the allies have +founded their hopes solely on a disagreement of opinions and wishes +between the nation and the army, they have calculated erroneously: the +approach of their troops, far from dividing the French, will only draw +their union closer. They will not fight for Napoleon, they will fight +for the honour and independence of the nation."--"From what you tell +me it would seem, that France is determined to run the hazard of war; +and that it is ready, if Napoleon require it, to second as heretofore +his schemes of conquest."--"No, sir: the glory of Napoleon has cost us +too dear; we desire no more laurels at such a price. Napoleon has the +wishes of the nation on his side, less from affection to his person, +than because he is a man of the revolution, and his government will +secure us pledges, which we have demanded in vain from the Bourbons; +but if the Emperor were to suffer himself to be led away by the thirst +of conquest, France would abandon him; and then you might reckon on M. +Fouche and all true patriots uniting, to get rid of Napoleon for +ever."-- + +"You do not think, then, it appears to me, that M. Fouche is disposed +at the present moment, to second the views of the allied sovereigns +and M. Metternich?"--"I do not; M. Fouche is convinced, that the +Bourbons cannot reign: that the nation has an antipathy to them, which +nothing can remove."--"The allies are not so much bent on restoring +the crown to Louis XVIII., as on taking it from Napoleon, whose +remaining on the throne is incompatible with the safety and repose of +Europe: I am even authorized to think, that they would leave the +French free to choose whatever sovereign, and whatever government, +they might think proper. The Duke of Orleans, for instance, would not +he suit the nation? He served formerly in the republican armies; he +has been a partisan of the revolution; his father voted for the death +of Louis XVI."--"The Duke of Orleans, no doubt, would offer the +nation most of the pledges it requires: but his elevation to the +throne, far from annihilating our troubles, would increase them; he +would have against him the partisans of Louis XVIII., of Napoleon, and +of the regency; that is to say, almost the whole nation."--"Well, +then, the allies might consent to give you the young prince Napoleon +and the regency, or perhaps a federal government."--"At the time of +the invasion in 1814, we had several times occasion to debate the +question of the regency with M. Fouche. He thought, that, with a +regency, France would experience the renovation of those discords, to +which minorities commonly give birth. A people, that has been at war +with itself, and with its neighbours, has need of being swayed by a +man, who knows how to hold the reins of government with a firm hand, +and to make himself respected at home and abroad."--"But you have no +want of firm and able men; and a council of regency might be composed +for you, that would answer the wishes both of the allies and of +France."--"I know well, that we have in the archchancellor, in the +Duke of Vicenza, and in several of our principal functionaries, +statesmen abounding in talents, wisdom, and moderation: but the +difficulty would be, to make a choice among the military men. Most of +these have equal rights, and their pretensions, their jealousies, +their rivalries, could not but be fatal to our tranquillity."--"We +should know how to keep them in order; and I do not see one among them +whose ambition could prove formidable."--"Their ambition has not +displayed itself for want of opportunity. I know but one military man, +who could be placed at the head of the government with safety; this is +Eugene, the prince who said, in 1814, in his memorable proclamations, +that 'they alone are immortal, who know how to live and die faithful +to their duty, faithful to gratitude and honour:' this prince, I say, +far from aspiring to the throne, would be on the contrary its glory +and support: but his family ties, and the duties they impose on him, +perhaps would not permit him to quit Bavaria. Perhaps too the allies +would not allow the direction of affairs in France, to be entrusted to +him: do you think they would?"--"I am perfectly ignorant of what might +be the determination of the prince and his family."--"But cannot you +guess, what would be that of the allies?"--"Not in the least."--"What +men," said I to him jocularly, "you diplomatists are! why are not you +as open with me, as I am with you? have I left one of your desires +unsatisfied? have I avoided answering one of your questions?"--"I am +not endeavouring to dissemble, I assure you: but, as the question you +have put to me was not foreseen, I cannot, and ought not, to allow +myself to answer it."--"Well, we will say no more of it. As to a +federal government, this would too much resemble our republic, and we +have paid so dear for the honour of being republicans, that we have no +farther inclination for it. A federal government may suit a country +with a scanty population, like Switzerland; or a new nation, like +America; but it would be a calamity to our old France: we are too +volatile, too impassioned; we want a ruler, a master who knows how to +make himself obeyed. Hark you, M. Werner, I must continue to speak to +you frankly: the only chief, that suits us, is Napoleon: no longer +Napoleon the ambitious and the conqueror, but Napoleon corrected by +adversity. The desire of reigning will render him docile to the will +of France, and of Europe. He will give them both such pledges, as they +may require: and I believe the Duke of Otranto will then esteem +himself very happy, to be able to concur with M. de Metternich in +pacifying Europe, re-establishing harmony between Austria and France, +and so restricting the power of the Emperor, that it shall no longer +be possible for him, to disturb a second time the general +tranquillity. This, I believe, must be the object of the allies; it +depends on themselves alone to attain it: but if they reckon upon +subjugating us by means of our intestine divisions, they will be +deceived; of this you may assure M. de Metternich. + +"For the rest, I shall give the Duke of Otranto an account of the +overtures you have made me, and particularly of those relating to a +regency: but, suppose we should consent to accept either one or the +other of your proposals, what is to be done with Napoleon? for, as it +is neither your intention, nor ours, to kill him, he must live; and +where shall he live? Have the allies come to any determination on this +point?"--"I do not know: M. de Metternich did not explain himself on +this point: I will submit the question to him. I will acquaint him +with your opinion of the state of France, and the situation of +Napoleon, and of the possibility of a general arrangement: but I +foresee, that the present sentiments of M. Fouche will astonish him +greatly. He thought, that he detested Bonaparte."--"Men change with +circumstances: M. Fouche may have detested the Emperor, when he +tyrannized over France; yet be reconciled to him, since he has been +willing to render it free and happy." + +We parted, after having exchanged a few supplementary questions, and +agreed to return with all speed, he to Vienna, and I to Paris; and to +meet again at Bale in the course of a week. + +As soon as I arrived at Paris, I presented myself before the Emperor. +I had spent only four days in going and returning; and he imagined, on +seeing me so quickly, that I had not been able to pass. He was +surprised and delighted to learn, that I had seen and conversed with +M. Werner; led me into the garden (it was at the Elysee), and there we +talked together, if I may use the term, for near two hours. Our +conversation was so desultory, that it almost entirely escaped my +memory: I could retain only a few fragments of it. "I was fully +persuaded," said Napoleon to me, "that M. de Metternich had plotted +nothing against my life: he does not like me, but he is a man of +honour. If Austria chose it, every thing might be arranged: but she +has an expectant policy, that loses every thing: she never knew how to +take a decided part at the proper moment. The Emperor is ill advised: +he does not know Alexander; and is not aware, how crafty and ambitious +the Russians are: if once they get the upper hand, all Germany will +be subverted. Alexander will set the good-natured Francis, and all the +little kings, to whom I gave crowns, playing at catch-corners. The +Russians will become masters of the world when I have nothing to do in +it. Europe will not be sensible of my value, till she has lost me. +There was no one but myself strong enough, to tame England with one +hand, and restrain Russia with the other. I will spare them the +trouble of deliberating where they shall put me: if they dared, they +would cram me into an iron cage, and show me to their cockneys as a +wild beast: but they shall not have me; they shall find, that the lion +is still alive, and will not suffer himself to be chained. They do not +know my strength: _if I were to put on the red cap, it would be all +over with them._ Did you inquire of M. Werner after the Empress and my +son?"--"Yes, Sire: he told me, that the Empress was well, and the +young prince a charming boy."--The Emperor, with fire: "Did you +complain, that the law of nations, and the first rights of nature, had +been violated in respect to me? Did you tell him how detestable it is, +to deprive a husband of his wife, a father of his son? that such an +action is unworthy a civilized people?"--"Sire, I was only the +ambassador of M. Fouche." + +After a few moments' silence, the Emperor continued: "Fouche, during +your absence, has come and told me the whole affair[2]: he has +explained the whole to my satisfaction. It is his interest not to +deceive me. He has always been fond of intriguing; we must let him do +it. Go and see him, tell him all that has passed with M. Werner; show +confidence in him; and, if he question you about me, tell him, that I +am perfectly easy, and that I have no doubt of his attachment and +fidelity." + + [Footnote 2: I have since been assured, that M. Real had + warned him, by means of Madame Lacuee, his daughter, + that the Emperor knew the whole affair.] + +Already the Emperor had had reason to complain of M. Fouche on several +important occasions; but, subjugated by I know not what charm, he had +always placed more confidence in him than he wished. + +Few men, it is true, possess the gift of pleasing and persuading in a +higher degree than the Duke of Otranto: equally profound and witty, +equally endowed with foresight and ability, his mind embraces at once +the past, present, and future: he alternately seduces and astonishes +by the boldness of his thoughts, the acuteness of his perception, and +the solidity of his judgment. + +Unhappily his mind, overstrained by the revolution, has contracted a +habit and taste for strong emotions: quiet is tiresome to him: he +wants agitation, danger, convulsions: hence that desire of stirring, +intriguing, I had almost said of conspiring, which has driven M. +Fouche into errors so deplorable, and so fatal to his reputation. + +Conformably to the orders of Napoleon, I repaired immediately to the +Duke of Otranto's, and told him laughing, that I was come to give him +an account of the mission which he had confided to me. "A fine +mission, indeed!" said he to me. "It is just like the Emperor; he is +always suspicious of those who serve him best. Do you think, for +example, that you are sure of him? You deceive yourself. If you should +involuntarily be guilty of the slightest inconsistency, and he knew it +(these words he pronounced in such a way, as to give me to understand, +that it was through him the Emperor might be informed of it), nothing +more would be wanting to ruin you. But let us have done with princes, +and talk together." Leading me to his sofa, he said: "Do you know, +that you gave me some uneasiness? if you had been betrayed, you would +probably have been sent to some fortress, and kept there till a peace +took place."--"Very true; I certainly ran that risk; but when an +affair of such importance is at stake, a man should not think of +himself." + +I gave him a faithful account of what M. Werner said; but took care, +not to let him know the time of our next interview; for I was afraid, +that he would play me some trick with the Swiss, or would hasten to +undeceive M. de Metternich. + +When I had finished my tale, he resumed: "I first thought the whole of +this a hum, but I find I was mistaken. Your conference with M. Werner +may lead to a reconciliation between us and Austria; what you said +must open the eyes of M. Metternich. To convince him completely, I +will write to him; and depict with so much clearness and truth the +real situation of France, as will make him sensible, that the best +thing that can be done is, to abandon the Bourbons to their unlucky +fate, and leave us to arrange matters with Bonaparte in our own way. +When you are ready to set off, come to me, and I will give you my +letter." + +He then said, "I did not speak to Napoleon about the letter of M. de +Metternich immediately, because his agent had not delivered to me the +powder, necessary to make the writing appear; I was obliged to have +recourse to chemical experiments, which required time. Here is the +letter (he made me read it): you see it says nothing: however, if I +could have deciphered it immediately, Napoleon should have known +nothing of it; I would have served him, without saying any thing to +him. In affairs of this kind secrecy is necessary; and Napoleon is +incapable of it: he would have been so much agitated, and have set so +many men and so many pens in motion, that the whole would have taken +wind. He ought to know my sentiments and opinions; and no person, but +himself, could have taken it into his head for a moment, that I could +betray him for the Bourbons: I despise and detest them at least as +much as he." + +The indirect threats of M. Fouche, and the whole of his discourse, +persuaded me, that he was not sincere. I imparted my suspicions to the +Emperor, who did not agree in them: he told me, that M. Fouche's +insinuation of his having it in his power to ruin me was only meant, +to give himself an air of importance. That, however, I had nothing to +fear from him, or from any other person. In fact, I did not fear; for, +when the Emperor had conceived a liking for any one, he took him +under his own protection, and no person whatever was allowed to hurt +him. + +The next day but one I went to the Duke of Otranto's, to receive the +letters he had promised me. He appeared surprised, to see me so soon. +In fact I had made him believe, that I was not to return to Bale till +the 1st of June. To give a colour to this hasty departure, I informed +him, that M. Werner, whom I had requested to write to me, in case of +any unforeseen occurrence, under cover to M. **** the banker, had just +desired me, to repair to Bale immediately. He let me see, that he was +not the dupe of this falsehood yet nevertheless delivered me with a +good grace two letters for M. de Metternich. + +One of these, which has been published in the English newspapers, +tended to show, that the throne of Napoleon, supported by the love and +confidence of the French, had nothing to fear from the attacks of the +coalition. + +In the other he went over the proposals of M. Werner: he discussed +with admirable sagacity the advantages and inconveniences, that might +result from them to the interests of France and of Europe; and he +finished, by declaring, after having successively rejected a republic, +a regency, and the Duke of Orleans, that Napoleon, whom he loaded +with extravagant praises, was evidently the chief best suited to the +French, and to the interests of the allied monarchs rightly +understood. Nevertheless, he had contrived to turn his expressions +with so much art and address, that it was impossible not to perceive, +that he thought in the bottom of his heart the Duke of Orleans the +only prince, capable of ensuring the happiness of France, and the +tranquillity of foreign nations. + +I laid this letter before the Emperor, and endeavoured in vain to make +him sensible of the treachery. He could see nothing but the eulogiums +of his genius: the rest he overlooked. + +M. Werner had been punctual to his rendezvous and I hastened to his +residence. "I was afraid," said he to me obligingly, "that you had +been refused admission into Bale: I have spoken about it to the +authorities, and, if you wish it, I will cause to be delivered to you +the necessary passport, to enable you to enter Switzerland, depart, or +reside in it, without obstacle, and without danger." + +I thanked him for this offer, which convinced me, that the Swiss were +as well disposed towards our enemies, as they were the reverse to us. +We afterwards entered on business. "I related to M. de Metternich," +said he to me, "the frank and loyal conversation, which I had the +honour of holding with you. He hastened to give an account of it to +the allied sovereigns: and the sovereigns have thought, that it ought +to produce no alteration in the resolution they have formed, never to +acknowledge Napoleon as sovereign of France, or to enter into any +negotiation with him individually: _but at the same time, I am +authorized formally to declare to you, that they renounce the idea of +re-establishing the Bourbons on the throne, and that they consent to +grant you the young Prince Napoleon._ They know, that in 1814 a +regency was the wish of France; and they would think themselves happy, +to be able to accomplish it now." + +"This is direct," answered I: "but what is to be done with the +Emperor?"--"Begin you with deposing him: the allies will afterwards +come to a suitable determination, according to circumstances. They are +great, generous, and humane; and you may depend on it, they will treat +Napoleon with the respect due to his rank, his alliance, and his +misfortunes."--"This answer does not explain, whether Napoleon will be +free, to choose a place of retreat for himself; or remain a prisoner +to France and the allies."--"This is all I know."--"I perceive, that +the allies want Napoleon to be delivered up to them bound hand and +foot: never will the French be guilty of such a cowardly act. Since +our interview, the public opinion in his favour has been expressed +with fresh strength; and I protest to you, that he never possessed the +love of the French to so high a degree. The electors convoked for the +_Champ de Mai_, and the new representatives of France[3], are arriving +at Paris from all quarters. Do you think, that these electors, and +these deputies, who are the choice of the nation, would have embraced +the perilous cause of Napoleon, were it not the common cause of all +France? Do you think, that, if they were not resolved to defend it +against all the world, they would be so stupid, or so imprudent, as to +come forward in the face of that world, to swear fealty to the +Emperor, and proscription and hatred to the Bourbons? The allies +subdued us in 1814, because we were then without union, without will, +without the means of resistance. But a great nation is not to be +subdued two years following; and every thing indicates, that, if a +contest take place, it will turn out to the advantage of the French +this time."--"If you knew the force, that will be opposed to you, you +would hold a different language: you will have twelve hundred thousand +men to fight against, twelve hundred thousand men accustomed to +conquer, and who already know the road to Paris."--"They know it, +because they were taught it by treachery."--"Consider, too, that you +are without artillery, without an army, without cavalry."--"The +Spaniards resisted all the force of Bonaparte, though they had fewer +resources than we have."--"You have no money."--"We shall procure it +at the expense of the nobles and royalists, or do without it. The +armies of the republic were paid with garlands of oak, yet were they +the less able, to overcome the armies of the coalition?"--"You are +wrong, I assure you, in viewing your situation under such fine +colours. This new war will be more cruel, and more obstinate, than the +others. The allies are determined, never to lay down their arms, while +Napoleon remains on the throne."--"I by no means look with +tranquillity on the war that is preparing. I cannot think of it +without alarm. If Napoleon prove victorious, it is possible, that +success may turn our brains, and inspire us anew with the desire of +revisiting Vienna and Berlin. If he be unsuccessful, it is to be +feared, that our defeats will animate the people with rage and +despair, and that the nobles and royalists will be massacred."--"The +prospect is no doubt extremely distressing; but I have already told +you, and I repeat it, nothing will alter the determination of the +allied monarchs: they have learned to know the Emperor, and will not +leave him the means of disturbing the world. Even would the sovereigns +consent, to lay down their arms, their people would oppose it: they +consider Bonaparte as the scourge of the human race, and would all +shed their blood to the last drop, to tear from him the sceptre, and +perhaps his life."-- + + [Footnote 3: The greater part of the deputies were not + yet named; but there was no harm in anticipating + events.] + +"I know, that the Prussians have sworn him implacable animosity: but +the Russians and Austrians surely are not so exasperated as the +Prussians."-- + +"On the contrary, the Emperor Alexander was the first, to declare +against Napoleon."-- + +"Be it so: but the Emperor of Austria is too virtuous, and too +politic, to sacrifice his son-in-law, and his natural ally, a second +time to vain considerations."-- + +"The Emperor is not guided by vain considerations: he had to choose +between his affections as a father, and his duties as a sovereign; he +had to decide between the fate of a wife and child, and the fate of +Europe: the choice he would make could not be doubted, and the +magnanimous resolution taken by the Emperor is incontestably a noble +title to the gratitude of his contemporaries, and the admiration of +posterity."-- + +"I am fully aware, how much it must have cost him, to overturn the +throne of his daughter, and of his grandson; and condemn them to lead +a painful life on the face of the earth, without father, without +husband, without a country. Though a Frenchman, I do justice to the +strength of mind, that the Emperor has shown on this memorable +occasion: but if the part he then took were proper, it appears to me, +that the path he now seems inclined to pursue will be as dangerous, as +it is impolitic. Austria, in the critical situation in which it is +placed by the vicinity, ambition, and alliance of Prussia and Russia, +has need of being protected and supported by a powerful ally; and no +prince is more capable of succouring and defending it than +Napoleon."-- + +"Austria has nothing to fear from its neighbours: such harmony reigns +between them, as nothing can disturb: their sentiments and principles +are the same. M. de Metternich has charged me, to declare to you +positively, that he acted only in concert with the allies; and that +he would enter into no negotiation without their consent."-- + +This word, negotiation, struck me. "Since we must not think, M. +Werner," answered I, "of re-establishing that union and friendship +between Austria and France separately, which their interests, and +their family connexion, demand; at least let us not renounce the hope +of a general accommodation. Never perhaps was humanity threatened with +a war so terrible: it will be a conflict to the death, not between +army and army, but between nation and nation. The idea makes me +tremble. The name of M. de Metternich is already celebrated; but with +what glory would it be surrounded, if M. de Metternich, in becoming +the mediator of Europe, should accomplish its pacification! And we, +too, M. Werner, do you think we should not obtain a share in the +blessings of the people? Let us lay aside our character of +negotiators, and examine the situation of the belligerent powers, not +as their agents, but as disinterested persons, as friends of humanity. +You say, you have twelve hundred thousand fighting men; but we had a +million in 1794, and shall have still. The love of honour and +independence is not extinct in France; it will fire every heart, when +the business is to repel the humiliating and unjust yoke, that you +would impose on us. + +"If the picture I have drawn you of the state of France, and the +patriotism with which she is animated, appear to you unfaithful, or +exaggerated, come with me; I offer you a passport, and all the pledges +you can require; we will travel together incognito; we will go +wherever you please; we will hear, we will interrogate, the peasants, +the townspeople, the soldiers, the rich, and the poor; and when you +have seen, seen every thing with your own eyes, you may aver to M. de +Metternich, that he has been deceived; and that the efforts of the +allies, to impose upon us the law, can have no other result, than that +of watering the ground in vain with blood." + +The emotion, that I could not restrain, had transfused itself into M. +Werner: "I wish," said he to me with tenderness, "it was in my power +to second your wishes, and to concur with you in stopping the effusion +of human blood: but I dare not indulge this hope. However, I will give +M. de Metternich an account of the energy, with which you have pleaded +the cause of humanity: and, if he can accept the office of a mediator, +I know so well the loftiness of his soul, to pledge myself to you, +that he will not refuse it." + +Thus far, in order to accustom M. de Metternich to treat directly with +me, I had avoided bringing forward M. Fouche. However, as he had +directed me to make use of his letters, I took an opportunity of +mentioning them to M. Werner. I read them to him; and took care to +comment on them in such a way, as to destroy the unpleasant +impression, which I foresaw the partiality of the praises lavished on +Napoleon would make upon him. When we came to the passage, where M. +Fouche discussed the inconveniences of a republic, M. Werner stopped +me, and said, that I certainly had not conceived him rightly; that he +had spoken to me merely indirectly of a republic, as it never entered +into the thoughts of the allied monarchs, to give way to its +re-establishment; for their endeavours would rather be exerted, to +crush the seeds of a republican spirit, than to favour their dangerous +germination. I reminded him of the conversation we had had on the +subject; but, as it was of little importance to me, to prove myself in +the right, I readily admitted myself to be in the wrong. + +"At any rate," said he, taking the letters, "the language of M. +Fouche will greatly surprise M. de Metternich. He repeated to me +again, the evening before I set out, that the Duke of Otranto had on +all occasions expressed to him an inveterate hatred of Bonaparte; and +that even in 1814 he blamed him, for not having caused him to be +confined in some strong fortress; predicting to him, that he would +return from the island of Elba, to ravage Europe anew. M. Fouche must +be totally ignorant of what passes at Vienna, to believe in the +Emperor's security: what he will learn from M. de Montron and M. +Bresson will no doubt lead him to adopt a different opinion; and will +make him sensible, that it will be for his own interest, as well as +that of France, to second the efforts of the allies." + +"I know the connexions of the Duke of Otranto with those gentlemen," +answered I: "he will not pay much credit to what they tell him. I +regret that you were not commissioned to say so much to me on our +first interview, it would unquestionably have made a very different +impression on him; but what has not yet been done may be done; and, if +you wish it, I will readily be your interpreter." + +"M. de Metternich," replied M. Werner, "did not positively inform me +what he had commissioned those gentlemen to say to the Duke of +Otranto; but I presume it could only be a repetition of what he +directed me to say to you." + +"If this be the case," rejoined I, "you would be wrong, to flatter +yourself with the least success. If the question related to Napoleon +alone, we should not hesitate to sacrifice the cause of one man to +that of a whole people: Napoleon, personally, is nothing to us; but +his continuance on the throne is so connected with the happiness and +independence of the nation, that we cannot betray him, without +betraying our country at the same time; and this is a crime, of which +M. Fouche and his friends will never render themselves guilty. + +"In short, M. Werner, I hope you will succeed in convincing our +enemies, that they would attempt in vain to dethrone Napoleon by force +of arms; and that the most prudent part that can be taken is, to be +contented with tying his hands in such a manner, as to prevent him +from oppressing France and Europe anew. + +"If M. de Metternich approve this step, he will find us disposed, +secretly or openly to second his salutary views; and to join with him +in rendering it morally and physically impossible for Napoleon, to +recommence his tyranny. I will then return to Bale, and I will go to +Vienna, if you desire it: and in a word I will do every thing, that +can be done, to arrive promptly at a secure result. + +"But if M. de Metternich will not enter frankly into a conference, and +his sole intention be, to instigate treachery, his endeavours will +prove fruitless; and M. Fouche requests, that M. de Metternich and the +allies will spare him the trouble of convincing them of it." + +M. Werner assured me, that he would faithfully report to M. de +Metternich all he had heard; and we parted, after promising to meet at +Bale again on the 1st of June. + +I gave the Emperor an account of this new conference. He appeared, to +conceive some hopes from it. "These gentlemen," said he, "begin to +soften, since they offer me the regency: my attitude imposes on them. +Let them allow me another month, and I shall no longer have any fear +of them." + +I did not forget to remark to him, that M. M. de Montron and Bresson +had been charged with fresh communications for M. Fouche. "He has +never opened his mouth to me on the subject," said Napoleon. "I am now +persuaded, that he is betraying me. I am almost certain, that he is +intriguing both at London and at Ghent: I regret, that I did not +dismiss him, before he came to disclose to me the intrigues of +Metternich: at present, the opportunity is gone by; and he would every +where proclaim me for a suspicious tyrant, who had sacrificed him +without any cause. Go to him: say nothing to him of Montron or +Bresson; let him prate at his ease, and bring me a full account of all +he says." + +The Emperor imparted this second interview to the Duke of Vicenza; and +directed him, to send for M. de Montron, and M. Bresson, and endeavour +to set them talking. The Duke de Vicenza having been able to get +nothing out of them, the Emperor, as I have been informed, would see +them himself; and, after having questioned and sounded them for four +hours, he dismissed them both, without having heard any thing but +accounts of the hostile dispositions of the allies, and the +conversations they had had at Vienna with M. de Talleyrand and M. de +Metternich, the substance of which was the same as that of my +conferences with M. Werner. + +As the Emperor had rejected my first suspicions with so much +indifference, I was flattered to see him sharing my distrust: but +this gratification of self-love gave way to the most painful +reflexions. + +I had conceived the highest opinion of the character and patriotism of +the Duke of Otranto; I considered him as one of the first statesmen in +France; and I bitterly regretted, that such qualities, and such +talents, instead of being devoted to the good of his country, should +be employed in favouring the designs of our enemies, and in coolly +contriving with them the means of subjugating us. + +These reflexions, which ought to have inspired me with horror for M. +Fouche, had on me an opposite effect: I was staggered by the enormity +of the crime I ascribed to him. No, said I to myself, M. Fouche cannot +be guilty of such baseness: he has received too many benefits from the +Emperor, to be capable of betraying him, and has given too many proofs +of attachment and affection to his country, to conspire its dishonour +and ruin. His propensity to intrigue may have led him astray; but his +intrigues, if reprehensible, are at least not criminal. + +Thus I repaired to the Duke of Otranto's in the persuasion, that I had +judged him too severely. But his air of constraint, and his captious +endeavours, to penetrate what M. Werner might have said to me, +convinced me, that his conscience was not at ease; and I felt my just +prejudices revived and increased[4]. The time I staid with him was +spent in idle questions and dissertations on the probabilities of +peace or war. It would be useless and tiresome, to recite them here. + + [Footnote 4: When the Duke of Otranto became minister to + the King, and was appointed to make out lists of + proscription, I was desirous of knowing, what I had to + expect from his resentment; and wrote to him, to sound + his intentions. He sent for me, received me with much + kindness, and assured me of his friendship and + protection. "You did your duty," said he to me, "and I + did mine. I foresaw, that Bonaparte could not maintain + his situation. He was a great man, but had grown mad. It + was my duty, to do what I did, and prefer the good of + France to every other consideration." + + The Duke of Otranto behaved with the same generosity + towards most of the persons, of whom he had any reason + to complain; and, if he found himself obliged, to + include some of them in the number of the proscribed, he + had at least the merit of facilitating their escape from + death, or the imprisonment intended for them, by + assisting them with his advice, with passports, and + frequently with the loan of money.] + +The rising of the King of Naples became afterwards the subject of our +conversation. "Murat is a lost man," said M. Fouche to me: "he is not +strong enough, to contend with Austria. I had advised him, and I have +written again lately to the Queen, to keep himself quiet, and wait the +course of events: they would not listen to me, and have done wrong: +they might have had it in their power to treat; now they cannot; they +will be sent about their business without pity, and without any +conditions." + +The Emperor, who had become uneasy, directed M. de Montron and M. +Bresson to be watched. He was informed, that the latter had just been +sent to England by order of the minister at war. + +The Prince of Eckmuhl, being questioned, said, that an English dealer +had forty thousand muskets to sell; and he had commissioned M. +Bresson, to go and examine them, and treat for their purchase. This +mission, which did not at first excite the Emperor's attention, +afterwards recurred to his mind: he first thought it strange, and then +suspicious. "If Davoust," said he, "had not had some motive for +concealing this business from me, he would have mentioned it: it is +not natural: he is acting in concert with Fouche." + +This glimpse of light produced no effect. Napoleon contented himself +with severely reprimanding the minister at war; and ordering him, +never again to send any person whatever out of France, without his +consent. + +A new incident occurred, to strengthen the Emperor's apprehensions. He +was informed by the prefect of police, that M. Bor..., formerly one of +the principal agents of the police, and one of the habitual confidants +of the minister, had set off for Switzerland with a passport from M. +Fouche. An order for arresting M. Bor... was transmitted by telegraph +to General Barbanegre, who commanded at Huninguen: but it arrived too +late; M. Bor..., as quick as lightning, had already passed the +frontier. + +The Emperor no longer had any doubt of M. Fouche's treachery; but he +was afraid the disclosure of it would occasion alarm and +discouragement. In fact, people would not have failed to infer, that +the imperial cause was lost; since this minister, whose perspicacity +was well known, quitted it to join the Bourbons. + +Napoleon foresaw too the approaching commencement of hostilities; and, +convinced, that the fate of France would not be decided by the +manoeuvres of the Duke of Otranto, he resolved, to wait for a more +favourable opportunity of getting rid of him. If the victory of +Fleurus had not been followed by the disasters of Waterloo, the first +decree the Emperor would have signed, on his arrival at Brussels, +would probably have been for displacing the Duke of Otranto. + +The time of the rendezvous given me by M. Werner being come, I asked +Napoleon for orders. "Fouche," said he to me, "will no doubt have +warned Metternich; and it is probable, that his agent will return no +more: it is even possible, that measures will be taken, to arrest you. +I think, therefore, you may as well remain here."--"I do not think, +sire, that M. de Metternich is capable of such an action. The +patriotism and frankness, which I displayed in my conferences with M. +Werner, appear to have pleased the prince; and M. Werner informed me, +that he was particularly directed, to express to me the good opinion +(permit me to repeat the terms) which he had conceived of my character +and merit. Your Majesty would be wrong, I think, not to allow me to +make this last attempt. As the point in question was not a conspiracy, +but to set on foot a negotiation, it is possible, that M. Werner may +return."--"You have my consent very willingly; but I am afraid, they +will lay hold of you: be prudent." + +I was afraid so too. I set off. + +It happened as the Emperor foresaw. M. Werner appeared no more. + +Thus ended this negotiation, which might perhaps have realized many +hopes, had not M. Fouche occasioned its failure. + +At the period when it took place, England, in its celebrated Memoir of +the 25th of April, and Austria, in that it published the 9th of May +following, had authentically declared, subsequently to my first +interview at Bale, that they had not engaged by the treaty of the 29th +of March, to restore Louis XVIII. to the throne; and that their +intentions in pursuing the war were not, to impose on France any +particular government whatever. + +These declarations gave great weight to the proposals of M. Werner. +The Emperor thought them sincere; and in one of those moments of +openness, which he was not always sufficiently master of himself to +suppress, he said at his levee: "Well, gentlemen, they offer me the +regency already: it depends only on myself, whether I shall accept +it." These inconsiderate words made some impression; and they who +remembered them have since asserted, that, if the Emperor had not been +enamoured of the crown, he might have placed his son on the throne, +and spared France the carnage of Mont St. Jean. The Emperor descending +from his throne, to place on it his son, and peace, would have added, +no doubt, a noble page to his history: but, ought he to have accepted +the loose proposals of M. Werner, and trusted to the faith of his +enemies? I think not. The first question to be decided, before +treating of a regency, was this: What is to be done with Napoleon? and +it has been seen, that on this point the allies held the profoundest +silence. + +I am far from thinking, that the Emperor would have consented in any +case, to lay aside his crown, which he considered as the price of +twenty years toil and victory; I only maintain, that he cannot be +blamed on this occasion, for having retained it. + +This confidential avowal to his courtiers is not the only +indiscretion, of which they laid hold, to charge him with imaginary +faults. What will appear surprising is, that, with the character for +negation and dissimulation ascribed to him, he was capable of +indiscretions. + +Napoleon conceived in secret, and conducted to their close in mystery, +schemes, that did not call his passions into play, because then he +never ceased to be master of himself: but it was excessively rare for +him, to preserve a continued, and complete dissimulation in affairs, +that strongly agitated his soul. The object, on which he was then +occupied, assailed his mind, and heated his imagination: his head, +continually at work, abounded in ideas, that diffused themselves in +spite of him, and displayed themselves externally by broken words, and +demonstrations of joy or anger, that afforded a clew to his designs, +and entirely destroyed the mystery, in which he would have enveloped +them. + +This narration, which I would not interrupt, has made me lose sight of +Napoleon. I left him meditating the constitution he had promised the +French, and now return to him. + +Napoleon had at first announced his intention of amalgamating the +ancient constitutions with the charter, and composing from the whole a +new constitution, which should be subjected to the free discussion of +the delegates of the nation. But he thought, that present +circumstances, and the agitation of men's minds, would not permit +subjects of such high importance, to be debated publicly without +danger; and he resolved to confine himself for the moment, to sanction +by a particular act, supplementary to the constitutions of the empire, +the new guarantees, that he had promised the nation. + +Napoleon was swayed also by another consideration. He considered the +constitutions of the empire as the title-deeds of his crown; and he +was afraid, if he annulled them, that he should effect a sort of +novation, that would give him the appearance of beginning a new reign. +For Napoleon, such is human weakness, after having devoted to ridicule +the pretensions of "_the King of Hartwell_," was inclined to persuade +himself, that his own reign had not been interrupted by his residence +in the island of Elba. + +The Emperor had entrusted to M. Benjamin Constant, and to a committee +composed of ministers of state, the double task of preparing the bases +of a new constitution. After having seen and amalgamated their +labours, he subjected the result to the examination of the council of +state, and of the council of ministers. Toward the end of the +discussion, Napoleon suggested the idea of not submitting this +constitution to public debate, but presenting it only as an additional +act to the preceding constitutions. This idea was combated +unanimously. M. Benjamin Constant, the Duke Decres, the Duke of +Otranto, the Duke of Vicenza, &c. &c., remonstrated with the Emperor, +that this was not what he had promised France; that a new constitution +was expected from him, purged from the despotic acts of the senate; +and that he must fulfil the expectations of the nation, or prepare to +lose its confidence for ever. + +The Emperor promised to reflect on it: but, after having weighed in +his sagacity the observations, that had been submitted to him, he +persisted in his scheme; and the next day the additional act appeared +in the Moniteur in the following form: + + +ADDITIONAL ACT. + + Paris, April the 24th. + +Napoleon, by the grace of God and the constitutions, Emperor of the +French, to all present and to come, health. + + +Since we were called, fifteen years ago, by the wishes of France, to +the government of the empire, we have sought to bring to perfection, +at different periods, the forms of the constitution, according to the +wants and desires of the nation, and profiting by the lessons of +experience. + +Thus the constitution of the empire has been formed by a series of +acts, which have been invested with the acceptance of the people. We +had then for our object, to organize a grand European federal system, +which we had adopted as conformable to the spirit of the age, and +favourable to the progress of civilization. To effect its completion, +and give it all the extension and stability, of which it is +susceptible, we had adjourned the establishment of several domestic +institutions, more particularly designed to protect the liberty of the +citizens. Our object is nothing more henceforward, than to increase +the prosperity of France by the confirmation of public liberty; whence +results the necessity of several important modifications of the +constitution, the decrees of the senate, and other acts, by which this +empire is governed. + +For these reasons, willing, on the one hand, to retain whatever is +good and salutary of the past, and on the other to render the +constitution of our empire conformable in every respect to the wishes +and wants of the nation, as well as to that state of peace, which we +are desirous of maintaining with Europe, we have resolved, to propose +to the people a series of arrangements, tending to modify and improve +its acts, to surround the rights of citizens with all their +guarantees, to give to the representative system its full extent, to +invest the intermediate bodies with the respectability and powers that +are desirable; in a word, to combine the highest degree of political +liberty, and personal security, with the strength and concentration +necessary, to render the independence of the French people, and the +dignity of our crown, respected by foreigners: in consequence, the +following articles, forming an act supplementary to the constitution +of the empire, will be submitted to the free and solemn acceptance of +all the citizens, throughout the whole extent of France[5]. + + [Footnote 5: This preamble, which gave the death-blow to + the additional act, was, I believe, the work of M. + Benjamin Constant.] + + +HEAD I. + +_General provisions._ + +ART. 1. The constitution of the empire, consisting of the +constitutional act of the 22d of Frimaire, year 8; of the decrees of +the senate of the 14th and 16th of Thermidor, year 10; and of that of +the 28th of Floreal, year 12; will be modified by the provisions +following: all the rest of their provisions are maintained and +confirmed. + +ART. 2. The legislative power is exercised by the Emperor and by two +chambers. + +ART. 3. The first chamber, styled the chamber of peers, is hereditary. + +ART. 4. The Emperor names its members, who are irremovable, they and +their male descendants, from eldest to eldest, in direct descent. The +number of peers is unlimited. Adoption does not transmit the dignity +of the peerage to the person adopted. The peers take their seats at +the age of twenty-one; but have no deliberative voice before the age +of twenty-five. + +ART. 5. The chamber of peers has for its president the archchancellor +of the empire, or, in the case provided for by article 5 of the decree +of the senate of the 28th of Floreal, year 12, by one of the members +of the chamber appointed by the Emperor. + +ART. 6. The members of the imperial family, in hereditary succession, +are peers by right. They are seated next to the president. They take +their seats at the age of eighteen, but have no deliberative voice +before the age of twenty-one. + +ART. 7. The second chamber, styled the chamber of representatives, is +elected by the people. + +ART. 8. The members of this chamber are to the number of six hundred +and twenty-nine: they must be twenty-five years of age at least. + +ART. 9. The president of the chamber of representatives is appointed +by the chamber at the opening of the session. He remains in office, +till the chamber is renewed. His appointment is submitted to the +approbation of the Emperor. + +ART. 10. The chamber of representatives verifies the powers of its +members, and decides on the validity of contested elections. + +ART. 11. The members of the chamber of representatives receive for +travelling expenses, and during the session, the indemnity decreed by +the constituent assembly. + +ART. 12. They are re-eligible without limit. + +ART. 13. The chamber of representatives is entirely renewed, of right, +every five years. + +ART. 14. No member of either chamber can be arrested, except in case +of being taken in the fact of committing a crime; or prosecuted for a +criminal or correctional cause, during the sessions, except in +consequence of a resolution of the chamber to which he belongs. + +ART. 15. No one can be arrested or detained for debt, from the time of +convening the meeting till forty days after the session. + +ART. 16. The peers are to be tried by their own chamber in criminal or +correctional cases, according to the forms prescribed by the law. + +ART. 17. The quality of peer and of representative is compatible with +all public functions, except those that are responsible +(_comptables_). + +All prefects and subprefects are not eligible by the electoral college +of the department or circle (_arrondissement_), for which they are +serving. + +ART. 18. The Emperor sends to the chambers the ministers of state, and +counsellors of state, who sit, and take a part in the discussions, but +have no deliberative voice, unless they are members of the chamber, +either as peers or being elected by the people. + +ART. 19. The ministers, who are members of the chamber of peers, or of +that of representatives, or who sit in consequence of being sent by +the government, will give the chambers the information deemed +necessary, when making it public does not compromise the interests of +the state. + +ART. 20. The sittings of both chambers are public. Nevertheless, they +may resolve themselves into secret committees; the chamber of peers on +the demand of ten members, that of deputies on the demand of +twenty-five. The government also may demand secret committees for any +communications it may have to make. In all cases deliberations and +votes can take place only in a public sitting. + +ART. 21. The Emperor may prorogue, adjourn, or dissolve, the chamber +of representatives. The proclamation, that pronounces the dissolution, +convokes the electoral colleges for a new election, and indicates the +re-assembling of representatives in six months at the latest. + +ART. 22. During the interval between the sessions of the chamber of +representatives, or in case of the dissolution of this chamber, the +chamber of peers cannot assemble. + +ART. 23. The government has the proposal of the law: the chambers may +propose amendments: if these amendments be not adopted by the +government, the chambers are bound to vote for or against the law, in +the form in which it was proposed. + +ART. 24. The chambers have the power of inviting the government to +propose a law on a given subject, and to draw up what appears to them +proper to be inserted in the law. This demand may be made by either of +the two chambers. + +ART. 25. When a draught of a law is adopted by one of the two +chambers, it is carried to the other; and, if it be approved there, +it is carried to the Emperor. + +ART. 26. No written discourse, except the reports of committees, the +reports of ministers on the laws that are presented, and the accounts +that are delivered, can be read in either of the chambers. + + +HEAD II. + +_Of the electoral colleges, and the mode of election._ + +ART. 27. The electoral colleges of the departments and circles are +retained, conformably to the decree of the senate of the 16th of +Thermidor, year 10, excepting the following modifications. + +ART. 28. The district assemblies (_les assemblees de canton_) will +fill up every year, by annual elections, all the vacancies in the +electoral colleges. + +ART. 29. From the year 1816, a member of the chamber of peers, +appointed by the Emperor, will be president of the electoral college +of each department for life, and not removable. + +ART. 30. Dating from the same period, the electoral college of each +department will appoint, from among the members of the college of +each circle, the president and two vice-presidents: for this purpose +the assembling of the electoral college of the department will precede +that of the college of the circle fifteen days. + +ART. 31. The colleges of departments and circles will appoint the +number of representatives established for each by the annexed table +and act, No. 1.[6] + + [Footnote 6: This table, and that mentioned in Art. 33, + being of no importance, are not inserted here.] + +ART. 32. The representatives may be chosen throughout the whole extent +of France indifferently. + +Every college of a department or circle, that shall choose a member +not belonging to the department or circle, shall appoint a substitute +(_suppleant_), who must necessarily be taken from the department or +circle. + +ART. 33. Manufacturing and commercial labour and property shall have a +particular representation. + +The election of commercial and manufacturing representatives shall be +made by the electoral college of the department from a list of +eligible persons, drawn up by the chambers of commerce and consulting +chambers in conjunction, according to the annexed table and act, No. +2. + + +HEAD III. + +_Of the law of taxation._ + +ART. 34. Direct general taxes, whether on land or personal property, +are voted only for one year: indirect taxes may be voted for several +years. In case of a dissolution of the chamber of representatives, the +taxes voted in the preceding session are continued, till the chamber +meets anew. + +ART. 35. No tax, direct or indirect, in money or in kind, can be +levied; no loan can take place; no entry of credit in the great book +of the public debt can be made; no domain can be alienated or +exchanged; no raising of men for the army can be ordered; no portion +of territory can be exchanged; except by virtue of a law. + +ART. 36. No proposal of a tax, of a loan, or of a levy of men, can be +made, except in the chamber of representatives. + +ART. 37. It is in the chamber of representatives also, that, 1st, the +general budget of the state, containing an estimate of the receipts, +and the proposal of the funds assigned for the year to each +department of the ministry; and, 2dly, an account of the receipts and +expenses of the year, or years, preceding; are to be introduced in the +first instance. + + +HEAD IV. + +_Of ministers and their responsibility._ + +ART. 38. All the acts of the government must be countersigned by a +minister having some department. + +ART. 39. The ministers are responsible for the acts of government +signed by them, as well as for the execution of the laws. + +ART. 40. They may be accused by the chamber of representatives, and +are to be tried by that of peers. + +ART. 41. Every minister, every commander of an army by land or sea, +may be accused by the chamber of representatives, and tried by the +chamber of peers, for having compromised the safety or honour of the +nation. + +ART. 42. In this case the chamber of peers exercises a discretionary +power, both in assigning the character of the crime, and in the +punishment to be inflicted. + +ART. 43. Before it is decided, that a minister shall be put upon his +trial, the chamber of representatives must declare, that there are +grounds for examining into the charge brought against him. + +ART. 44. This declaration can be made only on the report of a +committee of sixty members drawn by lot. This committee cannot make +its report till at least ten days after its nomination. + +ART. 45. When the chamber has declared, that there are grounds for +examination, it may summon the minister before it, to demand an +explanation of him. This summons cannot take place, till ten days +after the committee has made its report. + +ART. 46. In all other cases, ministers having departments cannot be +summoned or sent for by the chambers. + +ART. 47. When the chamber of representatives has declared, that there +are grounds for examination against a minister, a new committee is to +be formed, of sixty members, drawn by lot as the former; and this +committee makes a fresh report on the subject of bringing him to +trial. This committee does not make its report till ten days after its +nomination. + +ART. 48. The bringing to trial cannot be decided upon, till ten days +after the report has been read, and distributed among the members. + +ART. 49. The accusation being resolved upon, the chamber of +representatives names five commissioners, chosen from among its own +members, to conduct the charge before the chamber of peers. + +ART. 50. Article 75 of head 8 of the constitutional act of the 22d of +Frimaire, year 8, declaring, that the agents of the government can be +prosecuted only in consequence of a decision of the council of state, +shall be modified by a law. + + +HEAD V. + +_Of the judicial power._ + +ART. 51. The Emperor appoints all the judges. They are for life, and +irremovable, from the instant of their appointment; the nomination of +judges of the peace, and of commerce, excepted, which will take place +as heretofore. + +The present judges, appointed by the Emperor agreeably to the decree +of the senate of the 12th of October, 1807, and whom he may think +proper to retain, will receive appointments for life before the 1st of +January next. + +ART. 52. The institution of juries is retained. + +ART. 53. The debating of criminal causes is to be public. + +ART. 54. Military crimes alone are amenable to military tribunals. + +ART. 55. All other crimes, even if committed by military men, are +under the jurisdiction of the civil tribunals. + +ART. 56. All crimes and offences, that were amenable to the high +imperial court, and the trial of which is not reserved by the present +act for the chamber of peers, are to be carried before the ordinary +tribunals. + +ART. 57. The Emperor has the right of pardoning, even in correctional +cases, and of granting amnesties. + +ART. 58. The interpretations of laws demanded by the court of +cassation shall be given in the form of a law. + + +HEAD VI. + +_Rights of citizens._ + +ART. 59. Frenchmen are equal in the eye of the law, both in +contributing to the taxes and public expenses, and in regard to +admission to employments civil or military. + +ART. 60. No one can be taken out of the hands of the judges assigned +him by the law, on any pretence. + +ART. 61. No one can be prosecuted, arrested, detained in custody, or +banished, except in cases provided for by the law, and according to +the forms prescribed. + +ART. 62. Freedom in religious worship is guarantied to all. + +ART. 63. All property possessed or acquired agreeably to the laws, and +all debts of the state, are inviolable. + +ART. 64. Every citizen has a right to print and publish his opinions, +he signing them, without any previous censorship; saving that he is +legally responsible, after publication, to be tried by a jury, even +though the application of a correctional punishment only should be +requisite. + +ART. 65. The right of petition is secured to all the citizens. Every +petition is that of an individual (_est individuelle_). These +petitions may be addressed, either to the government, or to the two +chambers; nevertheless, even the latter must be superscribed "to his +Majesty the Emperor." They must be presented to the chambers under the +guarantee of a member, who recommends the petition. They are read +publicly; and, if the chamber take them into consideration, they are +carried to the Emperor by the president. + +ART. 66. No place, no part of the territory, can be declared in a +state of siege, except in case of invasion by a foreign power, or of +civil disturbance. + +In the former case, the declaration is made by an act of the +government. + +In the second case, it can be made only by the law. However, if the +case occur, when the chambers are not assembled, the act of +government, declaring the state of siege, must be converted into a +proposal for a law in the first fifteen days after the meeting of the +chambers. + +ART. 67. The French people declare farther, that, in the delegation it +has made, and now makes, of its powers, it has not intended, and does +not intend, to confer the right of proposing the re-establishment of +the Bourbons, or of any prince belonging to that family, on the +throne, even in case of the extinction of the imperial dynasty; or the +right of re-establishing either the ancient feudal nobility, or feudal +and seigniorial rights, or tithes, or any privileged and predominant +form of worship; or the power of making any infringement of the +irrevocability of the sale of national domains: it formally prohibits +the government, the chambers, and the citizens, from every proposal +in respect to these. + +Done at Paris, the 22d of April, 1815. + + (_Signed_) NAPOLEON. + By the Emperor, + _The minister secretary of state,_ + (_Signed_) The Duke of BASSANO. + + * * * * * + +This additional act did not answer the general expectation. + +The public had hoped, to receive from Napoleon a new constitution, +freed from the faults and abuses of the preceding constitutions; and +it was surprised, grieved, dissatisfied, when it saw, by the very +preamble of the additional act, that it was nothing but a +_modification_ of the former constitutions, decrees of the senate, and +other acts, by which the empire was governed. + +What confidence, people cried, can such a production inspire? What +guarantee can it afford the nation? Do we not know, that it was by +means of these decrees of the senate, that Napoleon sported with our +most sacred laws? and, since they are now maintained and confirmed, +may he not employ them, as he formerly did, to interpret after his +own fashion his additional act, alter its nature, and render it +illusory? + +It had been to be wished, undoubtedly, that the additional act had not +revived the name, and borrowed the assistance, of all the senatorial +acts, become on so many accounts objects of the public contempt and +derision: but this was impossible[7]. They were the basis of our +institutions; and they could not have been proscribed in a body, +without arresting the progress of government, and subverting the +established order of things from top to bottom. + + [Footnote 7: Notwithstanding the charter, and the laws + daily passed, it is found necessary, to recur every day + to rules established by the ancient legislation of the + senate.] + +Besides, the fear of Napoleon's putting them in vigour was founded +only on vague suppositions. The oppressive arrangements of the decrees +of the senate were annulled, both in fact and in law, by the +principles, which the additional act sanctioned: and Napoleon had +rendered it impossible for him to augment his authority, or to abuse +it, by the immense power, with which he had invested the chambers, the +responsibility he had thrown on his agents and ministers, and the +inviolable guarantees he had conferred on freedom of opinion and +personal liberty. The slightest attempt would have betrayed his secret +intentions; and a thousand voices would have been raised, to say to +him: "We, who are as good as you, have made you our King, on +condition, that you keep our laws: if not, not[8]." + + [Footnote 8: The well-known words, in which the cortes + of Arragon address the kings of Spain at their + coronation.] + +The re-establishment of the chamber of peers, imported from England by +the Bourbons, excited no less vividly the public discontent. + +It was clear, in fact, that the privileges, and peculiar jurisdiction, +which the peers exclusively enjoyed, constituted a manifest violation +of the laws of equality; and that the hereditary state of the peerage +was a formal infraction of the right of all Frenchmen, to be equally +admissible to the offices of the state. + +Accordingly the friends of liberty and equality with reason reproached +Napoleon for having falsified his promises; and given them, instead of +a constitution bottomed on the principles of equality and liberty, +which he had solemnly professed, a shapeless act, more favourable than +the charter, or any of the preceding constitutions, to the nobility +and their institutions. + +But Napoleon, when he promised the French a constitution, that might +be termed _republican_, had rather followed the political suggestions +of the moment, than consulted the welfare of France. Restored to +himself, ought he to have adhered strictly to the letter of his +promises, or interpreted them merely as an engagement, to give France +a liberal constitution, as perfect as possible? + +The answer cannot be doubtful. + +Now the testimony of the most learned civilians, the experience of +England for 125 years, had demonstrated to him, that the government +best adapted to the habits, manners, and social relations of a great +nation; that which affords the greatest pledge of happiness and +stability; in fine, that which best reconciles political liberty with +the degree of power necessary to the chief of a state; is a +representative monarchical government. It was Napoleon's duty, +therefore, as a legislator, and a paternal sovereign, to give this +mode of government the preference. + +This point granted, and it is incontestable, Napoleon was under the +necessity of establishing an hereditary and privileged chamber of +peers; for a representative monarchy cannot subsist, without an upper +chamber, or chamber of peers; as a chamber of peers cannot subsist +without privileges, and without being hereditary. + +None therefore but the insincere; or men, who, though good patriots, +unconsciously substitute their passions or prejudices in the place of +the public welfare; can reproach Napoleon for having introduced this +institution into our political organization. + +The re-establishment of an intermediate chamber, perhaps, would not +have wounded them so deeply, if care had been taken, to give it a name +less sullied by feudal recollections: but the revolution had exhausted +the nomenclature of public magistracies. Besides, the Emperor thought, +that this was the only title answerable to its high destination. +Perhaps, too, as Louis XVIII. had had his peers, he was not +displeased, to have his also. + +A third accusation bore hard on Napoleon. He promised us, it was +urged, as a natural consequence of the fundamental truth, _the throne +is made for the nation, and not the nation for the throne_, that our +deputies, assembled at the _Champ de Mai_, should give to France, +jointly with him, a constitution conformable to the interests and +wishes of the nation; and by an odious breach of faith, he grants us +an additional act, after the manner of Louis XVIII; and this he +forces us to adopt in the lump, without allowing us to reject those +parts, that may wound our dearest and most sacred rights. + +Napoleon had proclaimed, it is true, on the 1st of March, that this +constitution should be the work of the nation: but since this period +circumstances had altered. It was of importance to the preservation of +peace at home, and to the relations between Napoleon and foreign powers, +that the state should be speedily established and that Europe should +find in its new laws those safeguards against the ambition and despotism +of the Emperor, _and perhaps too against the re-establishment of a +republic_, that it might deem desirable. + +Literally to comply with the words of Napoleon, it would have been +necessary, for the electoral colleges to give their deputies written +instructions, as in 1789. The assembling of these colleges, the +drawing up of their instructions after discussion, the choosing of +delegates, their journeying to Paris, the distribution of the labour, +the preparation, examination, and discussion of the bases of the +constitution, the disputative conferences with the delegates of the +Emperor, &c. &c., would have consumed an incalculable portion of +time, and left France in a state of anarchy, that would have deprived +it of the means or possibility of making peace or war with foreigners. + +Thus, then, far from blaming the Emperor for deviating at the moment +from this part of his promises, he on the contrary deserves credit for +having voluntarily resigned the dictatorship, with which circumstances +had invested him, and placed public liberty under the protection of +the laws. Had he not been _sincere_; had he not been _honestly_ +disposed, to restore to the people their rights, and confine his own +within proper limits, he would not have been in haste, to publish the +additional act: he would have been for gaining time, in hopes that +victory or peace, by consolidating the sceptre in his hands, would +have enabled him to dictate laws, instead of subjecting himself to +them. + +In fine, the additional act was reproached with having re-established +the confiscations abolished by the charter. + +The majority of the counsellors of state and ministers, and M. de +Bassano more particularly, strongly opposed this renewed provision of +our revolutionary laws. But the Emperor considered the confiscation of +estates as the most efficacious means of bridling the royalists; and +he persisted obstinately in not giving it up; reserving the power of +relinquishing it, when circumstances would permit. + +Upon the whole, the additional act was not without blemishes; but +these blemishes, easy to be removed, no way affected the beauty or +goodness of its basis. + +It acknowledged the principle of the sovereignty of the people. + +It secured to the three powers of the state the strength and +independence necessary, to render their actions free and efficacious. + +The independence of the representatives was guarantied by their +number, and the mode of their election. + +The independence of the peers, by their being hereditary. + +The independence of the sovereign by the imperial _veto_, and the +happy establishment of the other two powers, which serve him mutually +as a safeguard. + +The liberties of the people, solidly established, were liberally +endowed with all the concessions granted by the charter, and all those +subsequently claimed. + +The trial of all libels (_delits de la presse_) by a jury, protected +and secured freedom of opinion. It defended patriotic writers from +the anger of the prince, and the complaisance of his agents. It even +assured them of impunity, whenever their writings are in harmony with +the secret opinions and wishes of the nation. + +Personal liberty was guarantied, not only by the old laws, and the +irremoveableness of the judges, but also by two new provisions; one, +the responsibility of ministers; the other, the approaching abolition +of the impunity, with which public functionaries of all classes had +been invested by the constitution of the year 8, and afterward by the +regal government. + +It was still farther guarantied by the insurmountable barrier opposed +to the abuse of the right of banishment, by reducing the jurisdiction +of military courts within their natural limits, and by restricting the +power of declaring any portion of the country in a state of siege; a +power hitherto arbitrary, and by help of which the sovereign suspended +at will the authority of the constitution, and placed the citizens, in +fact, out of the pale of the law. + +The additional act, in fine, by the obstacles it opposed to the +usurpations of supreme power, and the innumerable guarantees it +secured to the nation, established public and private liberty on +foundations not to be shaken; yet, from the most whimsical of all +inconsistencies, it was considered as _the work of despotism_, and +occasioned Napoleon the loss of his popularity. + +The writers most celebrated for their understanding and patriotism +took up the defence of Napoleon: but in vain did they quote Delolme, +Blackstone, Montesquieu; and demonstrate, that no modern state, no +republic, had possessed such liberal and beneficial laws: their +eloquence and their erudition were without success. The contemners of +the additional act, deaf to the voice of reason, would judge of it +only from its title; and as this title displeased and alarmed them, +they persisted in blackening and condemning the work on the score of +its name, according to the vulgar proverb, _Give a dog a bad name, and +hang him_. + +Napoleon, far from foreseeing this fatal result, had persuaded +himself, on the contrary, that he should receive credit for having so +promptly and generously accomplished the hopes of the nation; and he +had prepared a long proclamation to the French people in his own hand, +in which he sincerely congratulated himself and them on the happiness, +that France was about to enjoy under the sway of his new laws. + +This proclamation, as may easily be guessed, came to nothing[9]. In +its place came a decree for convoking the electoral colleges, in which +Napoleon, informed of the public rumours, excused himself, on the +ground of the pressure of circumstances, for having abridged the forms +he had promised to follow in composing the constitutional act; and +announced, that this act, containing in itself the principles of every +improvement, might be modified in conformity to the wishes of the +nation. By the terms of this decree, the electoral colleges were +called on to choose the members of the approaching assembly of +representatives; and Napoleon excused himself afresh, for being +compelled by the state of affairs, to require them to proceed to the +election of deputies previous to the acceptance of the constitution. + + [Footnote 9: The Emperor had ordered this proclamation + to be burned; but I found it so excellent, that I + thought it my duty to preserve it. At the moment when + Napoleon set out for the army, I was not in Paris; and + one of the principal clerks of the cabinet, M. Rathery, + having found it among my papers, had the courage to + throw it into the fire.] + +It was at the _Champ de Mai_, that the electors of all the departments +were to assemble, and proceed to the collection of votes for its +rejection or adoption. + +The idea of renewing the ancient assemblies of the nation, as it was +first formed by the Emperor, was no doubt a grand and generous +conception, and singularly calculated to restore to patriotism its +energy and lustre; but at the same time, it must be confessed, it bore +the stamp of imprudent daring, and might have given Napoleon an +irreparable stroke. Was it not to be feared, that, in the equivocal +situation in which he was placed, the electors, having every thing to +dread from the Bourbons and foreign powers, would not accept so +hazardous a mission, and leave the assembly unattended? + +Was it not also probable, that no one would covet the dangerous honour +of making part of the new national representation, the first act of +which must necessarily be, to proscribe for ever the dynasty of the +Bourbons, and acknowledge Napoleon, in spite of the foreign powers, +the sole and legitimate sovereign of France? + +However, so true it is, that with Napoleon events always belied the +most sagacious conjectures, the electors hastened in crowds to Paris; +and men most respectable for wealth and character entered the lists to +be chosen deputies, soliciting votes with as much ardour, as if +France had been tranquil and happy[10]. + + [Footnote 10: I speak generally: I know there were + departments, the electoral colleges of which, from + various causes, were composed only of a small number of + individuals.] + +And why was it so? Because, in the eyes of the electors and of the +deputies, the object at stake was not the fate of a particular man, +but of their country. It was because the critical situation of France, +instead of intimidating the partisans of the revolution, awakened in +their hearts the most courageous sentiments of patriotism. + +They, whom I here call the partisans of the revolution, were not, as +certain persons endeavour to persuade the world, those sanguinary +beings, who were branded with the title of Jacobins, but that immense +body of Frenchmen, who, since the year 1789, have concurred more or +less in the destruction of the feudal system, with its privileges and +abuses; of those Frenchmen, in fine, who are no strangers to the value +of liberty, and the dignity of man. + +But was the assembly of the _Champ de Mai_ to be deprived of its chief +ornament, the Empress and her son? The Emperor was not ignorant, that +this princess was carefully watched; and that she had been surprised +and threatened into an oath, to communicate all the letters she might +receive. He knew, also, that she was surrounded by improper persons: +but he thought, that he owed it to himself, and to his affection for +the Empress, to exhaust every means of putting an end to her +captivity. At first he attempted by several letters, full of feeling +and dignity, to move the justice and sensibility of the Emperor of +Austria. Entreaties and reclamations proving ineffectual, he resolved, +to despatch an officer of the crown to Vienna, to negotiate, or demand +publicly, in the name of nature and the law of nations, the +deliverance of the Empress and her son. This mission was entrusted to +the Count de Flahaut, one of his aides-de-camp. No person was more +capable of fulfilling it worthily than this officer. He was a true +Frenchman, spirited, amiable, and brave. He shone equally in the field +of battle, in a diplomatic conference, and in the drawing-room +pleasing every where by the agreeableness and firmness of his +character. + +M. de Flahaut set out, but could not advance beyond Stutgard. This +disgrace converted into painful regret the joy, to which the hope of +seeing again the young prince and his august mother had already given +birth. + +The people who resided near the road they would pass had already made +preparations for testifying their love and their respect. + +The return of Napoleon had been celebrated by enthusiastic shouts, +that resembled the intoxication of victory: that of the Empress would +have inspired only tender emotions. Acclamations tempered by tears of +joy, the roads strewed with flowers, the village maidens adorned in +their best attire and happy looks, would have given this sight the +appearance of a family festival; and Marie Louise would have seemed, +not the daughter of the Caesars returning to her territories, but a +beloved mother, who, after a long and painful absence, is at length +restored to the wishes of her children. + +Her son, over whose head such high destinies were then depending, +would have excited transports not less vivid, or less affecting. Torn +from a throne, and from his country, while yet in his cradle, he had +not ceased to turn his eyes and his remembrances toward the land that +had given him birth: a number of bold and ingenious expressions had +disclosed his regrets and his hopes; and these expressions, repeated +and learned by heart, had rendered this august infant the object of +the dearest thoughts and affections. + +With strange inconsistency, the French had deplored the imperious +temper and warlike disposition of Napoleon; yet they loved the son, +precisely because he gave promise of possessing the genius and +audacity of his father; and because they hoped, that he would at some +future day restore to France "the lustre of victories, and the +language of a master[11]." + + [Footnote 11: The following anecdote of the young + Napoleon I have never seen published. When he came into + the world, he was believed to be dead; he was without + warmth, without motion, without respiration. M. Dubois + (the accoucheur of the Empress) had made reiterated + attempts, to recall him to life, when a hundred guns + were discharged in succession, to celebrate his birth. + The concussion and agitation produced by this firing + acted so powerfully on the organs of the royal infant, + that his senses were reanimated.] + +The Emperor was deeply afflicted at the arbitrary detention of his +wife and her son. He felt all the importance of it. Offers had been +made him several times, to carry them off: I myself was employed, by a +very great personage, to make him an offer of this nature. But he +obstinately persisted in listening to no proposal of the kind. Perhaps +his affection, or his pride, forbade him, to expose to the hazards of +such an enterprise persons so dear to him, and whom he felt assured of +obtaining in a manner more worthy of him by victory, or by a peace. +Perhaps he was apprehensive of endangering their fate, should he +succumb in the struggle, that was about to take place between him and +Europe; for unhappily this struggle, that had so long remained a +matter of doubt, had now ceased to be questionable even to himself. + +The indirect overtures made to foreign cabinets, and those renewed in +every form by the Emperor, and by the Duke of Vicenza, had completely +miscarried. + +The efforts made in favour of France in the British parliament, by the +generous defenders of the independence and rights of nations, had +remained without success. + +M. de St. L.... and M. de Mont...., who were returned from Vienna, had +announced, that the allies would never depart from the principles +manifested in their declaration and treaty of the 13th and 25th of +March. + +M. de Talleyrand, on whom Napoleon had depended, convinced of the +triumph of the Bourbons, had refused to betray or abandon them. + +M. de Stassard had been stopped at Lintz, and obliged to return. His +despatches, which were seized and sent to the Emperor of Austria, had +been shown to the foreign monarchs; and these monarchs had unanimously +decreed, that they should not be taken into consideration, and that +they adhered anew, and more formally than ever, to their declaration. + +The Princess Hortense had received from the Emperor of Russia this +laconic answer: "No peace, no truce, with that man: any thing except +him[12]." + + [Footnote 12: The Emperor Alexander, at the time of the + affair of Fontainebleau, had guarantied to the Duke of + Vicenza, for Napoleon, the possession of the island of + Elba. M. de Talleyrand and the foreign ministers + remonstrated to him strongly, on the danger of leaving + the Emperor on a spot so near to France and Italy; and + conjured him, not to oppose their compelling him to + choose another place of retreat. Alexander, faithful to + his engagements, would not consent to this. When the + Emperor returned, Alexander made it a point of honour, + to repair the noble fault he had committed; and became, + rather from duty than from animosity, the most + inveterate enemy of Napoleon and of France.] + +The agents maintained by the Emperor in foreign countries informed +him, that the troops of all the powers were in arms; and that the +arrival of the Russians alone was waited for, to commence the +campaign[13]. + + [Footnote 13: He had agents in Germany and in England, + who informed him, with perfect accuracy, of every thing + going on there. It is true, that these agents made him + pay dearly for their services. In London, for instance, + he had two persons, who cost him two thousand guineas a + month. "If my Germans," said he on this subject, "were + so dear, I must give them up."] + +Thus every hope of conciliation was annihilated: the friends of +Napoleon began to doubt his safety: he alone contemplated with +imperturbable firmness the dangers, with which he was menaced. + +The events of 1814 had disclosed to him the importance of the capital; +and it may well be presumed, that he did not neglect the means of +putting it into a state of defence. When the moment was arrived, for +definitively resolving on the work of the fortifications, which he had +already sketched out, M. Fontaine, his favourite architect, was with +him, and was going to withdraw. "No," said the Emperor to him, "stay +here: you shall help me to fortify Paris." He ordered the map of +levels to be brought him; examined the sinuosities of the ground; +consulted M. Fontaine on the placing of redoubts, and the erection of +crown-works, triple crown-works, lunettes, &c. &c.; and in less than +half an hour he conceived and settled, under the approbation of his +architect, a definitive plan of defence, that obtained the suffrages +of the most experienced engineers. + +A swarm of workmen soon covered the vicinity of Paris: but to increase +the effect, that the fortification of this city would produce both in +France and in foreign countries, Napoleon caused it to be suggested to +the national guard, to join in the work. Immediately detachments from +the legions, accompanied by a number of citizens and federates from +the suburbs of St. Antoine, and St. Marceau, repaired to Montmartre +and Vincennes, and proceeded to the opening of the trenches with +songs. The grenadiers of the guard would not remain idle; and came to +take their part in the labour with their band of music at their head. +The Emperor, accompanied only by a few of the officers of his +household, frequently went to encourage the zeal of the workmen. His +presence and his words fired their imagination: they fancied they saw +Thermopylae in every pass they fortified and, like new Spartans, swore +with enthusiasm, to defend them till death. + +The federates did not stop at these demonstrations of their zeal, +empty as they often are; they called for arms, and were angry, at the +dilatoriness with which they were given them. They complained no less +eagerly, that they had not yet been reviewed by the Emperor. + +To pacify them, the Emperor hastened to announce to them, that he +would admit them with pleasure to file off before him on the first +parade day. + +On the 24th of May, they presented themselves at the Tuileries. Their +battalions were composed in great part of old soldiers and laborious +work people: but some of those vagabonds, who abound in great cities, +had crept in among them; and these, with their jailbird countenances, +and ragged clothes, recalled to mind but too forcibly those murderous +bands, who formerly stained the dwelling of the unfortunate Louis XVI. +with blood. + +When Louis XIII., and the arrogant Richelieu, invoked the assistance +of the corporations of arts and trades, they admitted their deputies +to a solemn audience, took them by the hand, and embraced them all, +history says, down to the very cobblers. Napoleon, though in a far +more critical situation, would not humble himself before necessity: he +preserved his dignity, and, in spite of himself, suffered symptoms to +escape him of what he felt, at being obliged by circumstances to +accept such assistance. + +The chiefs of the confederation addressed him in a speech, in which +the following passages were principally remarked. + +"You, sire, are the man of the nation, the defender of our country: +from you we expect independence, and a sage liberty. You will secure +to us these two precious possessions; you will render sacred for ever +the rights of the people: you will reign according to the constitution +and the laws. We come to offer you our arms, our courage, and our +blood, for the safety of the capital. + +"Ah! sire, why had we not arms at the time when foreign kings, +emboldened by treason, advanced up to the walls of Paris? ... we shed +tears of rage, at seeing our hands useless to the common cause: ... we +are almost all of us old defenders of our country; our country should +give arms with confidence to those, who have shed their blood for her. +Give us arms in her name ... we are not the instruments of any party, +the agents of any faction.... As citizens, we are obedient to our +magistrates, and to the laws; as soldiers, we are obedient to our +chiefs.... + +"Long live the nation, long live liberty, long live the Emperor!" + +The Emperor answered them in the following terms: + +"Soldiers, federates of the suburbs of St. Antoine and St. Marceau: I +returned alone, because I reckoned on the people of the towns, the +inhabitants of the country, and the soldiers of the army, whose +attachment to the honour of the nation I well knew. You have all +justified my confidence. I accept your offer. I will give you arms; to +lead you, I will give you officers covered with honourable scars, and +accustomed to see the enemy flee before them. Your robust limbs, +inured to the most laborious work, are better adapted than any other, +to handle arms. As to courage, you are Frenchmen: you shall be the +skirmishers (_eclaireurs_) of the national guard. I shall be without +any anxiety for the capital, while the national guard and you are +employed in its defence: and if it be true, that foreigners persist in +the impious design of attacking our independence and our honour, I may +avail myself of victory, without being checked by any solicitude. + +"Soldiers, federates; if there be men among the higher classes of +society, who have dishonoured the French name; the love of our +country, and the sentiment of national honour, have been preserved +entire among the people of our towns, the inhabitants of the country, +and the soldiers of the army. I am glad to see you. I have confidence +in you: long live the nation!" + +Notwithstanding his promise, however, the Emperor, under the pretence, +that there was not a sufficient number of muskets, only gave arms to +those federates who were on duty; so that they passed daily from one +hand to another, and consequently did not remain in the possession of +any one. Various motives induced him, to take this precaution. He +wished to preserve to the national guard a superiority, which it would +have lost, if the whole of the federates had been armed. He was +afraid, also, that the republicans, whom he ever considered as his +most implacable enemies, would obtain sway over the minds of the +federates; and induce them, in the name of liberty, to turn against +himself those arms, that he had put into their hands. Fatal prejudice! +that induced him to place his reliance elsewhere than on the people, +and consequently deprived him of his firmest support. + +At the moment when the population of Paris was testifying the most +faithful attachment to the Emperor and their country, the alarm-bell +of insurrection resounded through the plains of la Vendee. + +As early as the 1st of May, some symptoms of commotion had been +observed in le Bocage[14]. The brave but unfortunate Travot had +effected by his firmness, and by his persuasions, the restoration of +order; and every thing appeared quiet, when emissaries arrived from +England, to kindle the flames anew. + + [Footnote 14: A small county in Lower Normandy, the + common focus of the rebellion.] + +MM. de la Roche-jaquelin, d'Autichamp, Suzannet, Sapineau, Daudigne, +and some others of the chiefs of la Vendee, re-assembled. A civil war +was determined on. On the 15th of May, the day appointed, the +alarm-bell was heard; energetic proclamations called the inhabitants +of Anjou, la Vendee, and Poitou, to arms; and the assembling of a +confused body of seven or eight thousand peasants was effected. + +The English agents had announced, that the Marquis Louis de la +Roche-jaquelin was bringing to the provinces in the West arms, +ammunition, and money. The insurgents immediately repaired to Croix de +Vic, to favour his landing. A few custom-house officers, assembled in +haste, opposed them in vain: la Roche-jaquelin triumphantly delivered +into the hands of the unfortunate Vendeans the fatal presents of +England[15]. + + [Footnote 15: The succours, so pompously announced by + the royalist emissaries, amounted only to 2400 muskets, + and a few barrels of gunpowder. The chiefs of the + insurrection, disappointed in their expectations, + bitterly reproached M. de la Roche-jaquelin with having + deceived and implicated them by false promises.] + +The news of this insurrection, considerably exaggerated by inaccurate +accounts, reached the Emperor in the night of the 17th. He called me +to his bedside; made me set down on the map the positions of the +French and of the insurgents; and dictated to me his commands. + +He directed a part of the troops stationed in the neighbouring +divisions, to march with all possible speed for Niort and Poitiers; +General Brayer, to hasten post to Angers, with two regiments of the +young guard; and General Travot, to call in his detachments, and +concentrate his force, till he received fresh orders. Experienced +officers _d'ordonnances_ were appointed, to go and reconnoitre the +country; and General Corbineau, whose talents, moderation, and +firmness were known to the Emperor, was sent to the spot, to appease +the revolt, or preside over the military operations in case of need. +All these arrangements being made, the Emperor quietly closed his +eyes; for the faculty of tasting at pleasure the sweets of sleep was +one of the prerogatives conferred on him by nature. + +Telegraphic despatches soon brought more circumstantial and more +heartening accounts. "It was known, that the peasants, who had been +ordered to furnish merely four men from each parish, had shown +hesitation and ill will; and that the chiefs had found great trouble +in collecting four or five thousand men, consisting in great part of +vagabonds, and workmen out of employ." In fine it was known, that +General Travot, having been informed of the landing, and the road the +convoy had taken, went in pursuit of the insurgents, came up with them +in advance of St. Gilles, killed about three hundred men, and seized +the greater part of the arms and ammunition. + +The Emperor thought, that this insurrection might be quashed by other +means than by force; and, adopting in this respect the conciliatory +views proposed by General Travot, he directed the minister of police +to invite MM. de Malartie and two other Vendean chiefs, MM. de la +Beraudiere and de Flavigny, to repair in the character of pacificators +to their ancient companions in arms; and remonstrate with them, that +it was not in the plains of the West, the fate of the throne would be +decided; and that, the final expulsion or restoration of Louis XVIII. +depending neither on their efforts, nor on their defeat, the French +blood, which they were about to shed in la Vendee, would be spilt to +no purpose. + +He sent orders to General Lamarque, whom he had just invested with the +supreme direction of this war[16], to favour the negotiations of M. de +Malartie to the utmost of his power: at the same time he directed him, +to declare formally to la Roche-jaquelin, and to the other chiefs of +the insurgents, that, if they persisted in continuing the civil war, +quarter would no longer be given them, and their houses and +possessions should be sacked and burned[17]. + + [Footnote 16: The Emperor had intended this command in + chief for the Duke of Rovigo, or General Corbineau: but + he foresaw, that it might perhaps be necessary, to + proceed to rigorous measures; and he was unwilling, that + these should be conducted by an officer attached to his + own person.] + + [Footnote 17: The Emperor considered this rigorous + measure as a just reprisal for the means employed by the + Vendean chiefs, to recruit their army. They are the + following: + + When the families, that reign in la Vendee, have + resolved on war, they send orders to their agents, to + travel over the country, preaching up revolt, and + indicating to every parish the number of men, that it + must furnish. The chiefs of the insurrection in each + parish then point out the peasants, who are to go; and + enjoin them, to be at such an hour, on such a day, at + the place appointed for assembling. If they fail, armed + bands are sent in quest of them, generally composed of + the men most dreaded in the country: if they resist, + they are threatened with being shot, or having their + houses burnt; and as this is never an empty threat, the + unhappy peasants obey, and set out. + + It has been asserted, that the Emperor had given orders, + to set a price on the heads of the chiefs of the + insurgents. The instructions given to the ministers at + war were transcribed by me, and I have not the least + recollection of any such order having been given.] + +He likewise recommended to him, to press as closely as possible on the +bands of la Vendee, in order to leave them no hope of safety but in +prompt submission. But this recommendation was superfluous. By +unexpected attacks, skilful marches, and continually increasing +successes, General Travot had already struck such terror and alarm +into the insurgents, that they took much more pains to shun than to +fight him. + +In pursuing the movement of concentration, that had been prescribed +him, this general accidentally fell in with the royal army by night, +at Aisenay. A few musket shots spread dismay and disorder through +their ranks; they rushed one upon another, and dispersed so +completely, that MM. de Sapineau and Suzannet were several days +without soldiers. M. d'Autichamp, though distant from the place of +engagement, experienced the same fate. His troops abandoned him with +no less readiness, than he had found difficulty in assembling them. + +This defection was not solely the effect of the terror, with which the +imperial army could not fail naturally to inspire a body of wretched +peasants; it was promoted by several other circumstances. In the first +place it resulted from the little confidence of the insurgents in the +experience and capacity of their General in chief, the Marquis de la +Roche-jaquelin. They did justice to his conspicuous bravery; but he +had forfeited their good opinion, by incessantly endangering them +through false manoeuvres, and by endeavouring to subject them to a +regular service, incompatible with their domestic habits, and with +their mode of making war. + +In the next place it arose from the dissension, that had introduced +itself among their generals from the commencement of the war. The +Marquis de la Roche-jaquelin, ardent and ambitious, had arrogated to +himself the supreme command; and the old founders of the royal army, +the Autichamps, Suzannets, and Sapineaus, did not obey without regret +the imperious orders of a young officer, hitherto without experience +or reputation. + +But the first, the fundamental cause of the slackness or inactivity of +the Vendeans, was still more the change, that had taken place in the +political and military state of France since the coronation of +Napoleon. They knew, that the time when they struck terror into the +blues, and made themselves masters of their artillery with clubs, was +no more. They knew, that the days of terror, of anarchy, were +terminated for ever; and that they had no longer to dread those +abuses, or those excesses, or those crimes, which had provoked and +fomented their first insurrection. As to the attachment for the +Bourbon family, which they had inherited from their fathers, this, +though not banished from their hearts, was balanced by the fear of +seeing the calamities and devastations of the late civil war revived; +by the uneasiness they felt from the renewal of the double despotism +of the nobles and priests; and perhaps also by the remembrance of the +kindness of Napoleon. It was he, who had restored to them their +churches and their ministers; who had raised from their ruins their +desolate habitations[18]; and who had freed them at once from +revolutionary exactions, and from the plunderings of chouanry. + + [Footnote 18: Fourteen millions of francs had been + appropriated to the rebuilding of the houses burned + down.] + +The Emperor, having no doubt of the approaching termination and happy +issue of this war, announced it openly at a public audience. "Every +thing will soon be finished," said he, "in la Vendee. The Vendeans +will not fight any more. They are retiring to their homes one by one; +and the fight will be at an end for want of combatants." + +The news he received from the King of Naples by no means inspired him +with the same satisfaction. + +This prince, as I have said above, after having obtained several +tolerably brilliant advantages, had advanced to the gates of +Placentia; and was preparing, to march through the Piedmontese +territory to Milan; when Lord Bentinck notified to him, that England +would declare against him, if he did not respect the dominions of the +King of Sardinia. Joachim, apprehensive of the English making a +diversion against Naples, consented to alter his course. The +Austrians had time to come up, and Milan was saved. + +While these things were going on, a Neapolitan army, that had +penetrated into Tuscany, and driven General Nugent before it, was +surprised, and forced to retire precipitately to Florence. + +This unexpected check, and the considerable reinforcements, that the +Austrians received, determined Joachim to fall back. He retreated +slowly to Ancona. + +The English, who had hitherto remained neutral, now declared against +him, and joined Austria and the Sicilians. Joachim, menaced and +pressed on all sides, concentrated his forces. A general engagement +took place at Tolentino. The Neapolitans, animated by the presence and +valour of their king, briskly attacked General Bianchi, and every +thing foreboded victory, when the arrival of General Neipperg, at the +head of fresh troops, changed the aspect of affairs. The Neapolitan +army was broken, quitted the field of battle, and fled to Macerata. + +A second battle, equally disastrous, was fought at Caprano; and the +capture of this city by the Austrians opened them an entrance into the +kingdom of Naples, while the corps of General Nugent, which had +marched from Florence to Rome, penetrated into the Neapolitan +territory by another road. + +The rumour of the defeat and death of the king, the approach of the +Austrian armies, and the proclamations[19] issued by them, excited a +sedition at Naples. The Lazaroni, after having assassinated a few +Frenchmen, and massacred the minister of police, repaired to the royal +palace, with the design of murdering the Queen. This princess, worthy +of the blood that circulated in her veins, was not affrighted by their +shouts and threats; she courageously made head against them, and +obliged them, to return to their obedience. + + [Footnote 19: These announced and promised to the + Neapolitans the restoration of Ferdinand, their former + king, to the throne.] + +Joachim, remaining erect amid the ruins of his army, sustained with +heroic firmness the efforts of his enemies. Resolved to fall with arms +in his hand, he rushed on the battalions, and carried terror and death +into the midst of their ranks. But his valour could only ennoble his +fall. Still repulsed, still invulnerable, he relinquished the hope of +meeting death or victory. In the night of the 19th of March he +returned to Naples: the Queen appeared indignant at seeing him. +"Madame," said he to her, "I was not able to find death." He departed +immediately, that he might not fall into the hands of the Austrians, +and came to take refuge in France. The Queen, notwithstanding the +dangers, that threatened her life, resolved to remain at Naples, till +her fate and that of the army were decided. When the treaty was +signed, she withdrew on board an English vessel and repaired to +Trieste. + +The catastrophe of the King made the most profound impression on the +superstitious mind of Napoleon; but the French it inspired with little +regret, and no fear. I say no fear, for the nation was familiarised +with the idea of war. The patriotism and energy, with which it felt +itself animated, filled it with such confidence, that it deemed itself +sufficiently strong, to dispense with the support of the Neapolitans, +and struggle alone against the coalition. It recalled to mind the +campaign of 1814; and, if at that period Napoleon, with sixty thousand +soldiers, had beaten and held in check the victorious foreign armies, +what might it not hope now, when an army of three hundred thousand +fighting men would form, in case of need, only the advanced guard of +France? The royalists and their newspapers, by repeating the +manifestoes of Ghent and Vienna, enumerating the foreign armies, and +exaggerating our dangers, had indeed succeeded in abating the courage +of a few, and shaking their opinions; but the sentiments of the bulk +of the nation had lost nothing of their vigour and energy. Every day +fresh offerings[20] were deposited on the altar of their country; and +every day new corps of volunteers, equally numerous and formidable, +were establishing, under the names of lancers, partisans, federates, +mountain chasseurs, and tirailleurs. + + [Footnote 20: The departments of the Centre, and of the + East, particularly distinguished themselves. A great + number of their inhabitants gave considerable sums, and + equipped at their own expense companies, battalions, + whole regiments, of partisans or national guards. + + A single citizen of Paris, Mr. Delorme, proprietor of + the fine _passage_ of the same name, offered his country + a hundred thousand francs. + + Another, one day when the national guard was reviewed, + caused a roll of paper, tied with a ribbon of the legion + of honour, to be delivered to the Emperor. On opening + it, it was found to contain twenty-five thousand francs, + in notes on the Bank, with these words: "for Napoleon, + for my country." The Emperor was desirous of knowing the + person, who had made this delicate and mysterious + offering; and at length discovered, that it was M. + Gevaudan, whose noble sentiments and patriotism had + already been proved by several actions of a similar + kind.] + +The Parisians, so frequently peaceable spectators of events, +participated in this burst of patriotism: not contented with erecting +their intrenchments with their own hands, they solicited the honour of +defending them; and twenty thousand men, composed of national guards, +federates of the suburbs, and citizens of all ranks, were formed into +battalions for actual service under the denomination of tirailleurs of +the national guard. + +Napoleon applauded the noble efforts of the great nation: but +unfortunately our arsenals had been plundered in 1814; and, +notwithstanding the activity of our workmen, he was grieved to the +heart at his inability, to arm every hand raised in his defence. This +would have required six hundred thousand muskets; and scarcely could +enough be supplied, to arm the troops of the line, and the national +guards, that were sent to garrison the fortified towns. + +But while Paris was contemplating its ramparts on the one hand, on the +other it saw the preparations for the festival of the _Champ de Mai_ +completing. On both there was an equal crowd; and the French, always +the same, always brave and frivolous, traversed with equal pleasure +the spots where they were to fight, and those where they expected to +amuse themselves. + +At length the assembly of the _Champ de Mai_, which several unforeseen +circumstances had delayed, took place on the 1st of June. The Emperor +believed, that he ought to display at it all the imperial pomp; but in +this he was wrong. He was about to appear before old patriots, whom he +had deceived; and he should have avoided awakening their memories, and +clouding their brows. + +His dress, and that of his brothers and his court, made at first a +disagreeable impression; but it soon vanished, and gave place to the +sensations, that this grand union of the nation excited. What in fact +could be more impressive, than the aspect of a people, threatened with +a tremendous war, forming peaceably a solemn compact with the +sovereign, of whom its enemies were desirous of depriving it; and +joining with him, to defend together the honour and independence of +its country, in life or death? + +An altar was erected in the midst of the vast and superb enclosure of +the _Champ de Mars_; and the ceremony commenced with the invocation of +the Supreme Being. The homage paid to God in the presence of nature +seems more fully to inspire man with religion, confidence, and +respect. At the instant of the elevation of the host, this crowd of +citizens, soldiers, officers, magistrates, and princes, prostrated +themselves in the dust, and implored for France, with a tender and +religious emotion, the tutelary protection of the sovereign Arbiter of +kings and people. The Emperor himself, usually so absent, displayed a +great deal of inward devotion. All eyes were fixed on him: people +called to mind his victories and his disasters, his greatness and his +fall; they were softened by the fresh dangers, that accumulated round +his head; and they put up prayers, truly sincere prayers, that he +might triumph over his implacable enemies. + +A deputation, composed of five hundred electors, advanced to the foot +of the throne; and one of them, in the name of the French people, +addressed him in the following terms: + + +"Sire, + +"The French people had decreed you the crown; you laid it down, +without their consent their suffrages impose on you the duty of +resuming it. + +"A new compact is formed between the nation and your Majesty. + +"Assembled from all parts of the empire round the tables of the law, +on which we are come to inscribe the wish of the people, the wish that +constitutes the only legitimate source of power, it is impossible for +us, not to proclaim aloud the voice of France, of which we are the +immediate organs; and not to say, in the face of Europe, to the august +chief of the nation, what it expects of him, and what he has to expect +of it. + +"Our words are as serious, as the circumstances by which they are +inspired. + +"What means this league of allied kings, with that preparation for +war, with which it appals Europe, and grieves humanity? + +"By what act, what transgression, have we provoked their vengeance, or +given cause for an attack? + +"Have we attempted, to impose laws on them, since the peace? We only +wish, to make and follow such, as are adapted to our manners. + +"We refuse the chief, whom our enemies choose for us; and we choose +him, whom they refuse us. + +"They dare to proscribe you personally: you, sire, who, so many times +master of their capitals, had generously confirmed them on their +tottering thrones! This hatred of our enemies adds to our love of you: +were they to proscribe the most insignificant of our citizens, it +would be our duty, to defend him with the same energy; he would be, +like you, under the aegis of the laws and power of France. + +"We are threatened with an invasion; yet, confined within frontiers, +which nature did not impose on us; and which victory, and even peace, +had extended, long before your reign; we have not overstepped this +narrow boundary, out of regard to treaties, which you did not sign, +yet have offered to respect. + +"Do they demand only guarantees? They have them in our institutions; +and in the will of the French people, henceforward united with yours. + +"Are they not afraid of reminding us of times, of a state of things, +but lately so different, and which may again return? + +"It would not be the first time, that we have vanquished Europe in +arms against us. + +"It is to the French nation, that they dare refuse a second time, in +the nineteenth century; in the face of the civilised world, those +sacred, imprescriptible rights, which the smallest tribe never +claimed in vain at the tribunal of history and justice. + +"Because France resolves to be France, must it be degraded, torn to +pieces, dismembered and is the fate of Poland reserved for us? Vainly +would they conceal their fatal intentions, under the appearance of the +sole design of separating you from us, to give us to masters, with +whom we have no longer any thing in common, and who can no longer +understand us. + +"The three branches of the legislature are about to enter into a state +of activity: one sentiment will animate them. Confiding in the +promises of your Majesty, we resign to you, we resign to our +representatives and to the chamber of peers, the care of revising, +consolidating, and perfecting in concert, without precipitancy, +without concussion, maturely, and with wisdom, our constitutional +system, and the institutions that must guaranty it. + +"And if, however, we be compelled to fight, let one sole voice resound +from every heart. Let us march against the enemy, that would treat us +as the lowest of nations. Let us all press around the throne, on which +is seated the father and chief of the people and of the army. + +"Sire, nothing is impossible: nothing shall be spared, to ensure our +honour and independence, possessions dearer than life: every thing +shall be attempted, every thing done, to repel an ignominious yoke. We +say it to the nations, may their rulers hear us! if they accept your +offers of peace, the French people will expect from your strong, +liberal, and paternal government, motives of consolation for the +sacrifices, which the peace has cost them: but if they leave us no +other alternative, than war or disgrace, the whole nation is for war; +it is ready to absolve you from the offers, perhaps too moderate, that +you have made, in order to spare Europe fresh convulsions. Every +Frenchman is a soldier: victory will follow your eagles; and our +enemies, who have reckoned on a division, will soon regret their +having provoked us." + + +This speech being ended, the result of the votes[21] was proclaimed, +and the acceptance of the constitutional act. + + [Footnote 21: + + Votes, Affirmative 1,288,357 + Negative 4,207 + Armies, Affirmative 222,000 + Negative 320 + Navy, Affirmative 22,000 + Negative 275 + + Eleven departments did not send their registers in time. + A great number of soldiers, unable to write their names, + did not vote; and the registers of fourteen regiments + did not arrive, till the votes had been summed up.] + +The Emperor then, turning toward the electors, said: + +"Gentlemen, electors of the colleges of departments and circles; + +"Gentlemen, deputies of the armies by sea and land to the _Champ de +Mai_: + +"Emperor, consul, soldier, I hold every thing from the people. In +prosperity, in adversity; on the field of battle, in the council +chamber; on the throne, and in exile; France has been the sole and +constant object of my thoughts, and of my actions. + +"Like the King of Athens, I sacrificed myself for my people, in the +hope of seeing the promise realized, that had been given, to preserve +to France its natural integrity, its honours, and its rights. + +"Indignation at seeing these sacred rights, acquired by five and +twenty years of victory, disregarded, and lost for ever; the cry +raised by, French honour disgraced; and the wishes of the nation; +have brought me back to the throne, which is dear to me, because it is +the palladium of the independence, the honour, and the rights of the +people. + +"Frenchmen, from the public joy, amid which I traversed the different +provinces of the empire, to arrive at my capital, I could not but +reckon on a long peace; for nations are bound by the treaties +concluded with their governments, be these what they may. + +"My thoughts were then turned wholly on the means of establishing our +liberty by a constitution conformable to the will and the interests of +the people. I convened the _Champ de Mai_. + +"It was not long before I learned, that the princes, who have +disregarded all principles, and wounded the opinions and dearest +interests of so many nations, resolved to make war on us. They +purpose, to enlarge the kingdom of the Netherlands, to give it for +barriers all our strong places on the North, and to reconcile the +differences, which still keep them at variance, by dividing among them +Lorraine and Alsace. + +"It was necessary, to prepare for war. + +"However, before incurring personally the dangers of battle, my first +care necessarily was, to consult the nation without delay. The people +has accepted the act I have laid before it. + +"Frenchmen, when we have repelled these unjust aggressions, and Europe +is convinced of what is due to the rights and independence of +twenty-eight millions of Frenchmen, a solemn law, made according to +the forms willed by the constitutional act, shall combine the +different arrangements of our constitutions, that are at present +scattered. + +"Frenchmen, you are about to return to your departments. Tell the +citizens, that the present circumstances are important! That with +union, energy, and perseverance, we shall rise victorious from this +struggle of a great people against its oppressors; that generations to +come will severely scrutinize our conduct; and that a nation has lost +every thing, when it has lost its independence. Tell them, that the +foreign kings, whom I raised to a throne, or who are indebted to me +for the preservation of their crowns; all of whom, in the days of my +prosperity, courted my alliance, and the protection of the French +people; now direct their blows against my person. Did I not see, that +it is our country at which they really aim, I would place at their +mercy this life, against which they appear so exasperated. But tell +the citizens also, that, as long as the French retain for me those +sentiments of affection, of which they have given me so many +testimonies, this rage of our enemies will prove impotent. + +"Frenchmen, my will is that of the people: my rights are its rights; +my honour, my glory, my happiness, can be no others than the honour, +the glory, and the happiness of France." + + +These words of Napoleon, pronounced with a strong and emphatic voice, +produced the most lively sensation. A cry of "Long live the Emperor!" +resounded in an instant throughout the immense space of the Champ de +Mars, and was repeated from one to another in the places around. + +The Emperor, after having sworn on the Gospels, to observe, and cause +to be observed, the constitutions of the empire, made the +archchancellor proclaim the oath of fealty of the French people, +represented by the electors. This oath was spontaneously repeated by +thousands and thousands of voices. + +The ministers of war and of the navy, in the name of the armies by +land and sea, and at the head of their deputations; the minister of +the interior, in the name of the national guards of France, and at +the head of the electors; the staff of the imperial guard, and that of +the national guard; afterwards advanced to take the oath, and receive +from the hands of the Emperor the eagles intended for them. + +This ceremony ended, the troops, making about fifty thousand men, +filed off before Napoleon and the festival concluded, as it had +commenced, amid the acclamations of the people, the soldiers, and the +majority of the electors: but to the discontent of a certain number of +them, who complained, and with reason, that the Emperor had +substituted a steril distribution of colours, instead of the grand +national congress, which he had convened. + +The parties too, that already began to pullulate, were not better +satisfied with the issue of the _Champ de Mai_. + +The old revolutionists would have wished Napoleon, to have abolished +the empire, and re-established a republic. + +The partisans of the regency reproached him for not having proclaimed +Napoleon II. + +And the liberals maintained, that he ought to have laid down the +crown, and left to the sovereign nation the right of restoring it to +him, or offering it to the most worthy. + +Were these different pretensions well founded? No. + +The re-establishment of the republic would have ruined France. + +The abdication in favour of Napoleon II. would not have saved it. The +allies had explained their intentions at Bale: they would not have +laid down their arms, till the Emperor had consented, to deliver +himself up. "A circumstance, that, being to a prince the greatest of +misfortunes, can never form a condition of peace[22]?" + + [Footnote 22: Montesquieu. Greatness and Decline of the + Romans.] + +As to the latter proposition, I confess, that Napoleon, if on the 21st +of March, or the 12th of April[23], he had returned into the hands of +the French the sceptre, which he had just torn from those of the +Bourbons, would have stamped a character completely heroic on the +revolution of the 20th of March. He would have disconcerted the +foreign powers, augmented his popularity, centuplicated his forces: +but on the first of June it was too late: the additional act had +appeared. + + [Footnote 23: The day on which the Act of Congress + appeared.] + +Unhappily for himself, therefore, Napoleon could do nothing better at +the _Champ de Mai_, than what he did: namely, to endeavour to conceal +the emptiness of the day under the pomp of a religious and military +solemnity, calculated to move the heart, and strengthen by fresh bands +the union, already subsisting between him, the people, and the army. + +The Emperor had not been able to deliver with his own hands to the +electors the eagles of their departments. It had not been concealed +from him, that some among them appeared dissatisfied; and he wished to +attempt to dissipate their ill-humour, and revive their zeal. Ten +thousand persons were assembled in the vast galleries of the Louvre; +on one side were seen the deputies and electors of the nation; on the +other, its glorious defenders. The eagle of each department, and that +of each deputation from the armies, were placed at the head of groups +of citizens or warriors; and nothing could exhibit a more animated, +and more impressive picture, than this confused assembly of Frenchmen, +of all the orders of the state, crowding mutually around the standards +and the hero, that were to conduct them to victory and to peace. + +The Emperor was polite, affectionate, amiable: with infinite art he +accommodated his manners to every body, and almost every body was +enchanted with him. He was convinced of the mischief he had done +himself by the additional act: and, in order to regain the good +opinion of the public, he repeated to satiety, to the representatives +and electors, that he would employ himself in concurrence with the two +chambers, to collect together those provisions of the constitutional +laws, that were not abrogated, and form the whole into one sole +constitution, that should become the fundamental law of the nation. + +This retraction was the consequence of the remonstrances of his +ministers, and particularly of M. Carnot. "Sire," he was incessantly +repeating to him, "do not strive, I conjure you, against public +opinion. Your additional act has displeased the nation. Promise it, +that you will modify it, and render it conformable to its wishes. I +repeat to you, Sire, I have never deceived you; your safety and ours +depend on your deference to the national will. This is not all, Sire; +the French are become a free people. The appellation of 'subject,' +which you are continually giving them, wounds and humbles them. Call +them citizens, or your children. Neither suffer your ministers, your +marshals, your great officers, to be called '_monseigneur_:' there is +no _seigneur_ in a country, where equality forms the basis of the +laws; there are none but citizens." + +The Emperor, however, did not see the opening of the chambers +approach, without a certain degree of apprehension. His intention was, +frankly to submit to the principles and consequences of a +representative government; in the first place, because he wished to +reign, and was convinced, that he could not retain the throne, unless +he governed as the nation demanded. + +In the second place, because he was persuaded, that the nation now +placed its ideas of happiness on a representative government; and +because, greedy of every kind of celebrity, he found, as he told me at +Lyons, that it was glorious, to render a great people happy. But, +whatever were the sentiments and good inclinations of Napoleon, he had +not had time, to divest himself completely of his old notions and +ancient prejudices. The remembrance of our preceding assemblies +besieged him still in spite of himself: and he appeared to fear, that +the French had too much warmth of imagination, instability of will, +and propensity to abuse their rights, to be capable of enjoying on a +sudden, without any preparation, the benefits of absolute liberty. He +feared, too, that the opposition inherent in representative +governments would not be rightly comprehended in France, and would +make a bad impression; that it would degenerate into resistance; and +that it would clog the action of the sovereign power, take from it its +illusion, its moral strength, and make of it nothing but an instrument +of oppression[24]. + + [Footnote 24: At the time of the discussion of the + additional act, M. de Bassano, conversing with the + Emperor on the chamber of deputies, said to him, that + the muteness of the legislative body, was one of the + things, that had contributed most to discredit the + imperial government. "My mute legislative body," + answered Napoleon, with a smile, "was never well + understood. It was a grand legislative jury. If it be + thought right, that twelve jurymen shall pronounce on + the life and honour of their fellow citizens by a simple + yes, or no; why deem it strange or tyrannical, that five + hundred jurymen, selected from the most eminent men in + the nation, should pronounce in a similar manner on the + simple interests of society?"] + +Independently of these general considerations, Napoleon had still +other motives, to dread the approaching assembly of the chambers. They +were going to meet under circumstances, in which it was indispensable, +that the chief of the state should govern without contradiction: yet +he foresaw, that the representatives, misled by their ardent love of +liberty, and by the fear of despotism, would seek to fetter his +exercise of authority, instead of seconding its full display. + +"When a war has commenced," said he one day, "the presence of a +deliberative body is as embarrassing, as it is fatal. _It must have +victories._ If the monarch meet with any check, fear seizes the timid, +and renders them unconsciously the instruments and accomplices of the +audacious. The apprehension of danger, and the desire of withdrawing +from it, derange every head. Reason has no longer any sway: _physical +feelings are everything_. The turbulent, the ambitious, greedy of +rule, of popularity, of making a noise, erect themselves of their own +authority into advocates of the people, and advisers of the prince: +they want to know all, regulate all, direct all. If no regard be paid +to their counsels, from advisers they become censors, from censors +factionaries, and from factionaries rebels. The necessary consequence +then is, that the prince must either submit to their yoke, or expel +them; and in either case he almost always compromises his crown and +the state." + +Napoleon, tormented by the anxiety, which the sudden and inconsiderate +application of the popular system, and the dispositions of the +deputies, inspired, rested all his security on the chamber of peers. +He hoped, that this chamber would influence the representatives by its +example, or check them by its firmness. + +The ministers received orders, each to present to him a list of +candidates. + +M. Delavalette, in whom the Emperor had particular confidence, was +also desired to furnish him with a list. + +Formerly an aide-de-camp of Napoleon, and connected with him by +marriage[25], M. Delavalette had vowed to him an attachment proof +against all temptations. Phocion said to Antipater, "I cannot be at +once thy flatterer, and thy friend:" and M. Delavalette, thinking like +Phocion, had abjured every kind of flattery, to adhere to the rigid +language of friendship. Endowed with a cool head, and sound judgment, +he appreciated events with skill and sagacity. Reserved in the world, +frank and open with Napoleon, he avowed his opinions to him with the +freedom of an affectionate, pure, and upright heart. Accordingly +Napoleon set much value on his advice; and confessed with noble +candour, that he had frequently had to congratulate himself for +having followed it. + + [Footnote 25: He had married a Miss Beauharnais, since + so celebrated for her generously risking her own life to + save his.] + +The lists presented to the Emperor exhibited a complete assortment of +ancient nobles, senators, generals, land-holders, and merchants[26]. +The Emperor, it is right to say, had only the trouble of choosing, but +this was great. + + [Footnote 26: It was the Duke of Vicenza, who first + conceived the idea of conferring the peerage on great + land-holders, and distinguished merchants. He was not of + opinion, that the peerage should be hereditary, and that + the choice of peers should be left exclusively to the + crown. He would have wished, that men of great landed + property, manufacturers, merchants of the first rank, + the men of letters, civilians, and lawyers, who had + acquired a great name, should be allowed to propose a + list of candidates, out of which the Emperor should be + at liberty to choose a certain number of peers.] + +On the one hand he could have wished, both from self-love and a spirit +of conciliation, to have had in the chamber of peers some of those +great names, that sound so gratefully to the ear. On the other hand he +was desirous, as I have said above, that this chamber should hold the +deputies in check; and he could not conceal from himself, that, if he +introduced into it any of the ancient nobility, it would have no +influence over that of the representatives, and probably be on very +bad terms with it. + +He decided, therefore, to sacrifice his inclinations to the good of +the cause; and, instead of granting the peerage to that crowd of +parchment nobles, who had humbly solicited it, he conferred it only on +a few of them, noted for their patriotism, and their attachment to +liberal principles. Many of these illustrious solicitors have since +boasted of having refused it. This is very natural, but is it true? I +leave it to their own hearts, their own consciences, to answer the +question. + +The Emperor, fearful of refusals, had taken the precaution to have the +inclinations of the doubtful candidates previously sounded. Some +hesitated; others plainly refused. Of all these refusals, direct and +indirect, which amounted but to five or six at most, no one more +painfully disappointed Napoleon, than that of Marshal Macdonald. He +had not forgotten the noble fidelity that the Marshal preserved +towards him in 1814, to the last moment; and he regretted, that his +scruples deprived him of a dignity, to which he was called by his +rank, his services, and the public esteem. + +The 3d of June being come, the chamber of representatives assembled in +the ancient palace of the legislative body, and formed itself +provisionally under the presidency of the oldest of its members. + +The constitution had left to the representatives the right of choosing +their president. The Emperor hoped, that their suffrages would be +given in favour of his brother Lucien; and in this hope he did not +publish immediately the list of peers, that he might retain the power +of comprising this prince in it, or not, according as he should or +should not be appointed to the _presidency_[27]. But the chamber, +notwithstanding the esteem and confidence, with which the principles +and character of Prince Lucien inspired it, thought, that his election +would be considered as a deference to the will of the Emperor; and +resolved therefore, to make a different choice, in order to prove to +France, and to the foreign powers, that it was, and would remain, free +and independent. M. Lanjuinais was elected: and Napoleon, who knew +that M. Lanjuinais, a malecontent by nature, had never been able to +agree with any government[28], was doubly vexed, that Prince Lucien +had been rejected, and that such a successor had been given him. + + [Footnote 27: Lucien Bonaparte had not been acknowledged + as a prince of the imperial family by the ancient + statutes. Consequently he might be considered, as not + making a part of the chamber of peers by right.] + + [Footnote 28: This opinion did not prevent the Emperor + from doing justice to the courage and patriotism, which + M. Lanjuinais had displayed on some trying occasions.] + +The sitting of the day following gave Napoleon another subject of +dissatisfaction. The assembly had expressed its wish the day before, +to be acquainted with the list of the members of the Chamber of Peers. +The Emperor, from the motive I have mentioned, made answer, that this +list would not be fixed, till after the opening of the session. This +answer excited violent murmurs: one member proposed, to declare, that +the chamber would not proceed to constitute itself definitively, till +it was furnished with the list, which it had required. Thus from its +entrance on its career, and even before it was installed, the chamber +announced its design, of establishing itself in a state of +insurrection against the head of the government. + +The third sitting witnessed an opprobrium, hitherto unheard of in our +national assemblies. The same member, M. Dupin[29], advanced, that +the oath to be taken to the sovereign by the nation, in order to be +valid and legitimate, should not be administered by virtue of a +decree, that emanated from the will of the prince alone, but by virtue +of a law, which is the will of the nation constitutionally expressed. +In consequence he proposed, to resolve, that no oath could be required +of it, but in execution of a law; and that this oath should no way +prejudice its right, subsequently to improve the constitution. + + [Footnote 29: A celebrated counsel, who defended Marshal + Ney, and the three generous liberators of M. + Delavalette, Wilson, Bruce, and Hutchinson.] + +This proposal, seconded by M. Roi[30], tended to declare null in law +and fact the oath, which the nation and army, represented by their +electors and deputies, had just taken to the Emperor and the +constitution in the solemnity of the _Champ de Mai_: and as it was +this oath, that hitherto formed the only tie binding the nation to the +Emperor, and Napoleon to the nation, it followed that the annulling it +deprived the Emperor of that character of sovereignty and legitimacy, +with which he had been invested, and rendered his rights a subject of +deliberation. + + [Footnote 30: Since minister of finance to the king.] + +The motion of M. Dupin was rejected unanimously: but the chamber, in +complaisantly permitting a man, to dare within its walls, to call in +question the legitimacy of the Emperor and his authority, and +endeavour to render him foreign to the nation, was guilty of an act of +weakness and indifference, that deeply grieved Napoleon. "I perceive +with sorrow," he said, "that the deputies are not disposed, to act in +union with me; and that they let no opportunity escape of seeking a +quarrel. Of what have they to complain? What have I done to them? I +have given them liberty with an unsparing hand; I have given them +perhaps too much; for kings in the present day have more need than +nations of guarantees. I will act with them as long as I can: but if +they think to make of me a King Log, or a second Louis XVI., they are +mistaken; I am not a man to receive the law from counsellors[31], or +to allow my head to be cut off by factionaries." + + [Footnote 31: MM. Dupin and Roi, who appeared to him the + heads of the party of insurgents.] + +The hostile disposition of the representatives would have given him no +uneasiness at any other time: the constitution conferred on him the +right of dissolving the chamber, and he would have availed himself of +it: but on the eve of a war, and in the critical situation in which he +was placed, he could not have recourse to such an expedient, without +endangering the fate of France. He resolved, therefore, to conceal his +vexation and ill humour, and permit what he could not prevent. + +On the 7th of June he repaired to the legislative body, to open the +chambers; and, after having received the oaths of the peers and +deputies, delivered the following speech: + +"Gentlemen of the chamber of peers, and gentlemen of the chamber of +representatives: + +"Circumstances, and the confidence of the people, have invested me +these three months with unlimited power. To-day the most urgent desire +of my heart is accomplished: I come to commence the constitutional +monarchy. + +"Men are too feeble, to ensure the future: institutions alone fix the +fate of nations. Monarchy is necessary in France, to guaranty the +liberty, the independence, and the rights of the people. + +"Our constitution is made up of scattered parts: one of our most +important occupations will be, to unite them within one frame, and +arrange them in one simple design. This labour will transmit the fame +of the present period to future generations. + +"I am ambitious of seeing France enjoy all the liberty possible: I say +possible, because anarchy always leads to an absolute government. + +"A formidable coalition of kings aims at our independence: their +armies are arriving on our frontiers. + +"The frigate _la Melpomene_ has been attacked and taken in the +Mediterranean, after a bloody engagement, by an English seventy-four. +Blood has been shed during peace[32]. + + [Footnote 32: She was attacked and taken near the island + of Ischia, on the 30th of April.] + +"Our enemies reckon upon our intestine divisions. They are exciting +and fomenting civil war. Meetings have taken place; and a +communication is kept up with Ghent, as in 1792 it was with Coblentz. +Legislative measures are indispensable: to your patriotism, your +intelligence, and your attachment to my person, I confide myself +without reserve. + +"The liberty of the press is inherent in our present constitution: no +change can be made in this, without altering our whole political +system: but we want repressive laws, particularly in the present +state of the nation. I recommend this important subject to your +consideration. + +"The ministers will make known to you the state of our affairs. + +"The finances would be in a satisfactory condition, were it not for +the increased expense, which the present circumstances have required. + +"Still we might answer the whole, if the sums to be received, included +in the budget, could all be realised in the course of the year; and my +minister of finance will turn your attention to the means of attaining +this result. + +"It is possible, that the first duty of a prince may soon call me, to +fight for our country at the head of the children of the nation. The +army and I will do our duty. + +"Do you, peers and representatives, set the nation an example of +confidence, energy, and patriotism: and, like the senate of the great +people of antiquity, resolve rather to die, than to survive the +dishonour and degradation of France. The sacred cause of our country +will be triumphant!" + + +This speech, full of moderation and reason, made a profound +impression on the assembly. Shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" much +more numerous than had burst out at his arrival, were heard, and +continued long after his departure. + +The next day, the chamber of representatives was employed in drawing +up its address. + +An indiscreet admirer of Napoleon, after having observed, that +flattery had decreed the surname of Desired to a prince, whom the +nation had neither called nor expected, moved, that the title of +Saviour should be decreed to Napoleon, who had come to save France +from regal slavery. This ridiculous motion, smothered by ironical +laughter, gave rise to a multitude of sarcasms and offensive +reflections, which were reported to Napoleon, and which, without +personally wounding him, for he had too high a sense of his glory, to +think it affected by such clamours, injured him in the opinion of +France. + +Napoleon, like all great men, loved praise: public censure, when he +thought it unjust, made no impression on him. This indifference did +not arise from the pride of the diadem; it was the result of the +contempt he felt for the judgment of men in general. "He was +accustomed to look for the reward of the pains and labours of life +only in the opinion of posterity." + +The assembly rejected the adulatory proposal of M. *****; and in this +it did right. But it did wrong, not to express its decision so as to +soften what there was in it of harsh, unjust, and disagreeable to the +Emperor, who had not provoked it. + +This rudeness did not surprise him: experience had already convinced +him, that the chamber would let no opportunity of vexing him escape +it. + +This chamber, notwithstanding, was composed entirely of partisans of +the 20th of March: but all the deputies were not partisans of +Napoleon, if they were of the revolution; some in consequence of +personal enmity, others from remembrance of his despotism, and fear of +its return. + +The enemies of Napoleon, disguising their hatred under the cloak of a +love of liberty, had insinuated themselves into the minds of the +patriots; and, with the additional act in their hands, had drawn them +into their ranks, under the apparent pretence of combating and +bridling the incurable tyranny of the Emperor. + +On the other hand, the friends of Napoleon, while they refused to join +in this coalition, did not attempt to break it; because they inwardly +dreaded the encroachments of the imperial power, and were not sorry to +leave to others the task of opposing it. + +Thus the whole assembly, though instigated by different motives, +joined to set themselves in a state of hostile opposition to the head +of the government; without perceiving, that this inconsiderate, +unjust, and ill-timed opposition, would occasion anxiety, mistrust, +and irresolution, in the minds of all; and destroy that national +harmony, that union of interests, wills, and sentiments, the only +source of strength to Napoleon, of safety to France. + +Be this as it may, the chamber of deputies, after having spent two +days in discussing the substance and style of its address, was +admitted, as well as the chamber of peers, to appear at the foot of +the throne. + + +The chamber of peers spoke first, and said: + +"Sire; your readiness to subject to constitutional forms and rules +that absolute power, which circumstances, and the confidence of the +people, had imposed on you; the past guarantee given to the rights of +the nation; the devotion, that leads you into the midst of the perils, +which the army is about to brave; penetrate every heart with profound +gratitude. The peers of France are come to offer to your Majesty the +homage of this sentiment. + +"You have manifested, Sire, principles, that are those of the nation: +they must necessarily be ours. Yes, all power proceeds from the +people, is instituted far the people; a constitutional monarchy is +necessary for the French nation, as a guarantee of its liberty, and of +its independence. + +"Sire, while you shall be on the frontiers, at the head of the +children of the country, the chamber of peers will concur with zeal in +all the legislative measures, that circumstances may require, to +compel foreigners to acknowledge the independence of the nation, and +render the principles sanctioned by the will of the people triumphant +at home. + +"The interest of France is inseparable from yours. If fortune should +deceive your efforts, disasters, Sire, will not weaken our +perseverance, and would redouble our attachment to you. + +"If success should correspond to the justice of our cause, and the +hopes; we are accustomed to conceive from your genius and the valour +of our armies, France desires no other fruit from it than peace. Our +institutions are a pledge to Europe, that the French government can +never be hurried on by the seductions of victory." + +The Emperor answered: + +"The contest in which we are engaged is serious. The ardour of +prosperity is not the danger that threatens us at present. Foreigners +are desirous of making us pass under the _Caudine forks_! + +"The justice of our cause, the public spirit of the nation, and the +courage of the army, are potent grounds, to hope for success; but, if +we should experience disasters, then in particular I should wish, to +see all the energy of this great people displayed; then I should find +in the chamber of peers proofs of attachment to their country, and to +myself. + +"It is in times of difficulty, that great nations, like great men, +display all the energy of their character, and become an object of +admiration to posterity[33]. + + [Footnote 33: This is a remarkable sentence; as it + expresses a sound principle: events have shown, how + little the French deserve the name of a _great nation_. + _Tr._] + +"Mr. President and gentlemen deputies of the chamber of peers, I thank +you for the sentiments which you have expressed to me in the name of +the chamber." + +Count Lanjuinais, at the head of the deputation of the chamber of +representatives, then delivered the following speech: + +"Sire, the chamber of representatives received with profound emotion +the words pronounced from the throne at the solemn sitting, when your +Majesty, laying down the extraordinary power you were exercising, +proclaimed the commencement of a constitutional monarchy. + +"The principal bases of this monarchy, the guardian of the liberty, +equality, and happiness of the people, have been acknowledged by your +Majesty, who, voluntarily meeting every scruple, as well as every +wish, has declared, that the care of collecting together our scattered +constitutions, and arranging them in one whole, was among the most +important occupations reserved for the legislature. Faithful to its +mission, the chamber of representatives will fulfil the task that is +devolved to it, in this noble work: it demands, that, to satisfy the +will of the public, as well as the wishes of your Majesty, the +deliberations of the nation shall rectify, as soon as possible, what +the urgency of our situation may have produced defective, or left +imperfect, in the whole of our constitutions. + +"But at the same time, Sire, the chamber of representatives will not +show itself less eager, to proclaim its sentiments and its principles +with regard to the terrible conflict, that threatens to ensanguine the +fields of Europe. After a series of disastrous events, invaded France +appeared listened to for a moment on the establishment of its +constitution, only to see itself almost immediately subjected to a +royal charter, emanating from absolute power, to a system of +reformation, in its nature always revocable.... + +"Resuming now the exercise of its rights; rallying round the hero, +whom its confidence invests anew with the government of the state; +France is astonished and grieved, to see sovereigns in arms demand of +it the reason of an internal change, which is the result of the +national will, and affects neither its existing connexions with other +governments, nor their security. France cannot admit the distinctions, +under which the coalized powers endeavour to cloak their aggression. +To attack the monarch of its choice is to attack the independence of +the nation. It is entirely in arms, to defend this independence; and +to repel every family, and every prince, that they may dare wish to +impose on it. No ambitious project enters into the thoughts of the +French people: even the will of a victorious prince would be +impotent, to carry the nation beyond the limits of its own defence. +But to protect its territory, to maintain its liberty, its honour, its +dignity, it is ready to make any sacrifice. Why are we not allowed, +Sire, still to hope, that these preparations for war, caused perhaps +by the irritations of pride, and by illusions that every day must +weaken, will vanish before the want of a peace necessary to all the +nations of Europe; and which would restore to your Majesty your +consort, to the French the heir to the throne? But already blood has +been shed: the signal of battles, prepared against the independence +and liberty of the French, has been given in the name of a people, who +carry to the highest point their zeal for independence and liberty. No +doubt among the communications, which your Majesty has promised us, +the chambers will find proofs of the efforts you have made, to +maintain the peace of the world. If all these efforts must remain +useless, may the calamities of the war fall on those, by whom it has +been provoked! + +"The chamber of deputies waits only for the documents, that have been +announced to it, to concur with all its power in the measures, that +the success of a war so legitimate may demand. It is eager, to be +acquainted with the wants and resources of the state, in order to +enunciate its wishes: and while your Majesty, opposing to the most +unjust aggression the valour of our national armies, and the force of +your genius, seeks in victory only the means of arriving at a durable +peace, the chamber of representatives is persuaded, that it shall be +proceeding toward the same end, by labouring unremittingly at the +compact, the perfecting of which must cement still more closely the +union between the people and the throne; and strengthen in the eyes of +Europe the pledge of our engagements, by the improvement of our +institutions." + +The Emperor answered: + +"I find with satisfaction my own sentiments, in those you express to +me. Under our present weighty circumstances, my thoughts are absorbed +by the imminent war, to the success of which are attached the honour +and independence of France. + +"I shall set out this night, to place myself at the head of my armies: +the movements of the different corps of the enemy render my presence +there indispensable. During my absence, I shall see with pleasure, +that a committee named by each chamber is meditating on our +constitution. + +"The constitution is our rallying point: it should be our pole-star in +this season of tempests. Every public discussion, that would tend, +directly or indirectly, to diminish the confidence we ought to have in +its arrangements, would be a misfortune to the state: we should find +ourselves in the midst of shoals, without a compass, and without a +chart. The crisis in which we are engaged is violent. Let us not +imitate the example of the Lower Empire, which, pressed on all sides +by the barbarians, rendered itself the laughing-stock of posterity, by +engaging in abstract discussions, at the moment when the battering ram +was bursting open the gates of the city. + +"Independently of the legislative measures, which internal +circumstances require, you will deem it useful perhaps, to occupy +yourselves on regulating laws, calculated to render the constitution +active. These may be subjects of your public labours without any +inconvenience. + +"Mr. President, and gentlemen deputies of the chamber of +representatives, the sentiments expressed in your address sufficiently +demonstrate the attachment of the chamber to my person, and all the +patriotism, with which it is animated. In all events my course will +ever be straight and firm. Assist me to save our country. The first +representative of the people, I have contracted the obligation, which +I renew, of employing, in times of greater tranquillity, all the +prerogatives of the crown, and the little experience I have acquired, +to second you in the improvement of our institutions." + + +The voice of Napoleon, naturally emphatic, gave prominence to the +masculine thoughts, that sparkled throughout both these speeches: and +when he arrived at this passage, "every public discussion, that would +tend to diminish the confidence," &c.; and at this, "let us not +imitate the Lower Empire;" he gave these salutary exhortations with a +penetrating look, that made the instigators of discord cast down their +eyes. The sound part of the representatives approved the Emperor's +answer: the rest considered it as a lecture offensive to the dignity +of the chamber. There are some men, who think they may be allowed to +push remonstrance to insult, yet cannot listen to the most prudent and +temperate advice, without being offended. + + +The Emperor set out, as he had announced, in the night of the 12th of +May. + +The question of deciding, whether he ought to be the first, to give +the signal for hostilities, or not, had frequently recurred to his +reflections. + +By attacking the enemy, he had the advantage of engaging before the +arrival of the Russians, and of carrying the war out of the French +territories. If he were victorious, he might raise up Belgium, and +detach from the coalition a part of the old confederation of the +Rhine, and perhaps Austria. + +By waiting to be attacked, he retained it in his power to choose his +field of battle, to increase his means of resistance in an infinite +degree, and of carrying the strength and devotion of his army to the +highest pitch. An army of Frenchmen, fighting under the eyes of their +mothers, their wives, and their children, for the preservation of +their well-being, and in defence of the honour and independence of +their country, would have been invincible. It was the latter +alternative, to which Napoleon gave the preference: it agreed with the +hope he involuntarily cherished of coming to an agreement with the +foreign powers, and with his fear of gaining the ill-will of the +chamber, if he commenced the war without previously exhausting all +means of obtaining peace. + +But Napoleon felt, that, to render a war national, all the citizens +must be united in heart and will with their chief: and convinced, +that the untoward disposition of the chamber would increase daily, and +introduce division and trouble into the state, he resolved to commence +the war; hoping, that fortune would favour his arms, and that victory +would reconcile him to the deputies, or furnish him with the means of +reducing them to order. + +The Emperor entrusted the government during his absence to a council, +composed of the fourteen persons following: + + Prince Joseph, president. + Prince Lucien. + + _Ministers._ + Prince Cambaceres. + The prince of Eckmuhl. + The duke of Vicenza. + The duke of Gaeta. + The duke of Decres. + The duke of Otranto. + Count Mollien. + Count Carnot. + + _Ministers of State_[34]. + Count Defermon. + Count Regnaud de St. Jean d'Angeli. + Count Boulay de la Meurthe. + Count Merlin. + + [Footnote 34: Ministers without any ostensible office, + for their conduct in which they would be responsible. We + have had members somewhat similar in our privy council. + _Tr._] + +He said to them: "To-night I set off: do your duty: the French army +and I will do ours: I recommend to you union, zeal, and energy." + +It appeared strange, in a representative monarchy, where +responsibility bore hard on ministers, to see ministers of state, who +were not responsible, associated in the government. + +This was remarked to the Emperor, and he answered, that he had added +ministers of state to the council, that they might be the interpreters +of the government to the chamber of deputies; that he wished the +ministers at the head of particular offices, to appear in this chamber +as little as possible, as long as their constitutional education was +incomplete; that they were not familiarized to the tribune[35]; that +they might there disclose opinions or principles, without intending +it, that government could not avow; and that it would be inconvenient +and difficult, to contradict the words of a minister, while those of a +minister of state might be disavowed, without implicating the +government, or wounding its dignity. + + [Footnote 35: The members of the French chambers do not + speak in their places, but from a pulpit erected for the + purpose. _Tr._] + +Were these the only motives? I think not. He distrusted the perfidy of +the Duke of Otranto, and the indifference of more ministers than one; +and he was glad to find a reason, or a pretence, for introducing into +the council of regency the four ministers of state, whose devotion and +unshaken fidelity appeared to him an additional guarantee. When he +made known his intention of commencing the war, the Duke of Vicenza +solicited the favour of attending him to the army, "If I do not leave +you at Paris," answered Napoleon, "on whom can I depend?" How much is +expressed in these few words! + +The day after his departure, the ministers of the interior and for +foreign affairs repaired to the chamber of peers. M. Carnot laid +before it a statement of the situation of the Emperor and the empire. + +"His Majesty," said he, "enlightened by past events, has returned, +having at heart the full desire and hope of preserving peace abroad, +and of governing paternally at home.... + +"If the Emperor were less secure of the firmness of his character, +and the purity of his resolutions, he might consider himself as placed +between two shoals, the partisans of the expelled dynasty, and those +of the _republican system_. But the former, having been unable to +retain what they possessed, must be still less capable of seizing on +it anew: the latter, undeceived by long experience, and bound by +gratitude to the prince, who has been their deliverer, are become his +most zealous defenders; their candour, as well known as their +philanthropic ardour, surround the throne occupied by the august +founder of a new dynasty, who glories in having issued from the ranks +of the people." + +After this declaration, to which the republican opinions of M. Carnot +gave great weight, he entered into an examination of the several +branches of the public administration in succession. + +He disclosed the state, to which the calamities of the times, and the +mismanagement of the regal government, had reduced the finances of the +communes, the hospitals, religious worship, public works, mines, +manufactures, commerce, and public instruction; and made known the +system of improvement, which the Emperor had formed, and already +commenced, to restore to the communes and hospitals their former +resources, to public works their activity, to commerce its scope, to +the university its lustre, to manufactures their prosperity, to the +clergy that respect and easiness of circumstances, which it had +forfeited through the persecutions, directed by it, at the instigation +of the emigrants, against the pretended spoilers of their property. + +When come to the war department, he announced, that the Emperor had +re-established on its old foundations the army, the elements of which +had been intentionally dispersed by the late government. That since +the 20th of March our forces had been raised by voluntary enlistments, +and the recall of the ancient soldiery, from a hundred thousand men, +to three hundred and seventy-five thousand. That the imperial guard, +the noblest ornament of France during peace, and its strongest rampart +during war, would soon amount to forty thousand men. That the +artillery, notwithstanding the twelve thousand six hundred pieces of +ordnance delivered to the enemy by the fatal convention of the 23d of +April, 1814, had risen from its ruins, and now reckoned a hundred +batteries, and twenty thousand horses. That our disorganised arsenals +had resumed their labours, and were replacing the army stores. That +our manufactories of arms, lately abandoned and empty, had made or +repaired four hundred thousand muskets in the course of two months. +That a hundred and seventy fortified towns, or fortresses, both on the +frontiers and in the interior, had been provisioned, repaired, and put +into a condition, to resist an enemy. That the national guard, +completely re-organised, had already supplied for the defence of the +frontiers two hundred and forty battalions, or a hundred and fifty +thousand men; and that the successive formation of the other +battalions of flank companies would produce more than two hundred +thousand men. That the volunteers in the walled towns, and the pupils +of the Lyceums and _special_ schools[36], had been formed into +companies of artillery, and constituted a body of more than +twenty-five thousand excellent gunners. So that eight hundred and +fifty thousand Frenchmen would defend the independence, the liberty, +and the honour of the country; while the sedentary national guards +were preparing themselves in the interior, to furnish fresh resources +for the triumph of the national cause. + + [Footnote 36: These were schools intended for finishing + public education.--_Tr._] + +In fine, after having taken a hasty view of the hostile dispositions +of our enemies, of the interior disturbances they had excited, and of +the means the Emperor had adopted to suppress them, M. Carnot +concluded his report by expressing a wish, that the two chambers might +soon bestow on France, in concert with the Emperor, those organising +laws, which were necessary _to prevent licentiousness from assuming +the place of liberty, and anarchy that of order_. + +This report, in which M. Carnot did not totally conceal the +apprehensions, with which the progress of that spirit of +insubordination and demagogism, manifested by certain members of the +chamber, inspired the Emperor and the nation, was immediately followed +by one from the Duke of Vicenza, on the menacing dispositions of +foreign powers, and the fruitless efforts, that the Emperor had made, +to bring them to moderate and pacific sentiments. Their hostile +resolutions he ascribed chiefly to the suggestions of the cabinet of +London. He afterward made known the military preparations of the four +great powers, the leagues renewed or recently formed against us, and +concluded thus: + +"To believe it possible, to maintain peace, at present, therefore, +would be a dangerous blindness: war surrounds us on all sides, and it +is on the field of battle alone, that peace can be regained by France. +The English, the Prussians, the Austrians, are in line of battle; the +Russians are in full march. It becomes a duty, to hasten the day of +engagement, when too long hesitation might endanger the welfare of the +state." + +These two reports were presented to the chamber of deputies by +ministers of state, at the same time when the ministers were making +them known to the chamber of peers. Instead of impressing upon the +representatives the necessity of frankly joining the Emperor, and, as +one of them observed, of not entering into a contest with the +government, at a moment when the blood of Frenchmen was about to be +shed, they suggested to them only steril discussions of the +impropriety of the connexion of ministers of state with the chamber, +and of the urgency of appointing a committee, to remould the +additional act. An immoderate desire of speechifying, and of making +laws, had seized the greater number of the deputies: but a state is +not to be saved by empty words, and schemes of a constitution. The +Romans, when their country was in danger, instead of deliberating, +suspended the sway of the laws, and gave themselves a dictator. + +The next day, the 17th, a new report, made to the Emperor by the +minister of police, on the moral state of France, was communicated to +the two chambers. + +"Sire," said this minister, "it is my duty, to tell you the whole +truth. Our enemies are emboldened by instruments without, and +supporters within. They wait only for a favourable moment, to realize +the plan they conceived twenty years ago, and which during these +twenty years has been continually frustrated, of uniting the camp of +Jales to Vendee, and seducing a part of the multitude into that +confederacy which extends from the Mediterranean to the Channel. + +"In this system, the plains on the left bank of the Loire, the +population of which it is most easy to mislead, are the principal +focus of the insurrection; which, by the help of the wandering bands +of Britanny, is to spread into Normandy, where the vicinity of the +islands, and the disposition of the coasts, will render communication +more easy. On the other side it rests on the Cevennes, to extend +thence to the banks of the Rhone by the revolts, that may be excited +in some parts of Languedoc and Provence. Bordeaux has been the centre +of the direction of these movements from the beginning. + +"This plan is not abandoned. Nay more: the party has been increased, +at every change in our revolution, by all the malecontents, that +events have produced; by all the factious, that a certainty of amnesty +has encouraged; and by all the ambitious, who have been desirous of +acquiring some political importance in the changes they foreboded. + +"...... It is this party, that now disturbs the interior. Marseilles, +Toulouse, and Bordeaux, are agitated by it. Marseilles, where the +spirit of sedition animates even the lowest classes of the population; +where the laws have been disregarded: Toulouse, which seems still +under the influence of that revolutionary organisation, which was +imparted to it some months ago: Bordeaux, where all the germs of +revolt are deposited, and intensely fermenting. + +"It is this party, which by false alarms, false hopes, distribution of +money, and the employment of threats, has succeeded in stirring up +peaceable agriculturists, throughout the territory included between +the Loire, la Vendee, the ocean, and the Rhone. Arms and ammunition +have been landed there. The hydra of rebellion revives, re-appears +wherever it formerly exercised its ravages, and is not destroyed by +our successes at St. Gilles and Aisenay. On the other side of the +Loire, bands are desolating the department of Morbihan, and some parts +of those of Isle and Vilaine, the Coasts of the North, and Sarthe. +They have invaded in a moment the towns of Aurai, Rhedon, and +Ploermel, and the plains of Mayenne as far as the gates of Laval; they +stop the soldiers and sailors, that are recalled; they disarm the +land-holders; increase their numbers by peasants, whom they compel to +march with them; pillage the public treasures, annihilate the +instruments of administration, threaten the persons in office, seize +the stage coaches, stop the couriers, and for a moment intercepted the +communication between Mans and Angers, Angers and Nantes, Nantes and +Rennes, and Rennes and Vannes. + +"On the borders of the Channel, Dieppe and Havre have been agitated by +seditious commotions. Throughout the whole of the 15th division, the +battalions of the national militia have been formed only with the +greatest difficulty. The soldiers and sailors have refused, to answer +their call; and have obeyed it only by compulsion. Caen has twice been +disturbed by the resistance of the royalists; and in some of the +circles of the Orne bands are formed as in Britanny and Mayenne. + +"In fine, all kinds of writings, that can discourage the weak, +embolden the factious, shake confidence, divide the nation, bring the +government into contempt; all the pamphlets, that issue from the +printing-offices of Belgium, or the clandestine presses of France; all +that the foreign newspapers publish against us, all that the +party-writers compose; are distributed, hawked about, and diffused +with impunity, for want of restrictive laws, and from the abuse of the +liberty of the press. + +"Firm in the system of moderation, which your Majesty had adopted, you +have thought it right, to wait for the meeting of the chambers, that +legal precautions only might be opposed to manoeuvres, which by the +ordinary course of law are not always punishable, and which it could +neither foresee, nor prevent......" + +The Duke of Otranto, entering on the subject, then discussed the laws, +which, issued under analogous circumstances, might have been applied +on the present occasion; and, as these laws appeared to him, +impolitic, dangerous, and inadequate, he concluded, that it was +indispensable for the chambers, immediately to set about framing new +laws, which were necessary to check the licentiousness of the press, +and circumscribe personal liberty, till internal peace and order were +restored. + +This report did not make the impression, that might have been expected +from it. The deputies, accurately acquainted with what was passing in +their departments, knew, that facts had been misrepresented. They +persuaded themselves, that the melancholy picture of the situation of +France, presented to them by M. Fouche, had been drawn up by order of +the Emperor, with the view to alarm them, and render them more docile +to his will. + +The separate committees of the chamber rung with the contradictions, +more or less direct, that each representative gave to the assertions +of the minister. One of the members of the deputation from Calvados, +would not rest satisfied with this civil way of giving him the lie, +but declared openly from the tribune, that the agents of the minister +had deceived their principal, by describing to him a personal quarrel +of no consequence, and quelled on the spot, as a general insurrection +of the royalists. They might have spared themselves the trouble of +telling M. Fouche, that his report exaggerated the truth, and +transformed private occurrences into public events: he knew this. +Already devoted to the cause of the Bourbons, he had intentionally +distorted facts, with the design of giving hope and consistency to the +royalists, and of intimidating, cooling, and dividing, the partisans +of Napoleon[37]. + + [Footnote 37: The Duke of Otranto excelled in the art of + bending facts to his own liking. He exaggerated or + extenuated them with so much skill, grasped them with so + much address, and deduced consequences from them so + naturally, that he was often able, to fascinate + Napoleon. More securely to deceive and seduce him, he + loaded him in his reports with protestations of + attachment and fidelity; and he took care to contrive + occasions of adding marginal notes with his own hand, in + which he adroitly displayed in a distinguished manner + his devotion, discernment, and activity. All his reports + in general bore the same stamp: with much of cunning, + and much of talent, they offered to the eye a rare and + valuable assemblage of quickness and judgment, of + moderation and firmness: at every word you might + discover the able minister, the profound politician, the + consummate statesman: in short, M. Fouche would have + wanted nothing, to place him in the rank of great + ministers, had he been what I shall call an honest + statesman (_un ministre honnete homme._)] + +The chamber, instead of occupying itself on laws and measures for +promoting the public safety, the introduction of which had been +referred to them, left to the minister the task of proposing them. It +preferred the resumption of its discussions on its favourite subject, +the additional act; and I shall leave it, to waste its time in +abstract dissertations, while I return to Napoleon. + +The Emperor, who set out on the 12th at three in the morning, had gone +over the fortifications of Soissons and Laon in his way, and arrived +at Avesnes on the 13th. His anxious thoughts were incessantly turned +toward Paris. Placed as it were between two fires, he seemed less to +dread the enemies he had before him, than those he left behind. + +On the 14th of June the whole of his forces amounted to three hundred +thousand men; of which only a hundred and fifty thousand infantry, and +thirty-five thousand cavalry, were in a state to take the field. + +These hundred and eighty-five thousand men he had formed into four +armies, and four corps of observation. + +The first, under the name of the grand army, was intended to act +immediately under his own orders. This was subdivided into five +principal corps, commanded + +The 1st by Count d'Erlon; + +The 2d by Count Reille; + +The 3d by Count Vandamme; + +The 4th by Count Gerard; + +The 5th (called the 6th) by Count de Lobau[38]: + + [Footnote 38: The 5th corps became the army of the + Rhine, and the 6th, which at first was only a corps of + reserve, took its place, without changing its number.] + +And into a corps of cavalry commanded by Marshal Grouchy. + +This army, exclusive of the imperial guard, which was 4500 horse, and +14,000 foot, amounted to a hundred thousand men, or thereabouts, of +whom sixteen thousand were cavalry. + +The second, entitled the army of the Alps, was commanded by Marshal +the Duke of Albufera. It was to occupy the passes of Italy, and the +border country of the Pays de Gex. Its strength might be twelve +thousand men. + +The third, styled the army of the Rhine, had at its head General Count +Rapp; and its business was, to protect the frontiers of Alsace. It was +estimated at eighteen thousand men. + +The fourth, called the army of the West, was employed in La Vendee; +and, after that country was quieted, it was to be incorporated in the +grand army. It consisted of seventeen thousand men; and General +Lamarque was its commander-in-chief. + +The first corps of observation, stationed at Beford, was commanded by +General Lecourbe. It had to defend the passages from Switzerland, and +Franche Comte; and to form a communication, according to +circumstances, by its left with the army of the Alps, or by its right +with the army of the Rhine[39]. + + [Footnote 39: Surely the army of the Alps must have been + on its right, and that of the Rhine on its left, unless + it was stationed with its rear to the enemy.--_Tr._] + +The other three corps, the commanders of which were Marshal Brune at +Marseilles, General Clausel at Bordeaux, and General Decaen at +Toulouse, were to maintain the tranquillity of the country; and, in +case of need, to oppose any invasion, that the Spaniards might attempt +on the one side, or the Piedmontese and English on the other. + +These four corps of observation amounted together to about twenty +thousand men. + +They were to be supported and reinforced by ten thousand soldiers, and +fifty thousand national guards receiving pay. + +The two armies of the Rhine and of the Alps were to be the same, +fifty thousand men of the line, and a hundred thousand chasseurs and +grenadiers of the national guard. + +In fine, the army commanded by the Emperor in person was to be +augmented by a hundred thousand national guards, who would have been +stationed in a second line; and by sixty thousand regulars, who, as +well as those mentioned above, were daily forming in the _depots_. + +All these resources, when they should be disposable, and they might be +before the end of the campaign, would have mounted the strength of the +acting army to more than three hundred thousand fighting men; and that +of the army of reserve, namely the national guards in the second line, +or in the fortified towns, to four hundred thousand men. They would +have been recruited, the first by levies from the conscriptions of +1814 and 1815; the second, by calling into service fresh battalions of +the flank companies. + +The whole army was superb, and full of ardour: but the Emperor, more a +slave, than could have been believed, to his remembrances and +habitudes, committed the fault of replacing it under the command of +its former chiefs. Most of these, notwithstanding their addresses to +the King, had not ceased to pray for the triumph of the imperial +cause; yet they did not appear disposed to serve it with the ardour +and devotion, that circumstances demanded. They were not now the men, +who, full of youth and ambition, were generously prodigal of their +lives, to acquire rank and fame; they were men tired of war, and who, +having reached the summit of promotion, and being enriched by the +spoils of the enemy or the bounty of Napoleon, had no further wish, +than peaceably to enjoy their good fortune under the shade of their +laurels. + +The colonels and generals, who entered on their career subsequent to +them, murmured at finding themselves placed under their tutelage. The +soldiers themselves were dissatisfied: but this dissatisfaction did +not abate their confidence of victory, for Napoleon was at their +head[40]. + + [Footnote 40: The ascendancy he possessed over the minds + and courage of the soldiers was truly incomprehensible. + A word, a gesture, was sufficient, to inspire them with + enthusiasm, and make them face with joyful blindness the + most terrible dangers. If he ordered them mal-a-propos, + to rush to such a point, to attack such another, the + inconsistency or temerity of the manoeuvre at first + struck the good sense of the soldiers: but immediately + they thought, that their general would not have given + such an order, without a motive for it, and would not + have exposed them wantonly. "He knows what he is about," + they would say, and immediately rush on death, with + shouts of "Long live the Emperor!"] + +On the 14th the Emperor directed the following proclamation, to be +issued in the orders of the day. + + + "Avesnes, June 14, 1815. + +"Soldiers, + +"This is the anniversary of Marengo and of Friedland, which twice +decided the fate of Europe: then, as after Austerlitz, as after +Wagram, we were too generous! We trusted to the protestations and +oaths of the princes, whom we left on the throne! Now, however, in +coalition against us, they aim at the independence and the most sacred +rights of France, They have commenced the most unjust of aggressions. +Let us then march to meet them: are not they and we still the same +men? + +"Soldiers, at Jena, against these same Prussians, now so arrogant, you +were but one to three, and at Montmirail one to six! Let those among +you, who were prisoners to the English, give you an account of their +hulks (_pontons_), and of the dreadful miseries they endured. + +"The Saxons, the Belgians, the Hanoverians, the soldiers of the +confederation of the Rhine, groan at being obliged to lend their arms +to the cause of princes, who are enemies to justice, and to the +rights common to all people. They know, that this coalition is +insatiate. After having devoured twelve millions of Polanders, twelve +millions of Italians, a million of Saxons, six millions of Belgians, +it would devour all the states of the second order in Germany. + +"Madmen! a moment of prosperity has blinded them. The oppression and +humiliation of the French people are out of their power! If they enter +France, they will find in it their graves. + +"Soldiers, we have forced marches to make, battles to fight, hazards +to run; but, with firmness, victory will be ours: the rights, the +honour, and the happiness of our country will be reconquered. + +"To every Frenchman, who has any heart, the moment is come, to conquer +or die!" + + +The plan of the campaign adopted by the Emperor was worthy the courage +of the French, and the high reputation of their chief. + +Information given by a hand to be depended upon, and agents furnished +by the Duke of Otranto[41], had made known the position of the allies +in all its particulars. Napoleon knew, that the army of Wellington was +dispersed over the country from the borders of the sea to Nivelles: +that the right of the Prussians rested on Charleroy; and that the rest +of their army was stationed in echelon indefinitely as far as the +Rhine. He judged, that the enemies' lines were too much extended; and +that it would be practicable for him, by not giving them time to close +up, to separate the two armies, and fall in succession on their troops +thus surprised. + + [Footnote 41: These agents, paid by the king, went and + came from Ghent to Paris, and from Paris to Ghent. The + Duke of Otranto, who, no doubt, had good reasons for + knowing them, offered the Emperor, to procure him news + of what passed beyond the frontiers; and it was by their + means the Emperor knew in great part the position of the + enemies' armies. Thus the Duke of Otranto, if we may + credit appearances, with one hand betrayed to the enemy + the secrets of France, and with the other to Napoleon + the secrets of the Bourbons and the foreign powers.] + +For this purpose he had united all his cavalry into a single body of +twenty thousand horse, with which he intended to dart like lightning +into the midst of the enemies' cantonments. + +If victory favoured this bold stroke, the centre of our army would +occupy Brussels on the second day, while the corps of the right and of +the left drove the Prussians to the Meuse, and the English to the +Scheldt. Belgium being conquered, he would have armed the +malecontents, and marched from success to success as far as the Rhine, +where he would have solicited peace anew. + +On the 14th, in the night, our army, the presence of which the Emperor +had taken care to conceal, was to commence its march: nothing +indicated, that the enemy had foreseen our irruption, and every thing +promised us grand results; when Napoleon was informed, that General +Bourmont, Colonels Clouet and Villoutreys, and two other officers, had +just deserted to the enemy. + +He knew from Marshal Ney, that M. de Bourmont, at the time of the +occurrences at Besancon, had shown some hesitation, and was backward +to employ him. But M. de Bourmont, having given General Gerard his +word of honour, to serve the Emperor faithfully; and this general, +whom Napoleon highly valued, having answered for Bourmont; the Emperor +consented, to admit him into the service. How could he have supposed, +that this officer, who had covered himself with glory in 1814, would, +in 1815, go over to the enemy on the eve of a battle? + +Napoleon immediately made such alterations in his plan of attack, as +this unexpected treason rendered necessary, and then marched forward. + +On the 15th, at one in the morning, he was in person at Jumiguan on +the Eure. + +At three, his army moved in three columns, and debouched suddenly at +Beaumont, Maubeuge, and Philippeville. + +A corps of infantry, under General Ziethen, attempted to dispute the +passage of the Sambre. The fourth corps of chasseurs, supported by the +ninth, broke it sword in hand, and took three hundred prisoners. The +sappers and mariners of the guard, sent after the enemy, to repair the +bridges, did not allow them time to destroy them. They followed them +as sharp shooters, and penetrated with them into the great square. The +brave Pajol soon arrived with his cavalry, and Charleroy was ours. The +inhabitants, happy at seeing the French once more, saluted them +unanimously with continued shouts of "Long live the Emperor! France +for ever!" + +General Pajol immediately sent the hussars of General Clary in pursuit +of the Prussians, and this brave regiment finished its day by the +capture of a standard, and the destruction of a battalion, that +ventured to resist it. + +During this time, the second corps passed the Sambre at Marchiennes, +and overthrew every thing before it. The Prussians, having at length +rallied, attempted to oppose some resistance to it; but General Reille +broke them with his light cavalry, took two hundred prisoners, and +killed or dispersed the rest. Beaten in every part, they retired to +the heights of Fleurus, which had been so fatal to the enemies of +France twenty years before[42]. + + [Footnote 42: The Emperor, before he quitted Paris, had + conceived the design of rendering the plains of Fleurus + witnesses to new battles. He had sent for Marshal + Jourdan, and had obtained from him a great deal of very + important strategical information.] + +Napoleon reconnoitred the ground at a glance. Our troops rushed on the +Prussians full gallop. Three squares of infantry, supported by several +squadrons and some artillery, sustained the shock with intrepidity. +Wearied of their immoveableness, the Emperor ordered General Letort, +to charge them at the head of the dragoons of the guard. At the same +moment General Excelmans fell upon the left flank of the enemy; and +the twentieth of dragoons, commanded by the brave and young +Briqueville, rushed on the Prussians on one side, while Letort +attacked them on the other. They were broken, annihilated; but they +sold us the victory dear: Letort was killed. + +This affair, of little importance in its results, for it cost the +enemy only five pieces of artillery, and three thousand men killed or +taken prisoners, produced the happiest effects on the army. The +sciatica of Marshal Mortier[43], and the treason of General Beaumont, +had given birth to sentiments of doubt and fear, which were entirely +dissipated by the successful issue of this first battle. + + [Footnote 43: The Duke of Treviso, to whom Napoleon had + entrusted the command of the young guard, was attacked + at Beaumont with a sciatica, that obliged him to take to + his bed.] + +Hitherto each chief of a corps had retained its immediate command, and +it is easy to suppose, what their ardour and emulation must have been: +but the Emperor fell into the error of overturning the hopes of their +courage and their ambition; he placed General Erlon and Count Reille +under the orders of Marshal Ney, whom he brought forward too late; and +Count Gerard, and Count Vandamme, under those of Marshal Grouchy, whom +it would have been better to have left at the head of the cavalry. + +On the 16th, in the morning, the army, thus distributed, occupied the +following positions. + +Marshal Ney, with the 1st and 2d corps, the cavalry of General +Lefevre-Desnouettes, and that of General Kellerman, had his advanced +guard at Frasnes, and the other troops disseminated round +Gosselies[44]. + + [Footnote 44: + + LEFT. + + _Under Marshal Ney._ + 1st Corps. + Infantry 16,500 + Cavalry 1,500 + + 2d Corps. + Infantry 21,000 + Cavalry 1,500 + Cavalry of Desnouettes 2,100 + Cuirassiers of Kellerman 2,600 + ------ + 45,200 + Artillery, horse and foot 2,400 + And 116 pieces of ordnance. + + + RIGHT. + + _Under Marshal Grouchy._ + 3d Corps. + Infantry 13,000 + Cavalry 1,500 + + 4th Corps. + Infantry 12,000 + Cavalry 1,500 + Cavalry of Pajol 2,500 + ------ + 30,500 + + Cavalry of Excelmans 2,600 + Cuirassiers of Milhaud 2,600 + + 35,700 + + Artillery, horse and foot 2,250 + And 112 pieces of ordnance. + + + CENTRE AND RESERVE. + + _Under the Emperor._ + 6th Corps. + + Infantry 11,000 + Old guard 5,000 + Middle guard 5,000 + Young guard 4,000 + Horse grenadiers 1,200 + Dragoons 1,200 + 27,400 + Artillery, horse and foot 2,700 + And 134 pieces of ordnance. + + + _Recapitulation._ + + Infantry 87,500 + Cavalry 20,800 + Artillery, horse and foot 7,350 + Engineers 2,200 + + Total 111,850 + Pieces of ordnance 362] + +Marshal Grouchy, with the 3d and 4th corps, and the cavalry of +Generals Pajol, Excelmans, and Milhaud, was placed on the heights of +Fleurus, and in advance of them. + +The 6th corps and the guard were in echelon between Fleurus and +Charleroi. + +The same day the army of Marshal Blucher, ninety thousand strong, +collected together with great skill, was posted on the heights of Bry +and Sombref, and occupied the villages of Ligny and St. Amand, which +protected his front. His cavalry extended far in advance on the road +to Namur[45]. + + [Footnote 45: General Blucher had not had time to + collect the whole of his forces.] + +The army of the Duke of Wellington, which this general had not yet had +time to collect, was composed of about a hundred thousand men +scattered between Ath, Nivelle, Genappe, and Brussels. + +The Emperor went in person, to reconnoitre Blucher's position; and +penetrating his intentions, resolved to give him battle, before his +reserves, and the English army, for which he was endeavouring to wait, +should have time to unite, and come and join him. + +He immediately sent orders to Marshal Ney, whom he supposed to have +been on the march for Quatre Bras, _where he would have found very +few forces_, to drive the English briskly before him, and then fall +with his main force on the rear of the Prussian army. + +At the same time he made a change in the front of the imperial army: +General Grouchy advanced toward Sombref, General Gerard toward Ligny, +and General Vandamme toward St. Amand. + +General Gerard, with his division, five thousand strong, was detached +from the 2d corps, and placed in the rear of General Vandamme's left, +so as to support him, and at the same time form a communication +between Marshal Ney's army and that of Napoleon. + +The guard, and Milhaud's cuirassiers, were disposed as a reserve in +advance of Fleurus. + +At three o'clock the 3d corps reached St. Amand, and carried it. The +Prussians, rallied by Blucher, retook the village. The French, +entrenched in the churchyard, defended themselves there with +obstinacy; but, overpowered by numbers, they were about to give way, +when General Drouot, who has more than once decided the fate of a +battle, galloped up with four batteries of the guard, took the enemy +in the rear, and stopped his career. + +At the same moment Marshal Grouchy was fighting successfully at +Sombref, and General Gerard made an impetuous attack on the village +of Ligny. Its embattled walls, and a long ravine, rendered the +approaches to it not less difficult than dangerous: but these +obstacles did not intimidate General Lefol, or the brave fellows under +his command; they advanced with the bayonet, and in a few minutes the +Prussians, repulsed and annihilated, quitted the ground. + +Marshal Blucher, conscious that the possession of Ligny rendered us +masters of the event of the battle, returned to the charge with chosen +troops: and here, to use his own words, "commenced a battle, that may +be considered as one of the most obstinate mentioned in history." For +five hours two hundred pieces of ordnance deluged the field with +slaughter, blood, and death. For five hours the French and Prussians, +alternately vanquished and victors, disputed this ensanguined post +hand to hand, and foot to foot, and seven times in succession was it +taken and lost. + +The Emperor expected every instant, that Marshal Ney was coming to +take part in the action. From the commencement of the affair, he had +reiterated his orders to him, to manoeuvre so as to surround the right +of the Prussians; and he considered this diversion of such high +importance, as to write to the marshal, and cause him to be +repeatedly told, _that the fate of France was in his hands_. Ney +answered, that "he had the whole of the English army to encounter, yet +he would promise him, to hold out the whole day, but nothing more." +The Emperor, better informed, assured him, "that it was Wellington's +advanced guard alone, that made head against him;" and ordered him +anew, "to beat back the English, and make himself master of Quatre +Bras, cost what it might." The marshal persisted in his fatal error. +Napoleon, deeply impressed with the importance of the movement, that +Marshal Ney refused to comprehend and execute, sent directly to the +first corps an order, to move with all speed on the right of the +Prussians; but, after having lost much valuable time in waiting for +it, he judged, that the battle could not be prolonged without danger, +and directed General Gerard, who had with him but five thousand men, +to undertake the movement, which should have been accomplished by the +twenty thousand men of Count Erlon; namely, to turn St Amand, and fall +on the rear of the enemy. + +This manoeuvre, ably executed, and seconded by the guard attacking in +front, and by a brilliant charge of the cuirassiers of General +Delore's brigade and of the horse grenadier guards, decided the +victory. The Prussians, weakened in every part, retired in disorder, +and left us, with the field of battle, forty cannons and several +standards. + +On the left, Marshal Ney, instead of rushing rapidly on Quatre Bras, +and effecting the diversion, that had been recommended to him, had +spent twelve hours in useless attempts, and given time to the Prince +of Orange to reinforce his advanced guard. The pressing orders of +Napoleon not allowing him, to remain meditating any longer; and +desirous, no doubt, of repairing the time he had lost; he did not +cause either the position or the forces of the enemy, to be thoroughly +reconnoitred, and rushed on them headlong. The division of General Foy +commenced the attack, and drove in the sharpshooters, and the advanced +posts. Bachelu's cavalry, aided, covered, and supported by this +division, pierced and cut to pieces three Scotch battalions: but the +arrival of fresh reinforcements, led by the Duke of Wellington, and +the shining bravery of the Scotch, the Belgians, and the Prince of +Orange, suspended our success. This resistance, far from discouraging +Marshal Ney, revived in him an energy, which he had not before shown. +He attacked the Anglo-Hollanders with fury; and drove them back to +the skirts of the wood of Bassu. The 1st of chasseurs and 6th of +lancers overthrew the Brunswickers; the 8th of cuirassiers defeated +two Scotch battalions, and took from them a flag. The 11th, equally +intrepid, pursued them to the entrance of the wood: but the wood, +which had not been examined, was lined with English infantry. Our +cuirassiers were assailed by a fire at arm's length, which at once +carried dismay and confusion into their ranks. Some of the officers, +lately incorporated with them, instead of appeasing the disorder, +increased it by shouts of "Every one for himself (_sauve qui peut!_)" +This disorder, which in a moment spread from one to another as far as +Beaumont, might have occasioned greater disasters, if the infantry of +General Foy, remaining unshaken, had not continued to sustain the +conflict with equal perseverance and intrepidity. + +Marshal Ney, who had with him only twenty thousand men, was desirous +of causing the first corps, which he had left in the rear, to advance: +but the Emperor, as I have said above, had sent immediate orders to +Count Erlon, who commanded it, to come and join him, and this general +had commenced his march. Ney, when he heard this, was amid a cross +fire from the enemy's batteries. "Do you see those bullets?" +exclaimed he, his brow clouded with despair: "I wish they would all +pass through my body.". Instantly he sent with all speed after Count +Erlon, and directed him, whatever orders he might have received from +the Emperor himself, to return, Count Erlon was so unfortunate and +weak as to obey. He brought his troops back to the marshal; but it was +nine o'clock in the evening, and the marshal, dispirited by the checks +he had received, and dissatisfied with himself, and others, had +discontinued the engagement. + +The Duke of Wellington, whose forces had increased successively to +more than fifty thousand men, retired in good order during the night +to Genappe. + +Marshal Ney was indebted to the great bravery of his troops, and the +firmness of his generals, for the honour of not being obliged, to +abandon his positions. + +The desperation, with which this battle was fought, made those men +shudder, who were most habituated to contemplate with coolness the +horrors of war. The smoking ruins of Ligny and St. Amand were heaped +with the dead and dying: the ravine before Ligny resembled a river of +blood, on which carcasses were floating: at Quatre Bras there was a +similar spectacle! the hollow way, that skirted the wood, had +disappeared under the bloody corses of the brave Scotch and of our +cuirassiers. The imperial guard was every where distinguished by its +murderous rage: it fought with shouts of "The Emperor for ever! No +quarter!" The corps of General Gerard displayed the same animosity. It +was this, that, having expended all its ammunition, called out aloud +for more cartridges and more Prussians. + +The loss of the Prussians, rendered considerable by the tremendous +fire of our artillery, was twenty-five thousand men. Blucher, unhorsed +by our cuirassiers, escaped them only by a miracle. + +The English and Dutch lost four thousand five hundred men. Three +Scotch regiments, and the black legion of Brunswick, were almost +entirely exterminated. The Prince of Brunswick himself, and a number +of other officers of distinction, were killed. + +We lost, in the left wing, near five thousand men, and several +generals. Prince Jerome, who had already been wounded at the passage +of the Sambre, had his hand slightly grazed by a musket shot. He +remained constantly at the head of his division, and displayed a +great deal of coolness and valour. + +Our loss at Ligny, estimated at six thousand five hundred men, was +rendered still more to be regretted by General Gerard's receiving a +mortal wound. Few officers were endued with a character so noble, and +an intrepidity so habitual. More greedy of glory than of wealth, he +possessed nothing but his sword; and his last moments, instead of +resting with delight on the remembrance of his heroic actions alone, +were disturbed by the pain of leaving his family exposed to want. + +The victory of Ligny did not entirely fulfil the expectations of the +Emperor. "If Marshal Ney," said he, "had attacked the English with all +his forces, he would have crushed them, and have come to give the +Prussians the finishing blow: and if, after having committed this +first fault, he had not been guilty of his second folly, in preventing +the movement of Count Erlon, the intervention of the 1st corps would +have shortened the resistance of Blucher, and rendered his defeat +irreparable: his whole army would have been taken or destroyed." + +This victory, though imperfect, was not the less considered by the +generals as of the highest importance. It separated the English army +from the Prussians, and left us hopes of being able to vanquish it in +its turn. + +The Emperor, _without losing time_, was for attacking the English on +one side at daybreak, and pursuing Blucher's army without respite on +the other. It was objected to him, that the English army was intact, +and ready to accept battle; while our troops, harassed by the +conflicts and fatigue of Ligny, would not perhaps be in a condition, +to fight with the necessary vigour. In fine, such numerous objections +were made, that he consented to let the army take rest. Ill success +inspires timidity. If Napoleon, as of old, had listened only to the +suggestions of his own audacity, it is probable, it is certain, and I +have heard General Drouot say it, that he might, according to his +plan, have led his troops to Brussels on the 17th; _and who can +calculate what would have been the consequences of his occupying that +capital?_ + +On the 17th therefore, the Emperor contented himself with forming his +army into two columns; one of sixty-five thousand men, headed by the +Emperor, after having joined to it the left wing, followed the steps +of the English. The light artillery, the lancers of General Alphonse +Colbert, and of the intrepid Colonel Sourd, kept dose after them to +the entrance of the forest of Soignes, where the Duke of Wellington +took up his position. + +The other, thirty-six thousand strong, was detached under the orders +of Marshal Grouchy, to observe and pursue the Prussians. It did not +proceed beyond Gembloux. + +The night of the 17th was dreadful, and seemed to presage the +calamities of the day. A violent and incessant rain did not allow the +army, to take a single moment's rest. To increase our misfortunes, the +bad state of the roads retarded the arrival of our provision, and most +of the soldiers were without food: however, they gaily endured this +double ill luck; and at daybreak announced to Napoleon by repeated +acclamations, that they were ready to fly to a fresh victory. + +The Emperor had thought, that Lord Wellington, separated from the +Prussians, and foreseeing the march of General Grouchy, who, on +passing the Dyle, might fall on his flank, or on his rear, would not +venture to maintain his position, but would retire to Brussels[46]. He +was surprised, when daylight discovered to him, that the English army +had not quitted its positions, and appeared disposed, to accept +battle. He made several generals reconnoitre these positions; and, to +use the words of one of them, he learned, that they were defended "by +an army of cannons, and mountains of infantry." + + [Footnote 46: This conjecture was well founded: but + Blucher, who had escaped Grouchy, had formed a + communication with Wellington through Ohaim, and + promised him to make a diversion on our right. Thus + Wellington, who had prepared to retreat, was induced to + remain.] + +Napoleon immediately sent advice to Marshal Grouchy, that he was +probably about to engage in a grand battle with the English, and +ordered him, to push the Prussians briskly, to approach the grand army +as speedily as possible, and to direct his movements so as to be able +to connect his operations with it[47]. + + [Footnote 47: I have heard, that the officer, who + carried this order, instead of taking the direct road, + thought proper to take an immense circuit, in order to + avoid the enemy.] + +He then sent for his principal officers, to give them his +instructions. + +Some of them, confident and daring, asserted, that the enemy's +position should be attacked and carried by main force. Others, not +less brave, but more prudent, remonstrated, that the ground was +deluged by the rain; that the troops, the cavalry in particular, +could not manoeuvre without much difficulty and fatigue; that the +English army would have the immense advantage of awaiting us on firm +ground in its intrenchments; and that it would be better, to endeavour +to turn these. All did justice to the valour of our troops, and +promised, that they would perform prodigies; but they differed in +opinion with regard to the resistance, that the English would make. +Their cavalry, said the generals who had fought in Spain, are not +equal to ours; but their infantry are more formidable, than is +supposed. When intrenched, they are dangerous from their skill in +firing: in the open field, they stand firm, and, if broken, rally +again within a hundred yards, and return to the charge. Fresh disputes +arose; and, what is remarkable, _it never entered into any one's +head_, that the Prussians, pretty numerous parties of whom had been +seen towards Moustier, might be in a situation to make a serious +diversion on our right. + +The Emperor, after having heard and debated the opinions of all, +determined, on considerations to which all assented, to attack the +English in front. Reiterated orders were despatched to Marshal +Grouchy; and Napoleon, to give him time to execute the movement he +had enjoined, spent the whole morning in arranging his army. + +The English army was reconnoitred anew by the Emperor in person. Its +central position, resting on the village of Mont St. Jean, was +supported on the right by the farm of Hougoumont, on the left by that +of La Haie Sainte. Its two wings extended beyond the hamlets of Terre +la Haie and Merkebraine. Hedges, woods, ravines, an immense quantity +of artillery, and eighty-five or ninety thousand men, defended this +formidable position. + +The Emperor disposed his army[48] in the following order. + + [Footnote 48: + + 2d Corps. + + Infantry 16,500} + } 18,000 + Cavalry 1,500} + + 1st Corps. + + Infantry 12,500} + } 13,700 + Cavalry 1,200} + + 6th Corps. + + Infantry 7,000 {4,000 had} 7,000 + {been joined to Grouchy} + + Division of Domont and Suberwick 2,500 + + Cuirassiers 4,800 + + Foot guards 2,500} + Light cavalry 2,100} 16,600 + Grenadiers and dragoons 2,000} + + Artillery 4,500 + ------ + 67,100 + + Gerard's division 3000 men.] + +The 2d corps, of which Prince Jerome always made a part, was posted +opposite the woods, that surrounded Hougoumont. + +The 1st corps opposite La Haie Sainte. + +The 6th corps was sent to the extremity of the right, so as to be able +to form a communication with Marshal Grouchy, when he should appear. + +The light cavalry and cuirassiers were flanked in a second line, +behind the first and second corps. + +The guard and cavalry were kept in reserve on the heights of +Planchenois. + +The old division of General Gerard was left at Fleurus. + +The Emperor, with his staff, took his station on a little knap, near +the farm of La Belle Alliance, which commanded the plain, and whence +he could easily direct the movements of the army, and observe those of +the English. + +At half after twelve, the Emperor, persuaded that Marshal Grouchy +must be in motion, caused the signal for battle to be given. + +Prince Jerome, with his division, proceeded against Hougoumont. The +approaches were defended by hedges and a wood; in which the enemy had +posted a number of artillery. The attack, rendered so difficult by the +state of the ground, was conducted with extreme impetuosity. The wood +was alternately taken and retaken. Our troops and the English, most +frequently separated by a single hedge, fired on each other +reciprocally, their muskets almost touching, without retreating a +single step. The artillery made fearful ravages on both sides. The +event was doubtful, till General Reille ordered Foy's division to +support the attack of Prince Jerome, and thus succeeded in compelling +the enemy, to abandon the woods and orchards, which they had hitherto +so valiantly defended and kept possession of. + +It was one o'clock. A few moments before, an intercepted despatch +informed the Emperor of the near approach of thirty thousand +Prussians, commanded by Bulow[49]. + + [Footnote 49: This corps had joined the Prussian array + since the battle of Ligny.] + +Napoleon thought, that the strength of this corps, some of the +skirmishers of which had appeared on the heights of St. Lambert, was +exaggerated; and persuaded too, that Grouchy's army was following it, +and that it would soon find itself between two fires, it gave him but +little uneasiness. However, rather from precaution than from fear, he +gave orders to General Domont, to advance with his cavalry and that of +General Suberwick, to meet the Prussians and directed Count de Lobau, +to be ready to support General Domont in case of necessity. Orders +were despatched at the same time to Marshal Grouchy, to inform him of +what was passing, and enjoin him _anew_, to hasten his march, to +pursue, attack, and crush Bulow. + +Thus by drawing off the divisions of Domont and Suberwick, and by the +paralyzation of the 6th corps, our army was reduced to less than +fifty-seven thousand men: but it displayed so much resolution, that +the Emperor did not doubt its being sufficient, to beat the English. + +The second corps, as I have already said, had effected the dislodgment +of the English from the woods of Hougoumont; but the first corps, +notwithstanding the continual play of several batteries, and the +resolution of our infantry and of the light horse of General Lefevre +Desnouettes and Guyot, had been unable to force either La Haie +Sainte, or Mont St. Jean. The Emperor ordered Marshal Ney, to +undertake a fresh attack, and to support it by eighty pieces of +cannon. A tremendous fire of musketry and artillery then took place +throughout the whole line. The English, insensible to danger, +supported the charges of our foot and of our horse with great +firmness. The more resistance they displayed, the more furiously did +our soldiers engage. At length the English, driven from one position +to another, evacuated La Haie Sainte and Mont St. Jean, and our troops +seized on them with shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" + +To sustain them there, Count d'Erlon immediately sent the second +brigade of General Alix. A body of English horse intercepted the +passage, threw the brigade into disorder, and then, falling on our +batteries, succeeded in dismounting several pieces of artillery. The +cuirassiers of General Milhaud set off at a gallop, to repulse the +English horse. A fresh division of these came and fell upon our +cuirassiers. Our lancers and chasseurs were sent to their assistance. +A general charge ensued, and the English, broken, overthrown, cut +down, were forced to retire in disorder. + +Hitherto the French army, or, to speak more properly, the forty +thousand men of Generals Reille and d'Erlon, had obtained and +preserved a marked superiority. The enemy, driven back, appeared +hesitating on their movements. Dispositions had been observed, that +seemed to indicate an approaching retreat. The Emperor, satisfied, +joyfully exclaimed: "They are ours: I have them:" and Marshal Soult, +and all the generals, considered, as he did, the victory certain[50]. +The guard had already received orders to put itself in motion, to +occupy the ground we had gained, and finish the enemy, when General +Domont sent to inform the Emperor, that Bulow's corps had just formed +in line, and was advancing rapidly on the rear of our right. This +information changed the design of Napoleon; and, instead of employing +his guard to support the first and second corps, he kept it in +reserve; ordering Marshal Ney to maintain his ground in the woods of +Hougoumont, at La Haie Sainte, and at Mont St. Jean, till the event of +the movement, which Count Lobau was about to make against the +Prussians, was known. + + [Footnote 50: The enemy themselves confess, that at this + moment they thought the battle lost. "The ranks of the + English," says Blucher, "were thrown into disorder; the + loss had been considerable; the reserves had been + advanced into the line; the situation of the Duke was + extremely critical, the fire of musketry continued along + the front, the artillery had retired to the second + line." + + I will add, that still greater disorder prevailed in the + rear of the English army: the roads of the forest of + Soignes were encumbered with waggons, artillery, and + baggage, deserted by the drivers; and numerous bands of + fugitives had spread confusion and affright through + Brussels and the neighbouring roads. + + Had not our successes been interrupted by the march of + Bulow; or had Marshal Grouchy, as the Emperor had reason + to hope, followed at the heels of the Prussians; never + would a more glorious victory have been obtained by the + French. Not a single man of the Duke of Wellington's + army would have escaped.] + +The English, informed of the arrival of Bulow, resumed the offensive; +and endeavoured to drive us from the positions, that we had taken from +them. Our troops repulsed them victoriously. Marshal Ney, carried away +by his boiling courage, forgot the orders of the Emperor. He charged +the enemy at the head of Milhaud's cuirassiers and the light cavalry +of the guard, and succeeded, amid the applauses of the army, in +establishing himself on the heights of Mont St. Jean, till then +inaccessible. + +This ill-timed and hazardous movement did not escape the Duke of +Wellington. He caused his infantry to advance, and fell upon us with +all his cavalry. + +The Emperor immediately ordered General Kellerman and his cuirassiers, +to hasten to extricate our first line. The horse grenadiers and +dragoons of the guard, either from a misconception of Marshal Ney, or +spontaneously, put themselves in motion, and followed the cuirassiers, +without its being possible to stop them. A second conflict, more +bloody than the first, took place at all points. Our troops, exposed +to the incessant fire of the enemy's batteries and infantry, +heroically sustained and executed numerous brilliant charges during +two hours, in which we had the glory of taking six flags, dismounting +several batteries, and cutting to pieces four regiments; but in which +we also lost the flower of our intrepid cuirassiers, and of the +cavalry of the guard. + +The Emperor, whom this desperate engagement vexed to the heart, could +not remedy it. Grouchy did not arrive: and he had already been obliged +to weaken his reserves by four thousand of the young guard, in order +to master the Prussians, whose numbers and whose progress were still +increasing. + +Mean time our cavalry, weakened by a considerable loss, and unequal +contests incessantly renewed, began to be disheartened, and to give +ground. The issue of the battle appeared to become doubtful. It was +necessary to strike a grand blow by a desperate attack. + +The Emperor did not hesitate. + +Orders were immediately given to Count Reille, to collect all his +forces, and to fall with impetuosity on the right of the enemy, while +Napoleon in person proceeded, to attack the front with his reserves. +The Emperor had already formed his guard into a column of attack, when +he heard, that our cavalry had just been forced, to evacuate in part +the heights of Mont St. Jean. Immediately he ordered Marshal Ney, to +take with him four battalions of the middle guard, and hasten with all +speed to the fatal height, to support the cuirassiers by whom it was +still occupied. + +The firm countenance of the guard, and the harangues of Napoleon, +inflamed their minds: the cavalry, and a few battalions, who had +followed his movement to the rear, faced about towards the enemy, +shouting "The Emperor for ever!" + +At this moment the firing of musketry was heard[51]. "There's +Grouchy!" exclaimed the Emperor: "the day is ours!" Labedoyere flew +to announce this happy news to the army: in spite of the enemy, he +penetrated to the head of our columns: "Marshal Grouchy is arriving, +the guard is going to charge: courage! courage! 'tis all over with the +English." + + [Footnote 51: It was afterwards known, that it was + General Ziethen, who, on his arrival in line, had taken + the troops commanded by the Prince of Saxe Weimar for + Frenchmen, and compelled them, after a brisk fire, to + abandon a little village, which they were appointed to + defend.] + +One last shout of hope burst from every rank: the wounded, who were +still capable of taking a few steps, returned to the combat; and +thousands of voices eagerly repeated, "Forward! forward!" + +The column commanded by the bravest of the brave, on his arrival in +face of the enemy, was received by discharges of artillery, that +occasioned it a terrible loss. Marshal Ney, weary of bullets, ordered +the batteries to be carried by the bayonet. The grenadiers rushed on +them with such impetuosity, that they neglected the admirable order, +to which they had been so often indebted for victory. Their leader, +intoxicated with intrepidity, did not perceive this disorder. He and +his soldiers rushed on the enemy tumultuously. A shower of balls and +grape burst on their heads. Ney's horse was shot under him, Generals +Michel and Friant fell wounded or dead, and a number of brave fellows +were stretched on the ground. Wellington did not allow our grenadiers +time to recollect themselves. He caused them to be attacked in flank +by his cavalry, and compelled them to retire in the greatest disorder. +At the same instant the thirty thousand Prussians under Ziethen, who +had been taken for Grouchy's army, carried by assault the village of +La Haye, and drove our men before them. Our cavalry, our infantry, +already staggered by the defeat of the middle guard, were afraid of +being cut off, and precipitately retreated. The English horse, +skilfully availing themselves of the confusion, which this unexpected +retreat had occasioned, pierced through our ranks, and rendered them +completely disordered and disheartened. The other troops of the right, +who continued to resist with great difficulty the attacks of the +Prussians, and who had been in want of ammunition above an hour, +seeing some of our squadrons pell mell, and some of the guards running +away, thought all was lost, and quitted their position. This +contagious movement was communicated in an instant to the left; and +the whole army, after having so valiantly carried the enemy's +strongest posts, abandoned them with as much eagerness, as they had +displayed ardour in conquering them. + +The English army, which had advanced in proportion as we retreated, +and the Prussians, who had not ceased to pursue us, fell at once on +our scattered battalions; night increased the tumult and alarm; and +soon the whole army was nothing but a confused crowd, which the +English and Prussians routed without effort, and massacred without +pity. + +The Emperor, witnessing this frightful defection, could scarcely +believe his eyes. His aides-de-camp flew to rally the troops in all +directions. He also threw himself into the midst of the crowd. But his +words, his orders, his entreaties, were not heard. How was it possible +for the army to form anew under the guns, and amid the continual +charges of eighty thousand English, and sixty thousand Prussians, who +covered the field, of battle? + +However, eight battalions, which the Emperor had previously collected, +formed in squares, and stopped the way against the Prussian and +English armies. These brave fellows, resolute and courageous as they +were, could not long resist the efforts of an enemy twenty times their +number. Surrounded, assaulted, cannonaded on all sides, most of them +at length fell. Some sold their lives dearly: others, exhausted with +fatigue, hunger, and thirst, had no longer strength to fight, and +suffered themselves to be killed, without being able to make any +defence. Two battalions[52] alone, whom the enemy were unable to +break, retreated disputing the ground, till, thrown into disorder and +hurried along by the general movement, they were obliged themselves to +follow the stream. + + [Footnote 52: They had at their head Generals Petit and + Pelet de Morvan.] + +One last battalion of reserve, the illustrious and unfortunate remains +of the granite column of the fields of Marengo, had remained unshaken +amid the tumultuous waves of the army. The Emperor retired into the +ranks of these brave fellows, still commanded by Cambronne! He formed +them into a square, and advanced at their head, to meet the enemy. All +his generals, Ney, Soult, Bertrand, Drouot, Corbineau, de Flahaut, +Labedoyere, Gourgaud, &c. drew their swords, and became soldiers. The +old grenadiers, incapable of fear for their own lives, were alarmed at +the danger that threatened the life of the Emperor. They conjured him +to withdraw. "Retire," said one of them: "you see, that Death shuns +you." The Emperor resisted, and ordered them to fire. The officers +around him seized his bridle, and dragged him away. Cambronne and his +brave fellows crowded round their expiring eagles, and bade Napoleon +an eternal adieu. The English, moved by their heroic resistance, +conjured them to surrender. "No," said Cambronne, "the guard can die, +but not yield!" At the same moment they all rushed on the enemy, with +shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" Their blows were worthy of the +conquerors of Austerlitz, Jena, Wagram, and Montmirail. The English +and Prussians, from whom they still detained the field of victory, +united against this handful of heroes, and cut them down. Some, +covered with wounds, fell to the ground weltering in their blood; +others, more fortunate, were killed outright: in fine, they whose +hopes were not answered by death, shot one another, that they might +not survive their companions in arms, or die by the hands of their +enemies. + +Wellington and Blucher, thus become quiet possessors of the field of +battle, traversed it as masters. But at what expense of blood was this +unjust triumph purchased! Never, no never, were the blows of the +French more formidable or more deadly to their adversaries. Thirsting +after blood and glory, they rushed daringly on the blazing batteries +of their enemy; and seemed to multiply in number, to seek, attack, and +pursue them in their inaccessible intrenchments. Thirty thousand +English or Prussians[53] were sacrificed by their hands on that fatal +day; and when it is considered, that this horrible carnage was the +work of fifty thousand men[54], dying with fatigue and hunger, and +striving in miry ground against an impregnable position and a hundred +and thirty thousand fighting men, we cannot but be seized with +sorrowful admiration, and decree to the vanquished the palm of +victory. + + [Footnote 53: + + Men. + + The general loss of the army of the Duke of + Wellington, in killed and wounded, was about 25,000 + + And that of Prince Blucher 35,000 + ------ + 60,000 + ------ + That of the French may be estimated as follows: + + The 15th and 16th, killed and wounded 11,000 + The 18th, killed and wounded 18,000 + Prisoners 8,000 + ------ + 37,000 + + The loss of the French would have been greater, had it + not been for the generous care taken of them by the + inhabitants of Belgium. After the victory of Fleurus and + of Ligny, they hastened to the field of battle, to + console the wounded, and give them every assistance. + Nothing could be more affecting, than the sight of a + number of women and girls endeavouring to revive, by + cordial liquors, the extinguished lives (_la vie + eteinte_) of our unfortunate soldiers, while their + husbands and brothers supported our wounded in their + arms, stanched their blood, and closed their wounds. + + The precipitancy of our march had not allowed us, to + prepare conveyances and field hospitals, to receive our + wounded. The good and feeling inhabitants of Belgium + supplied the deficiency with eagerness. They carried our + poor Frenchmen from the field of battle, and offered + them an asylum, and all the attention necessary. + + At the time of our retreat, they lavished on us proofs + of their regard not less affecting, and not less + valuable. Braving the rage of the ferocious Prussians, + they quitted their houses, to show us the paths, that + would favour our escape, and guide our course through + the enemy's columns. When they parted from us, they + still followed us with their eyes, and expressed from a + distance how happy they were at having been able to save + us. + + When they knew, that a great number of Frenchmen + remained prisoners with the conqueror, they were eager + to offer, and to lavish on them, consolation and + assistance. The Prince of Orange himself, as formidable + in the heat of battle, as magnanimous after victory, + became the protector of a number of brave fellows, who, + having learned how to esteem him on the field of battle, + had nobly invoked his support. + + In fine, completely to acquit the debt of gratitude, at + that period so painful to remember, when persecution, + exile, death, compelled so many Frenchmen to flee their + native land, the inhabitants of Belgium, always + tender-hearted, always benevolent, opened their + hospitable doors to our unfortunate proscribed + countrymen, and more than one brave man, already + preserved by them from the vengeance of foreigners, was + a second time saved by their generous hands from the + fury of enemies still more implacable.] + + [Footnote 54: I say fifty thousand men, for more than + ten thousand of the guard took no share in the action.] + +At the moment, when Bulow's corps penetrated our right, I was at +head-quarters at the farm of Caillou. + +One of the grand marshal's aides-de-camp came from him, to inform the +Duke of Bassano, that the Prussians were proceeding in that direction. +The duke, having received orders from the Emperor to remain there, +would not quit the place, and we resigned ourselves to wait the event. +In fact, the enemy's dragoons soon made themselves masters of the +little wood, that covered the farm, and attacked our people sword in +hand. Our guard repulsed them with their muskets; but, returning in +greater number, they assailed us anew, and compelled us, in spite of +the stoicism of M. de Bassano, to yield up the place to them very +speedily. The imperial carriages, furnished with able horses, carried +us rapidly from the enemy's pursuit. The duke was not so fortunate: +his carriage, having poor horses, received several shots; and he was +at length forced to escape on foot, and take refuge in mine. + +The cessation of the firing, and the precipitate retreat of the wreck +of the army, too powerfully confirmed to us the fatal issue of the +battle. We inquired on all sides after the Emperor, but no one could +satisfy our painful anxiety. Some assured us, that he had been taken +prisoner; others, that he was killed. To put an end to the anxiety +that overwhelmed us, I took the horse of the principal of our +attendants (_chef de nos equipages_), and, accompanied by one of our +principal _piqueurs_, named Chauvin, who had returned with Napoleon +from the island of Elba, I hastened back toward Mont St. Jean. After +having in vain wearied a multitude of officers with questions, I met a +page, young Gudin, who assured me, that the Emperor must have quitted +the field of battle. I still pushed on. Two cuirassiers, raising their +sabres, stopped me. "Where are you going?"--"I am going to meet the +Emperor."--"You lie; you are a royalist; you are going to rejoin the +English." I know not how the business would have ended, had not a +superior officer of the guard, sent by heaven, fortunately known me, +and extricated me from the difficulty. He assured me, that the +Emperor, whom he had escorted a long way, must be before. I returned +to the Duke of Bassano. The certainty, that the Emperor was safe and +sound, alleviated our sorrows for a few moments: but they soon resumed +all their strength. He must have been no Frenchman, who could behold +with dry eyes our dreadful catastrophe. The army itself, after +recovering from its first impressions, forgot the perils with which it +was still menaced, to meditate with sadness on the future. Its steps +were dejected, its looks dismayed; not a word, not a complaint, was +heard to interrupt its painful meditations. You would have said it was +accompanying a funeral procession, and attending the obsequies of its +glory and of its country. + +The capture and plundering of the baggage of the army had suspended +for a moment the enemy's pursuit. They came up with us at Quatre Bras, +and fell upon our equipage. At the head of the convoy marched the +military chest, and after it our carriage. Five other carriages, that +immediately followed us, were attacked and sabred. Ours, by miracle, +effected its escape. Here were taken the Emperor's clothes: the superb +diamond necklace, that the princess Borghese had given him; and his +landau, that in 1813 had escaped the disasters of Moscow. + +The Prussians, raging in pursuit of us, treated with unexampled +barbarity those unfortunate beings, whom they were able to overtake. +Except a few steady old soldiers, most of the rest had thrown away +their arms, and were without defence; but they were not the less +massacred without pity. Four Prussians killed General ...... in cold +blood, after having taken from him his arms. Another general, whose +name also I cannot call to mind, surrendered to an officer: and this +officer had the cowardice still more than the cruelty, to run him +through the body. A colonel, to avoid falling into their hands, blew +out his brains. Twenty other officers, of various ranks, imitated the +example. An officer of cuirassiers, seeing them approach, said: "They +shall have neither me, nor my horse." With one of his pistols he shot +his horse dead; with the other, himself[55]. A thousand acts of +despair, not less heroic, illustrate this fatal day. + + [Footnote 55: This circumstance was told to me, but the + following I witnessed myself. A cuirassier, in the heat + of the battle, had both his arms disabled with sabre + wounds: "I will go and get myself dressed," said he, + foaming with rage: "if I cannot use my arms, I'll use my + teeth--I'll eat them."] + +We continued our retreat to Charleroi. The further we advanced, the +more difficult it became. They who preceded us, whether to impede the +enemy, or through treachery, obstructed the way, and at every step we +had to break through barricades. When halting for a moment, I heard +cries and moanings at our side. I went to the place, and found they +came from a ditch on the road-side, into which two large waggon-loads +of wounded men had been overturned. These unfortunate people, tumbled +in a heap under the waggons, that were upset upon them, implored the +compassion of those who passed by; but their feeble voices, drowned by +the noise of the carriages, had not been heard. We all set to work, +and succeeded in extricating them from their tombs. Some were still +breathing; but the greater number were stifled. The joy of these poor +wretches affected us to tears; but it was of short duration--we were +forced to leave them. + +Still pursued and harassed by the enemy, we arrived at Charleroi, +which place was so encumbered, and in such confusion, that we were +obliged to leave behind us our carriage and our baggage. The secret +portfolio of the cabinet was carried off by the keeper of the +portfolio; the other important papers were destroyed; and we left +only some letters and reports of no moment, which were afterwards +printed at Brussels[56]. The Duke of Bassano and I were continuing our +journey on foot, when I saw some _piqueurs_ with led horses of the +Emperor's, and I ordered them, to bring them to us. Such was the +respect of the duke for every thing belonging to Napoleon, that he +hesitated to avail himself of this good fortune. Happily for him, I +succeeded in overcoming his scruples; for the Prussians had come up +with us, and the firing of musketry informed us, that they were +engaging only a few paces behind us. We were equally obliged to +abandon the military chest. The gold in it was distributed among the +Emperor's domestics; all of whom faithfully delivered it to him. + + [Footnote 56: Among these letters printed was one of + mine, written from Bale to the Emperor on the subject of + M. Werner.] + +The Emperor, accompanied by his aides-decamp and a few orderly +officers, on quitting the field of battle, had taken the road to +Charleroi. On his arrival at this place, he attempted to rally a few +troops; but his efforts were vain, and, after having given orders to +several generals, he continued his course. + +Count Lobau, the generals of the guards Petit and Pelet de Morvan, +and a number of other officers, equally endeavoured to form the army +anew. With swords drawn, they stopped the troops on their way, and +forced them, to draw up in order of battle; but scarcely were they +formed, when they dispersed again immediately. The artillery, that had +been able to be brought off, alone preserved its structure unshaken. +The brave gunners, feeling the same attachment to their guns as +soldiers to their colours, followed them quietly. Obliged by the roads +being so much encumbered, to halt at every step, they saw the tide of +the army flow by them without regret: it was their duty, to remain by +their guns; and they remained, without considering, that their +devotion might cost them their liberty or their lives. + +By chance M. de Bassano and I took the road to Philippeville. We +learned, with a joy of which we did not think ourselves any longer +susceptible, that the Emperor was in the town. We ran to him. When he +saw me, he condescended to present me his hand. I bathed it with my +tears. The Emperor himself could not suppress his emotion: a large +tear, escaping from his eyes, betrayed the efforts of his soul. + +The Emperor caused orders to be despatched to generals Rapp, Lecourbe, +and Lamarque, to proceed by forced marches to Paris, and to the +commanders of fortified towns, to defend themselves to the last +extremity. He afterward dictated to me two letters to Prince Joseph. +One, intended to be communicated to the council of ministers, related +but imperfectly the fatal issue of the battle: the other, for the +prince alone, gave him a recital, unhappily too faithful, of the rout +of the army. He concluded however: "All is not lost. I suppose I shall +have left, on re-assembling my forces, a hundred and fifty thousand +men. The federates and national guards, who have heart, will supply me +with a hundred thousand men; the _depot_ battalions, with fifty +thousand. Thus I shall have three hundred thousand soldiers, to oppose +to the enemy immediately. I shall supply the artillery with horses by +means of those kept as articles of luxury. I shall levy a hundred +thousand conscripts. I shall arm them with the muskets of the +royalists and ill-disposed national guards. Dauphiny, the Lyonese, +Burgundy, Lorraine, and Champagne, I shall levy in mass. I shall +overwhelm the enemy: but it is necessary for me to be assisted, and +not perplexed. I am going to Laon. No doubt I shall find men there. I +have heard nothing of Grouchy; if he be not taken, as I am afraid he +is, in three days time I may have fifty thousand men. With these I +could keep the enemy employed, and give time to Paris and France, to +do their duty. The English march slowly. The Prussians are afraid of +the peasantry, and dare not advance too far. Every thing may yet be +repaired. Write me word of the effect, that the horrible result of +this rash enterprise produces in the chamber. I believe the deputies +will feel, that it is their duty on this great occasion, to join with +me, in order to save France. Prepare them, to second me worthily." + +The Emperor added with his own hand: "Courage, and firmness." + +While I was despatching these letters, he dictated to M. de Bassano +instructions for the major-general. When he had finished, he threw +himself on a sorry bed, and ordered preparations to be made for our +departure. + +A postchaise half broken to pieces, a few waggons and some straw, had +just been prepared, as nothing better was to be had, for Napoleon and +us; when some carriages belonging to Marshal Soult entered the town. +These we seized upon. The enemy having already some scouts in the +neighbourhood of Philippeville and Marienbourg, two or three hundred +fugitives of all sorts were collected, to form an escort for the +Emperor. He set off with General Bertrand in a calash. It was thus +Charles XII. fled before his conquerors after the battle of Pultowa. + +The Emperor's suite was in two other calashes. One, in which I was, +contained M. de Bassano, General Drouot, General Dejean, and M. de +Canisy, first equerry: the other was occupied by Messrs. de Flahaut, +Labedoyere, Corbineau, and de Bissi, aides-de-camp. + +The Emperor stopped beyond Rocroi, to take some refreshment. We were +all in a pitiable state: our eyes swelled with tears, our countenances +haggard, our clothes covered with blood or dust, rendered us objects +of compassion and horror to one another. We conversed on the critical +situation, in which the Emperor and France would find themselves. +Labedoyere, in the abundant candour of a young and inexperienced +heart, persuaded himself, that our dangers would unite all parties, +and that the chambers would display a grand and salutary energy. "The +Emperor," said he, "without stopping on the road, should repair +directly to the seat of the national representation; frankly avow his +disasters; and, like Philip Augustus, offer to die as a soldier, and +resign the crown to the most worthy. The two chambers will revolt at +the idea of abandoning Napoleon, and join with him, to save +France."--"Do not imagine," answered I, "that we live still in those +days, when misfortune was sacred. The chamber, far from pitying +Napoleon, and generously coming to his assistance, will accuse him of +having ruined France, and endeavour to save it by sacrificing +him."--"Heaven preserve us from such a misfortune!" exclaimed +Labedoyere: "if the chambers separate themselves from the Emperor, all +is over with us. The enemy will be at Paris in a week. The next day we +shall see the Bourbons; and then what will become of liberty, and of +all those who have embraced the national cause? As for me, my fate is +not doubtful. _I shall be the first man shot._"--"The Emperor is a +lost man, if he set his foot in Paris:" replied M. de Flahaut: "there +is but one step he can take, to save himself and France; and this is, +to treat with the allies, and cede the crown to his son. But, in order +to treat, he must have an army; and perhaps at this _very_ moment, +while we are talking, most of the generals are already thinking of +sending in their submissions to the king[57]."--"So much the more +reason is there," resumed Labedoyere, "why he should hasten to make +common cause with the chambers and the nation; and set out without +loss of time."--"And I maintain with M. de Flahaut," rejoined I, "that +the Emperor is lost, if he set foot in Paris. He has never been +forgiven for having abandoned his army in Egypt, in Spain, at Moscow: +still less would he be pardoned for leaving it here, in the centre of +France." + + [Footnote 57: M. de Flahaut saw truly, for it appears + certain, that Marshal Grouchy had held parleys with the + allies, and that an arrangement on the plan of the Duke + of Ragusa was about to be signed, when General Excelmans + arrested the Prussian colonel, who was sent to the + marshal, to conclude the treaty already agreed upon.] + +These different opinions, blamed or approved, supplied us with +subjects for discussion; when a person came to inform us, that the +English were at la Capelle[58], four or five leagues from us. With +this General Bertrand was instantly made acquainted: but the Emperor +continued talking with the Duke of Bassano, and we had infinite +trouble, to make him resume his journey. + + [Footnote 58: This information was false.] + +We arrived at Laon. The Emperor alighted at the foot of the walls. Our +defeat was already known. A detachment of the national guard came to +meet the Emperor. "Our brothers and sons," said the commanding +officer to him, "are in the garrison towns, but dispose of us, sire; +we are ready to die for our country, and for you." The Emperor thanked +him heartily. Some peasants came round us, and gaped at us with stupid +looks: they often shouted, "Long live the Emperor!" but these shouts +annoyed us. In prosperity they are pleasing; after a battle lost they +wound the heart. + +The Emperor was informed, that a considerable number of troops were +perceived at a distance. He sent one of his aides-de-camp, to +reconnoitre them. They were about three thousand Frenchmen, horse and +foot, whom Prince Jerome, Marshal Soult, General Morand, and Generals +Colbert, Petit, and Pelet de Morveau, had succeeded in rallying. +"Then," said Napoleon, "I will remain at Laon, till the rest of the +army joins. I have given orders for all the scattered soldiers to be +sent to Laon and Rheims. The gendarmerie and national guard shall +scour the country, and collect the laggers; the good soldiers will +join of themselves; in four and twenty hours we shall have a nucleus +of ten or twelve thousand men. With this little army I will keep the +enemy in check, and give Grouchy time to arrive, and the nation to +face about." This resolution was strongly combated. "Your Majesty," +it was urged, "has seen with your own eyes the complete rout of the +army. You know, that the regiments were confounded together; and it is +not the work of a few hours, to form them anew. Even supposing, that a +nucleus of ten thousand soldiers could be collected, what could your +Majesty do with such a handful of men, for the most part destitute of +arms and stores? You might stop the enemy at one point; but you could +not prevent their advancing at another, as all the roads are open to +them. The corps of Marshal Grouchy, if he have crossed the Dyle, must +have fallen into the hands of Blucher or of Wellington: if he have not +crossed it, and attempt to effect his retreat by way of Namur, the +Prussians must necessarily arrive at Gembloux or at Temploux before +him, and oppose his passage; while the English will proceed through +Tilly and Sombref to his right flank, and cut off all hopes of his +saving himself. In this state of things, your Majesty cannot +reasonably reckon upon any assistance from his army: he has none. +France can only be saved by herself. It is necessary, that all the +citizens take arms: and your Majesty's presence at Paris is requisite, +to repress your enemies, and animate and direct the zeal of the +patriots. The Parisians, when they see your Majesty, will fight +without hesitation. If your Majesty remain at a distance from them, a +thousand false reports concerning you will be spread: now it will be +said, that you are killed; anon, that you are made prisoner, or +surrounded. The national guard and federates, disheartened by the fear +of being abandoned or betrayed, as they were in 1814, will fight +heartlessly, or not at all." + +These considerations induced the Emperor, to change his resolution. +"Well!" said he, "since you deem it necessary, I will go to Paris; but +I am persuaded, that you make me act foolishly. My proper place is +here. Hence I could direct what is to be done at Paris, and my +brothers would see to the rest." + +The Emperor then retired into another room with M. de Bassano and me; +and, after having despatched fresh orders to Marshal Soult on the +rallying and movements of the army, he put the finishing hand to the +bulletin of Mont St. Jean, which had been already sketched at +Philippeville. When it was ended, he sent for the grand marshal, +General Drouot, and the other aides-de-camp. "Here," said he, "is the +bulletin of Mont St. Jean: I wish you to hear it read: if I have +omitted any essential circumstances, you will remind me of them; it is +not my intention, to conceal any thing. Now, as after the affair of +Moscow, the whole truth[59] must be disclosed to France. I might have +thrown on Marshal Ney," continued Napoleon, "the blame of part of the +misfortunes of that day: but the mischief is done; no more is to be +said about it." I read this new twenty-ninth bulletin: a few slight +changes, suggested by General Drouot, were assented to by the Emperor; +but, from what whim I know not, he would not confess, that his +carriages had fallen into the hands of the enemy. "When you get to +Paris," said M. de Flahaut to him, "it will be plainly seen, that your +carriages have been taken. If you conceal this, you will be charged +with disguising truths of more importance; and it is necessary, to +tell the whole, or say nothing." The Emperor, after some demur, +finally acceded to this advice. + + [Footnote 59: This shows how unjustly Napoleon has been + reproached with having falsified the truth, and + calumniated the army, in that bulletin.] + +I then read the bulletin a second time; and, every person agreeing in +its accuracy, M. de Bassano sent it off to Prince Joseph by a courier +extraordinary. + +At the moment when it arrived, Paris was resounding with transports +of joy, to which the splendid victory of Ligny, and the good news +received from the armies of the West and of the Alps, had given rise. + +Marshal Suchet, always fortunate, always able, had made himself master +of Montmelian, and from one triumph had proceeded to another, till he +had driven the Piedmontese from the passes and valleys of Mount Cenis. + +General Desaix, one of his lieutenants, had driven back from the side +of Jura the enemy's advanced posts, taken Carrouge, crossed the Arva, +and, in spite of the difficulty of the country, made himself master of +all the defiles in the twinkling of an eye. + +The war of la Vendee had justified the Emperor's conjectures. + +The Marquis of Roche-jaquelin, ashamed of the defeat at Aisenay, +awaited with impatience an opportunity for redeeming the disgrace. +Informed, that a fresh English fleet was bringing him arms and stores, +he thought this opportunity was arrived; and immediately made +preparations to favour the landing announced, and, if necessary, to +give battle to the imperialists. + +These preparations, badly contrived, and badly ordered, did not obtain +the unanimous assent of the army. Part of the generals, and of the +troops, already wearied and disgusted by marches and countermarches +without end and without utility, executed with ill will the orders +given them. Another part, questioning the reality of the +disembarkation, hesitated. In fine, the corps of M. d'Autichamp, one +of the most considerable, plainly refused, to take any part in this +hazardous expedition; and this example, for which the other divisions +waited, was soon imitated by MM. de Sapineau and Suzannet. La +Roche-jaquelin, too proud to retract, too presumptuous to be sensible +of the danger and folly of his resolutions, saw in the resistance +opposed to him nothing but odious treachery; and, in the delirium of +his anger, announced, as master, the dismissal of the rebellious +generals. One division alone, that of his brother, remaining faithful +to him, he put himself at its head, and rashly plunged into the +Marsh[60], where fresh disasters and death awaited him. + + [Footnote 60: The general name of that part of the + country, which borders the coast.] + +General Lamarque had penetrated at a glance the designs of his +imprudent adversary, and given orders to the formidable Travot, to +quit Nantes, and advance with all speed on the rear of the royal +army. This bold scheme was ably executed. Travot's advanced guard bore +down every thing that opposed its way, made itself master of St. +Gilles, kept off the English fleet, and obstructed the disembarkation. +Travot, with the rest of his troops, at the same time crossed the +river Vic at Bas-Oupton, and closed the road against La +Roche-jaquelin. The Vendeans, pressed on all sides, retreated, and +took post at St. Jean de Mont. Orders were given to General Esteve, to +attack them. They awaited him with firmness; and Esteve, knowing the +inexperience of their leader, feigned a retreat. The Vendeans, +deceived by this, came out of the intrenchments, by which they were +protected. The imperialists suddenly faced about, and soon dispersed +their credulous and unfortunate enemies with the bayonet. La +Roche-jaquelin, his brains turned, and in despair, ran about every +where to give orders, to which no one would listen, which no one would +follow, and at length got himself killed[61]. + + [Footnote 61: This affair, and the death of La + Roche-jaquelin, took place on the 11th of June, and were + not known at Paris till the 19th.] + +La Roche-jaquelin had been the principal instigator of this war from +zeal and from ambition; and it was supposed, that his death would be +followed by peace: but news of the approaching commencement of +hostilities revived the courage of the Vendeans, restored concord +among their chiefs, and they prepared for fresh battles. + +General Lamarque, informed that MM. de Sapineau, de Suzannet, and +d'Autichamp, were united to favour a third disembarkation, went in +pursuit of them, at the head of the divisions of General Brayer and +Travot. He came up with them at la Roche Serviere. Their position +appeared impregnable: but the imperial troops, animated to fight by +the news of the battle of Ligny received by the telegraph, performed +prodigies of valour; and had it not been for their generals, who were +sparing of French blood, it is probable, that the royal army, driven +from its intrenchments, defeated, and put to the rout, would have been +entirely annihilated. + +This fratricidal victory, the last France should have to deplore, left +the Vendeans no other resource than peace. This they demanded, and in +a few days obtained. If the talents, the vigour, of Generals Lamarque, +Travot, and Brayer, &c., added new lustre to their military +reputation, their humanity and moderation acquired them still more +glorious claims to national gratitude. In hands less truly French, +this war would have covered the insurgent country with a funeral pall; +in their tutelary hands, it deprived the nation only of a few of its +sons. + +So many joint successes, magnified too by report, had diffused +confidence and intoxication throughout Paris. The fears disseminated +by malevolence, or conceived by the anxious solicitude of the +patriots, were diminished. People began to contemplate the future with +security; they gave themselves up to the hope, that fortune was +becoming once more propitious to France; when this deceitful dream was +suddenly broken by the news of the misfortunes of our army, and by the +arrival of the Emperor. + +On alighting at the Elyseum, the Emperor was received by the Duke of +Vicenza, his censor in prosperity, his friend in adversity. He +appeared sinking under grief and fatigue: his breast was affected, his +respiration difficult. After a painful sigh, he said to the duke: "The +army performed prodigies; a panic terror seized it; all was lost.... +Ney conducted himself like a madman; he got my cavalry massacred for +me.... I can say no more.... I must have two hours rest, to enable me +to set about business: I am choking here:" and he laid his hand upon +his heart. + +He gave orders for a bath to be prepared for him; and, after a few +moments' silence, resumed: "My intention is, to assemble the two +chambers in an imperial sitting. I will describe to them the +misfortunes of the army: I will demand from them the means of saving +their country: after that, I will set out again."--"Sire," answered +the Duke of Vicenza, "the news of your disasters has already +transpired. Men's minds are in great agitation: the dispositions of +the deputies appear more hostile than ever: and, since your Majesty +deigns to listen to me, it is my duty to say, that it is to be feared +the chamber will not act agreeably to your expectations. I am sorry, +Sire, to see you in Paris. It would have been better, not to have +separated from your army: that constitutes your strength, your +safety."--"I have no longer an army," replied the Emperor: "I have +nothing but fugitives. I shall find men, but how are they to be armed? +I have no muskets left. However, with unanimity every thing may be +repaired. I hope the deputies will second me; that they will feel the +responsibility, that will rest upon them. I think you have formed a +wrong judgment of their spirit: the majority is good; it is French. I +have against me only Lafayette, Lanjuinais, Flaugergues, and a few +others. These would fain have nothing to do with me, I know. I am a +restraint upon them. They would labour for themselves ... I will not +let them. My presence here will control them." + +The arrival of Prince Joseph and Prince Lucien in succession +interrupted this discourse. They confirmed the Duke of Vicenza's +opinion respecting the ill disposition of the chamber; and advised the +Emperor, to defer the convocation of an imperial session, and allow +his ministers to act first. + +While the Emperor was in the bath, the ministers and great officers of +state hastened to the Elyseum, and eagerly questioned the +aides-de-camp and officers, who were returned from Mont St. Jean. The +spectacle of the rout and destruction of the army was still present to +their eyes: they omitted no particular, and imprudently conveyed +terror and discouragement into every heart. They said aloud, that it +was all over with Napoleon; and whispered, that he had no other means +of saving France than by his abdication. + +The Emperor, recovered from his fatigue, assembled his council. He +made the Duke of Bassano read the bulletin of the battle of Mont St. +Jean, and said: "Our misfortunes are great. I am come to repair them: +to impress on the nation, on the army, a great and noble movement. If +the nation rise, the enemy will be crushed: if disputation be +substituted instead of levies, instead of extraordinary measures, all +is lost. The enemy is in France. To save the country it is necessary, +that I should be invested with great power, _with a temporary +dictatorship_. For the good of the country I might seize on this +power: but it would be advantageous, and more national, that it should +be given me by the chambers." The ministers held down their heads, and +made no answer. The Emperor then called upon them, to give their +opinion on the measures, that circumstances required to be taken for +the public safety. + +M. Carnot was of opinion, that it was necessary, to declare the +country in danger, call the federates and national guards to arms, +place Paris in a state of siege, defend it, at the last extremity +retire behind the Loire, form intrenchments there, recall the army of +La Vendee and the corps of observation in the South, and keep the +enemy in check, till a sufficient force had been collected and +organized, to resume acting on the offensive, and drive them out of +France. + +The Duke of Vicenza recalled to mind the events of 1814, and +maintained, that the occupation of the capital by the enemy would +decide the fate of the throne a second time. That it was necessary for +the nation to make a grand effort, to preserve its independence: that +the safety of the state did not depend on this or that measure; the +question was in the chambers, and their union with the Emperor. + +The Duke of Otranto, and several other ministers, joined in this +opinion; and thought, that by acting towards the chambers with +confidence and good faith, they would be brought to feel, that it was +their duty to join with the Emperor, that by energetic measures they +might together preserve the honour and independence of the nation. + +The Duke Decres declared plainly, that they were wrong to flatter +themselves with the hope of gaining the deputies; that they were +ill-disposed, and appeared decided, to proceed to the most violent +extremes. + +Count Regnault added, he did not think, that the representatives would +consent to second the views of the Emperor; they seemed persuaded, +that it was no longer in his power, to save the country; and he was +afraid, that a great sacrifice would be necessary.--"Speak plainly," +said the Emperor to him: "it is my abdication they want, is it +not?"--"I believe so, Sire," replied M. Regnault: "painful as it is to +me, it is my duty, to open your Majesty's eyes to your true situation. +I will add, it is even possible, that, if your Majesty should not +resolve to offer your abdication of your own accord, the chamber would +venture to demand it." + +Prince Lucien warmly replied: "I have already found myself placed in +circumstances of difficulty; and I have seen, that, the more important +the crisis, the greater the energy we ought to display. If the chamber +will not second the Emperor, he will dispense with its assistance. The +safety of our country ought to be the first law of the state; and +since the chamber does not appear disposed, to join the Emperor in +saving France, he must save it alone. He must declare himself +dictator, place France in a state of siege, and call to its defence +all the patriots, and all good Frenchmen." + +Count Carnot declared, it appeared to him indispensable, that, during +this crisis, the Emperor should be invested with great and imposing +authority. + +The Emperor then took up the discourse, and said: "The presence of the +enemy on their native land will, I hope, bring the deputies to a +sense of their duty. The nation did not send them to displace, but to +support me. I do not fear them. Let them do what they will, I shall +still be the idol of the people and of the army. Were I to say a +single word, they would be all knocked on the head. But, while I fear +nothing on my own account, I fear every thing for France. If we +quarrel, instead of preserving a good understanding with each other, +we shall experience the fate of the Lower Empire: all will be lost.... +The patriotism of the nation, its hatred to the Bourbons, its +attachment to myself, offer us still immense resources: our cause is +not desperate." + +He then, with admirable skill and strength of expression, passed +successively in review the means of repairing the disasters of Mont +St. Jean; and delineated with a bold pencil the innumerable +calamities, with which discord, the foreigners, and the Bourbons +threatened France. Every thing he said carried conviction to the minds +of his ministers; their opinions, hitherto divided, were tending to an +agreement; when the council was interrupted by a message from the +chamber of representatives, containing the following resolutions. + +"The chamber of representatives declares, that the independence of the +nation is threatened. + +"The chamber declares itself in a state of permanence. Any attempt to +dissolve it is a crime of high treason: whoever shall be guilty of +such an attempt will be a traitor to his country, and immediately +condemned as one. + +"The army of the line and national guard, who have fought, and still +fight, in defence of the liberty, the independence, and the territory +of France, have deserved well of their country. + +"The ministers at war, of foreign affairs, and of the interior, are +desired, to repair immediately to the assembly[62]." + + [Footnote 62: These resolutions were sent to the chamber + of peers also: but this chamber, knowing, that it had no + right, to send for the Ministers, contented itself, + _considering the present circumstances_, with giving its + approbation to the first three articles.] + + +These resolutions had been adopted, almost at the first dash, on the +proposal of M. de Lafayette. Each of the articles was an infringement +of the constitution, and an usurpation of sovereign authority. The +Emperor at once foresaw all the consequences. "I was right in +thinking," said he with vexation, "that I ought to dismiss those +fellows, before I departed. It is all over; they are on the point of +ruining France." He broke up the sitting, adding: "I see Regnault did +not deceive me: _If it must be so, I will abdicate._" This imprudent +and fatal speech, which was reported immediately to the enemies of +Napoleon, strengthened their designs, and increased their boldness. +Scarcely had the Emperor uttered the words, however, but he was aware +of their impropriety; and, returning, announced, that, previously to +taking any decided step, it would be proper, to know, _where all this +would end_. Accordingly he directed M. Regnault, to repair to the +chamber, endeavour to calm it, and feel the ground. "You will announce +to them, that I am returned; that I have just convened the council of +ministers; that the army, after a signal victory, has fought a great +battle; that all was going on well; that the English were beaten; and +that we had taken from them six pair of colours; when some +ill-disposed persons excited a panic. That the army is assembling +together; that I have given orders, to stop the fugitives; that I am +come, to concert measures with my ministers, and with the chambers; +and that I am this moment engaged on those steps, which circumstances +require for the public safety." + +By the Emperor's orders, M. Carnot set out at the same moment, to make +a similar communication to the chamber of peers. It was listened to +there with suitable calmness: but M. Regnault, with his utmost +efforts, could not moderate the impatience of the representatives; and +they imperiously renewed their desire to the ministers, by a second +message, to appear at their bar. + +The Emperor, offended at the chamber's arrogating to itself an +authority over his ministers, forbade them to stir. The deputies, +finding they did not come, considered their delay as _a contempt for +the nation_. Some, to whom contempt both of the Emperor and of +constitutional principles was already familiar, moved, that the +ministers should be ordered to attend the assembly, setting all other +business aside. Others, alarmed by their own consciences, and, fearing +a politic stroke, created phantoms of their own imagination. +Persuaded, that Napoleon was marching troops, to maim and dissolve the +national representation, they demanded with loud cries, that the +national guard should be summoned, to protect the chamber. Others +moved, that the command of this guard should be taken from the Emperor +and General Durosnel, and conferred on General Lafayette. + +The Emperor, weary of all this noise, authorised his ministers, to +inform the president, that they should soon be with him: but not +choosing to let it be thought, that they obeyed the injunctions of the +chamber, he deputed them to it as bearers of an imperial message drawn +up for the purpose. Prince Lucien was appointed to accompany them, +under the title of commissioner general. That this innovation might +not hurt the feelings of the ministers, the Emperor said to them, that +Prince Lucien, by means of his temporary office of commissioner +general, might answer the interrogatories of the representatives, +without its having any future consequences, and without giving the +chamber a right to assert, that their power of sending for the +ministers and interrogating them had been acknowledged and conceded. +But this was not the real motive. The Emperor had not been satisfied +with the lukewarmness, which the majority of the ministers had +displayed; and he was desirous of placing in hands more to be depended +on the task of defending his person and his throne. At six o'clock the +ministers, with Prince Lucien at their head, were introduced into the +chamber. + +The Prince announced, that the Emperor had appointed him commissioner +extraordinary, to concert with the representatives prudential +measures: he laid on the president's desk the commission and message +of the Emperor, and demanded, that the assembly would think proper to +form itself into a secret committee. + +This message contained a brief sketch of the disasters experienced at +Mont St. Jean. It recommended to the representatives, to join the head +of the state to preserve their country from the misfortune of falling +again under the yoke of the Bourbons, or becoming, like the Poles, the +prey of foreigners. In fine it announced, that it appeared necessary +for the two chambers, to appoint each a committee of five members, to +concert with ministers the proper measures for securing the public +safety, and treating for a peace with the combined powers. + +Scarcely was the reading finished, when questions put to the ministers +from all parts of the hall instantly threw the deliberations of the +assembly into confusion. All the deputies, who had risen, addressed to +them at once questions as absurd as they were arrogant, and were +astonished, indignant, that they did not satisfy their eager and +insatiable curiosity. + +The disturbance being calmed, one member, M. Henry Lacoste, was able +to make himself heard. "The veil then is torn," said he: "our +misfortunes are made known; but, fearful as these disasters are, +perhaps they are not yet entirely disclosed to us. I shall not discuss +the communications made to us: the moment is not come, to call the +head of the state to account for the blood of our brave soldiers, and +the loss of the honour of the nation: but I require him, in the name +of the public safety, to disclose to us the secret of his thoughts, of +his policy; to teach us the means of closing the abyss, that yawns +beneath our feet. Ministers of Napoleon, you talk to us of the +national independence, you talk to us of peace; but what new basis +will you give to your negotiations? What new means of communication +have you in your power? You know, as well as we, that Europe has +declared war against Napoleon alone! Will you henceforth separate the +nation from Napoleon? For my part, I declare, that I see but one man +between us and peace. Let him speak, and the country will be saved." + +Prince Lucien attempted, to answer this violent attack. "What!" said +he, "shall we still have the weakness to believe the words of our +enemies? When victory was for the first time faithless to us, did they +not swear, in the presence of God and man, that they would respect +our independence and our laws? Let us not fall a second time into the +snare, that they have set for our confidence, for our credulity. Their +aim, in their endeavour to separate the nation from the Emperor, is, +to disunite us, in order to vanquish us, and replunge us more easily +into that degradation and slavery, from which his return delivered us. +I conjure you, citizens, by the sacred name of our country, rally all +of you round the chief, whom the nation has so solemnly replaced at +its head. Consider, that our safety depends on our union; and that you +cannot separate yourselves from the Emperor, and abandon him to his +enemies, without ruining the state, without being faithless to your +oaths, without tarnishing for ever the national honour." + +This speech, uttered amid the coil of parties, was drowned, +interrupted, by the tumultuous noise of the assembly: few of the +deputies listened to it, or heard it: their minds, however, astonished +by the blow aimed at Napoleon, appeared disquieted and irresolute. The +Duke of Vicenza, and the Prince of Eckmuhl, had given satisfactory +explanations, one of the means of coming to an understanding with the +allies, the other of the imaginary approach of troops intended to act +against the national representation. The friends of the Emperor had +succeeded in bringing over to his cause a majority of the assembly, +and every thing seemed to presage a favourable issue, when one of the +Emperor's enemies, M. de la Fayette, obtained a hearing. "You accuse +us," said he, addressing Prince Lucien, "of failing in our duties +towards our honour, and towards Napoleon. Have you forgotten all that +we have done for him? have you forgotten, that we followed him in the +sands of Africa, in the deserts of Russia, and that the bones of our +sons and brothers every where attest our fidelity? For him we have +done enough: it is our duty now, to save our country." A number of +voices rose together in confusion, to accuse or defend Napoleon. M. +Manuel, M. Dupin, displayed the dangers, with which France was +threatened. They hinted at the means of preserving it, but durst not +pronounce the word abdication: so difficult it is to overcome the +respect, that a great man inspires. + +In fine, after a long debate, it was agreed, conformably to the +conclusions of the message, that a committee of five members, +consisting of the president and vice-presidents of the chamber, +Monsieur Lanjuinais, and MM. de la Fayette, Dupont de l'Eure, +Flaugergues, and Grenier, should concert measures with the council of +ministers, and with a committee of the chamber of peers (if this +chamber should think proper to appoint one), to collect every +information respecting the state of France, and propose every means +that might be conducive to the public safety. + +Prince Lucien, in the same capacity of commissioner extraordinary, +repaired immediately to the chamber of peers; and this chamber, after +having heard the imperial message, hastened also to appoint a +committee; which was composed of Generals Drouot, Dejean, and +Andreossy, and MM. Boissy d'Anglas, and Thibaudeau. + +On his return to the Elyseum, the prince did not conceal from the +Emperor, that the chamber had declared itself too strongly, to allow +any hope of ever reclaiming it: _and that it was necessary, either to +dissolve it immediately, or submit to an abdication._ Two of the +ministers present, the Duke of Vicenza and the Duke of Bassano, +remonstrated, that the chamber had acquired too great hold of the +public opinion, for an act of authority to be attempted against it. +They respectfully hinted to Napoleon, that it was more prudent to +submit: that, if he hesitated, the chamber would indubitably decree +his deposition, and perhaps he would not have it in his power, to +abdicate in favour of his son. + +Napoleon, without promising, without refusing, without giving any +indication of his resolves, contented himself with the answer of the +Duke of Guise: "They dare not." But it was easy to perceive, that he +stood in fear of the chamber; that he thought his abdication +inevitable; and that he only sought, in the hope of some favourable +event, to put off the catastrophe as long as possible. + +The committees of the two chambers, the ministers, and the ministers +of state, met the same day at eleven in the evening, Prince Lucien +being present. + +It was decided by a majority of sixteen against five: + +1st, That the safety of the country required the Emperor to consent, +that the two chambers should appoint a committee, to negotiate +directly with the combined powers, on the condition of their +respecting the independence of the nation, and the right every people +have, to give themselves such a constitution, as they may deem proper. + +2dly, That it was advisable, to back these negotiations by the +complete display of the national force. + +3dly, That the ministers of state should propose suitable measures for +supplying men, horses, and money; as well as those necessary for +curbing and repressing domestic enemies. + +This resolution was combated by M. de la Fayette. He stated, that it +did not answer the general expectation; that the most certain, the +most speedy means of putting an end to the state of crisis, in which +France found itself, rested solely and exclusively in the abdication +of Napoleon; and that it was necessary to call upon him, in the name +of the country, to lay down the crown. + +Prince Lucien declared, that the Emperor was ready, to make any +sacrifice, which the safety of France might require: but that the time +for recurring to this desperate resource was not yet arrived; and that +it was advisable, with a view to the interests of France itself, to +wait the result of the overtures, that should be made to the allied +powers. + +The assembly agreed in this opinion, and broke up from weariness at +three o'clock in the morning. + +General Grenier was appointed by his colleagues, to give the chamber +an account of the result of this conference: an embarrassing mission, +since the principal object of the conference, which, in the opinion +of the representatives, ought to have been, to determine on the +abdication of Napoleon, had been eluded, and left out of sight. +M. ***, whom I refrain from naming, advised him, to speak out plainly, +and to declare, that the committee, though it had not formally +declared it, felt the necessity of desiring the Emperor to abdicate. +But the inflexible and virtuous Dupont de l'Eure, always the friend of +rectitude and sincerity, raised his voice like a man of honour against +this shameful suggestion; and protested, that he would ascend the +tribune, to declare the truth, if the reporter dared to disregard or +falsify it. Accordingly General Grenier confined himself, to giving a +faithful account of the sitting of the committee: but he added, from +instructions just given him by the ministers of state, that the +chamber would presently receive a message, by which the Emperor would +declare, that he approved of the assembly's appointing ambassadors, to +send to the allies; and that, if he were an insuperable obstacle to +the nation's being admitted to treat of its independence, he should +always be ready, to make the sacrifice required of him. + +This explanation answered every end: but, instead of calming the +minds of the representatives, it excited the irascibility of all +those, who, from fear of the enemy, from ambition, or from a mistaken +patriotism, considered Napoleon's immediate abdication necessary. They +did not perceive, that on the contrary it was of importance, to leave +Napoleon nominally on the throne, in order to give the negotiators an +opportunity of bartering with the foreign powers his abdication in +exchange for peace. + +M. Regnault, witnessing the irritation that prevailed, went to +acquaint the Emperor, that the chamber appeared disposed, to pronounce +his deposition, if he did not abdicate immediately. The Emperor, not +accustomed to receive the law, was indignant at the force attempted to +be put upon him: "Since this is the case," said he, "I will not +abdicate. The chamber is composed of Jacobins, fanatics, and ambitious +men, who thirst after places and disturbance. I ought to have +denounced them to the nation, and expelled them: the time lost may be +repaired...." + +The Emperor's agitation was extreme. He strode about his closet, and +muttered broken phrases, that it was impossible to comprehend. "Sire," +at length answered M. Regnault, "do not endeavour, I conjure you, to +struggle any longer against the stream of events. Time passes on: the +enemy is advancing. Do not give the chamber, do not give the nation, +room to accuse you of having prevented it from obtaining peace. In +1814 you sacrificed yourself for the common safety; repeat to-day this +great, this generous sacrifice." + +The Emperor pettishly replied: "I shall see: it has never been my +intention, to refuse to abdicate. I was a soldier; I will become one +again: but I want to be allowed, to think of it calmly, with a view to +the interests of France and of my son: tell them to wait." + +During this conversation, the chamber was extremely agitated. The +president, informed by M. Regnier of the disposition of the Emperor, +announced, that a message would presently satisfy the wishes of all. +But, impatient to enjoy its work, it was unwilling, even to leave +Napoleon the merit of sacrificing himself freely for the safety of his +country. + +M. Duchene, who was the first to interrupt General Grenier's report by +his murmurs, moved, that the Emperor should be desired, in the name of +the safety of the state, to declare his abdication. + +General Solignac proposed, to send a deputation to him, to express the +urgency of his decision. + +M. de la Fayette, who seems called by fate to be the scourge of kings, +exclaimed, that, if Napoleon did not decide, he would move for his +deposition. + +A number of members, among whom General Sebastiani rendered himself +conspicuous by his violence, insisted, that Napoleon should be +compelled, to abdicate immediately. + +At length it was agreed, "in order to save the honour of the head of +the state," to grant him an hour's grace; and the sitting was +suspended. + +Fresh importunities immediately assailed the Emperor. General +Solignac, I believe, and other deputies, came to summon him to +abdicate. Prince Lucien, who had never ceased to conjure the Emperor, +to make head against the storm, now thought the time was passed, and +that it was necessary to submit. Prince Joseph united with him, and +their joint advice at length overcame the resistance of the Emperor. +This determination he announced to the ministers, and said to the Duke +of Otranto with an ironical smile, "Write to those gentlemen, to make +themselves easy: they shall soon be satisfied[63]." + + [Footnote 63: In fact, the Duke of Otranto did write to + M. Manuel.] + +Prince Lucien then took up the pen, and wrote, from the dictation of +his august brother, the following declaration. + + +"_Declaration to the French People._ + +"In commencing a war, to maintain the independence of the nation, I +reckoned on the joint efforts of all, the unanimity of all, and the +concurrence of all the national authorities. From these I had reason, +to hope for success; and I set at defiance all the declarations of +foreign powers against me. + +"Circumstances appear to me to be changed: I offer up myself as a +sacrifice to the animosity of the enemies of France: may they prove +themselves sincere in their declarations, and that they really aimed +at me personally alone! My political life is at an end: and I proclaim +my son, under the title of Napoleon II., Emperor of the French. + +"The present ministers will form provisionally the council of +government. The interest I feel in what concerns my son induces me, +to desire the chambers, to form a regency without delay by a law. + +"Unite, all of you, for the public safety, and to remain an +independent nation. + + (Signed) "NAPOLEON." + + "Palace of the Elyseum, + June the 22d, 1815." + + +The minute of Prince Lucien was put into my hands by the Duke of +Bassano, to make two copies of it. When they were presented to the +Emperor, they still exhibited traces of my sorrow. He perceived them, +and said to me, with a very expressive look, "They would have it so." + +The Duke of Bassano observed to him, that he made a great sacrifice to +peace; but that perhaps the allies would not deem it sufficiently +complete.--"What do you mean?" asked the Emperor.--"It is possible, +they may require the renunciation of the crown by your Majesty's +brothers."--"What! by my brothers Ah, Maret, then you would dishonour +us all!" + +The Duke of Otranto, the Duke of Vicenza, the Duke Decres, were +immediately employed, to carry the Emperor's declaration to the +chamber of deputies; and the Duke of Gaeta, Count Mollien, and M. +Carnot, to carry it to that of the peers. + +The Prince of Eckmuhl had been sent previously to the former by the +Emperor, to give it information respecting the army, and amuse it till +the abdication should arrive. + +Scarcely was the abdication sent off, when the Count de la Borde, +adjutant-general of the national guard, ran to inform the Emperor, +that there was not a moment to be lost, as they were going to put the +deposition to the vote. The Emperor, tapping him on the shoulder, +said: "These good people are in great haste, then: tell them to be +easy; I sent them my abdication a quarter of an hour ago." The +ministers and M. de la Borde had passed each other on the way. + +When they appeared before the chamber, the president, apprehensive +that the enemies of Napoleon would insult his misfortunes by cowardly +applauses, reminded it, that its regulations prohibited every sign of +approbation or disapprobation: he then read the declaration. + +The Duke of Otranto, who had been in secret one of the instigators of +the rage of certain deputies, pretended to be affected at the fate of +Napoleon, and recommended him to the attention and protection of the +chambers. This simulation of generosity disgusted every pure heart in +the assembly; it was reserved for the unfortunate Regnault, to rouse +their feelings. He reminded them of the benefits and victories of +Napoleon with so much eloquence and sensibility; he drew them a +picture so true, so affecting, so pathetic, of the misfortunes, to +which this great man, the hero of the nation, was about to devote +himself without reserve, and without conditions, to ransom his +country; that the eyes of his most obdurate enemies were moistened +with tears, and the whole assembly remained for some moments plunged +in a sad and painful silence. This silence, perhaps the noblest +homage, that Napoleon ever obtained, was at length interrupted; and +the chamber unanimously decreed, that a solemn deputation should wait +on Napoleon, to express to him, in the name of the nation, "the +respect and gratitude, with which they accepted the noble sacrifice he +had made to the independence and happiness of the French people." + +Napoleon received coldly the congratulations of the deputies of the +chamber. What value could empty words have in his eyes? He answered +them[64]: + + [Footnote 64: This answer was cut short by the + president: I give it here entire.] + +"I thank you for the sentiments you express towards me: I wish, that +my abdication may procure the happiness of France; _but I have no +expectation of it_; it leaves the state without a head, without +political existence. The time wasted in overturning the monarchy might +have been employed in putting France into a condition to crush the +enemy. I recommend to the chamber, speedily to reinforce the armies: +whoever is desirous of peace ought to prepare for war. Do not leave +this great nation at the mercy of foreigners: be on your guard against +being deceived by your hopes. _There lies the danger._ In whatever +situation I may find myself, I shall always be at ease, if France be +happy. I recommend my son to France. I hope it will not forget, that I +abdicated only for him. I have made this great sacrifice also for the +good of the nation; it is only with my dynasty, that it can expect to +be free, happy, and independent." + +The Emperor delivered this answer in such a noble and affecting tone, +that all present were deeply moved, and M. Lanjuinais himself could +not refrain from tears. + +Count Regnault was congratulating himself on being the first +interpreter of the sentiments and gratitude of the nation; when the +Emperor interrupted him: "Since this deliberation is your work," said +he to him, "you ought to have remembered, that the title of Emperor is +never lost[65]:" and he turned his back upon him. + + [Footnote 65: The title of Emperor had not been given + him in this deliberation. He had been called merely + Napoleon Bonaparte.] + +The chamber of peers hastened, to follow the example of the deputies. +The Emperor received it with kindness, and recommended to it, not to +forget that he had abdicated only in favour of his son. + +The abdication of Napoleon gave free scope to the political +speculations of the representatives every one of them thought himself +called upon, to give the state a government and a head. + +The republicans, still the dupes of their own illusions, flattered +themselves with the hope of introducing a federal government into +France. + +The Bonapartists, confident in the wishes of the nation, and the +promises of foreign powers, reckoned on decreeing the crown to +Napoleon II., and the regency to Maria Louisa. + +The partisans of the Duke of Orleans, in whose ranks were found the +most distinguished personages and the ablest orators of the assembly, +secretly flattered themselves with seating on the throne the son of +kings and of the republic. + +Some of the deputies, seduced by the brilliant reputation of the one, +or by the valour and family connexions of the other, inclined for the +Prince of Sweden, or the Prince of Orange.... In a word, they would +have any body, except the legitimate sovereign. + +A small number of the deputies only remained neutral. Free from +ambition and personal interest, attentive to their country alone, they +thought of availing themselves of the passing events, only to turn +them to the advantage of liberty and the nation. + +The parties, that thus divided the chamber, were not slow in entering +on their career. + +M. Dupin, too skilful to manifest directly the intention of not +acknowledging Napoleon II., and declaring the throne vacant, took a +circuitous course. He proposed to the chamber, to form itself into a +national assembly to send ambassadors to negotiate for peace; to form +an executive committee, selected from the members of the two chambers; +and to give it in charge to another committee, to prepare the plan of +the new constitution, and to settle the conditions, on which the +throne might be filled by the prince, whom the people should choose. + +M. Scipio Morgues, though not sitting under the same banners with M. +Dupin, took up the proposition; and, carrying it still farther, moved, +that the chamber should form itself into a constituent assembly: that +the government of the state should be entrusted provisionally to the +ministers, who should act in conjunction with a committee of five +members belonging to the chamber, with the president at their +head[66]; and that the throne should be declared vacant, till the will +of the people was known: so that the sovereign people would have had +the power of changing the established form of government, and +rendering France a republic, or a monarchy, as they pleased. + + [Footnote 66: The chamber of peers was of course thus + annihilated, and excluded from any share in the + government.] + +M. Regnault represented, that either of these propositions would tend +to throw the state into the labyrinth of a complete disorganization; +that they could not be adopted, without announcing to the foreign +powers, that there was no established order of things in France, no +acknowledged rights, no fixed principles, no basis for a government: +yet, soon falling himself into the error of his opponents, he +proposed, 1st, to name, instead of the council of regency, prescribed +by the fundamental laws, to which he had just referred, an executive +committee of five members, two from the chamber of peers, and three +from that of deputies, who should exercise the functions of government +provisionally. + +2dly. In order not to disturb the unity of power, to leave to this +committee the choice and direction of the commissioners, to be sent to +negotiate with the allies. + +In times of doubt and fear, a middle course is always most agreeable +to the majority; and the majority of the chamber adopted the sort of +conduct proposed by M. Regnier, without perceiving its inconsistency: +for, to elude the acknowledgment of the Emperor Napoleon II. was to +declare to foreigners, _what it had been desirous of avoiding_, that +there were no established rights in France, and that the throne and +even the government were vacant. + +In the existing state of things there were only two courses to be +pursued: either to proclaim Napoleon II. constitutionally, as its +essence, its duty, its interest, prescribed: + +Or, if, from a cowardly condescension, it would not decide any thing +without the assent of the allies, to unite the two chambers into a +national assembly, and wait the course of events. In this case it +would not have placed the fate of the revolution of the 20th of March +in the hands of five individuals; it would have acquired an imposing +and national character, which would have given to its acts, its +negotiations, and even its resistance, a degree of strength and +dignity, that the unusual kind of government, to which it had just +given birth, could never obtain. + +The resolution taken by the representatives was immediately carried to +the chamber of peers. + +Prince Lucien was the first who rose to combat it. He eloquently +exposed the principles, on which hereditary monarchies are founded. He +invoked the constitution, the solemn oaths taken in the _Champ de +Mai_, and conjured the peers, the faithful guardians of the fealty +sworn, and of the constituent laws of the monarchy, to reject this +unconstitutional resolution, and proclaim Napoleon II. Emperor of the +French. + +M. de Pontecoulant strongly resisted this proposal; declaring, that he +never would consent to acknowledge as sovereign a Prince not in +France, and a captive as regent. "Besides," added he, "by what right +does the Prince of Cannino come to speak within these walls? is he a +Frenchman?" + +"If I be not a Frenchman in your eyes," exclaimed Prince Lucien, "I am +in the eyes of the whole nation." + +Labedoyere darted rapidly to the tribune. "I have seen," said he, +"round the throne of the prosperous sovereign, men, who now shun it, +because he is in adversity. They are at this moment ready to receive +any prince, that foreigners may think proper to impose on them. But, +if they reject Napoleon II., the Emperor ought to have recourse to his +sword, and to those brave men, who, covered as they are with blood and +scars, still cry 'Long live the Emperor!' It was, in favour of his +son, that he abdicated: his abdication is void, if Napoleon II. be not +acknowledged. Shall French blood have been spilt again, only to make +us pass a second time under a foreign yoke? to bow the head beneath a +degraded government? to see our brave warriors drink the cup of +bitterness and humiliation, and deprived of the rewards due to their +services, their wounds, their glory? There are still here perhaps +generals," turning his eyes toward Marshal Ney, "who meditate new +treasons; but woe to all traitors: may they be devoted to infamy! may +their houses be rased, their families proscribed!" At these words the +most lively expressions of displeasure burst out in the assembly. +Labedoyere, interrupted, impiously exclaimed: "_Great God!_ is it then +decreed, that the voices of baseness alone shall be heard within these +walls?" + +This exclamation excited fresh murmurs. "We have already a foreign +war," said M. Boissy d'Anglas: "must we have a civil war also? +Unquestionably the Emperor has made the greatest of sacrifices to our +country, but the proposal, to proclaim Napoleon II. is unseasonable +and impolitic. I move the order of the day." + +Messrs. de Segur, de Flahaut, and Roederer, opposed this, and +strenuously maintained the rights of Napoleon II. "If the Emperor had +been killed," said they, "his son would succeed him as a matter of +right. He is politically deceased why should not his son succeed him? +The monarchy is composed of three branches: one of these branches is +dead; it must be replaced. We are strong only within the sphere of our +duties: let us not step out of the constitution, let us not give the +foreign powers a right to say to us, you are no longer any thing! They +have declared, that Napoleon alone was the obstacle to a peace: let us +put their good faith to the test. It is besides as advantageous, as it +is just and politic, to acknowledge Napoleon II., and to govern in his +name. Look at the soldiers, look at the people of Alsace, Franche +Comte, Lorraine, Burgundy, and Champagne, for whom, and in whose name, +have they lavished their generous blood? At home, the acknowledgment +of Napoleon II. would justify the nation and the army; abroad it would +reconcile us to Austria. Could the Emperor view us with the eyes of an +enemy, when we had adopted for our sovereign a child of his own +blood?" + +"The 67th article of the constitution," said M. Thibaudeau, "is still +the law of the two chambers: neither the chamber, nor the nation, nor +the provisional government we shall form, thinks of bringing back the +government, under which we groaned a whole year; but the proposal for +acknowledging Napoleon II. cannot be discussed at the present moment. +Let us leave things as they are, and adopt the resolution of the +chamber of deputies, _without prejudging any thing in regard to the +entirety of the abdication of Napoleon_." + +The chamber, delighted at having discovered a method of preserving the +rights of Napoleon, without placing itself in manifest opposition to +the representatives, adopted this suggestion, and proceeded +immediately to the nomination of the two members to the committee of +government. + +The Duke of Vicenza and Baron Quinette had the suffrages in their +favour. + +M. Carnot, the Duke of Otranto, and General Grenier, were at the same +time chosen by the other chamber. + +The committee of government immediately entered on its functions under +the presidency of the Duke of Otranto. + +Though the question of the entirety of the abdication remained +untouched upon, the Emperor nevertheless considered the creation of a +committee of government as a manifest violation of its conditions. He +reproached the ministers of state, and particularly M. Regnault, with +not having maintained the rights of his son: and made them sensible, +that it was incumbent on them, as they regarded their honour and +duty, to oblige the chambers to declare themselves. "I have not +abdicated," said he, "in favour of a new directory. I abdicated in +favour of my son. If they do not proclaim him, my abdication must be +null, and not made. The chambers well know, that the people, the army, +public opinion, desire it, will it; but the foreigners check them. It +is not by presenting themselves before the allies with their ears +hanging down, and their knee on the ground, that they will compel them +to acknowledge the independence of the nation. Had they been sensible +of their situation, they would spontaneously have proclaimed Napoleon +II. The foreign powers would then have seen, that you know how to have +but one will, one object, one rallying point: they would have seen, +that the 20th of March was not a party affair, the attempt of a +faction; but the result of the attachment of the French to me and to +my dynasty. The unanimity of the nation would have had more effect +upon them, than all your mean and degrading deference." + +The effect produced by the sitting of the chamber of peers, in spite +of the pains taken to misrepresent it, roused the attention of the +Duke of Otranto, and of the Anti-Napoleon faction, of which he was +become the director and the head. + +On the other hand the army of Marshal Grouchy, which was supposed to +be destroyed, had just re-entered France[67]. Prince Jerome, Marshal +Soult, Generals Morand, Colbert, Poret, Petit, and a number of other +officers, whom I regret not being able to name, had succeeded in +rallying the wreck of Mont St. Jean; and the army already formed a +body of fifty or sixty thousand men, whose sentiments in favour of the +Emperor had undergone no alteration. + + [Footnote 67: Conformably to the orders given him, + Marshal Grouchy had confined himself on the 17th, to + observing the Prussians: but this he had not done with + the ardour and sagacity, that might have been expected + of such a consummate general of horse. The timidity, + with which he followed them, no doubt inspired them with + the idea, that they might fall on the Emperor's rear + with impunity. + + On the 18th, at nine in the morning only, he quitted his + cantonments to march to Wavres: when he reached Walhain, + he heard the cannonading at Mont St. Jean. Its + continually increasing briskness left no doubt, that it + was an extremely serious affair. General Excelmans + proposed, to march to the guns by the right bank of the + Dyle. "Do you not feel," said he to the marshal, "that + the firing makes the ground tremble under our feet? let + us march straight to the spot where they are fighting." + This advice, had it been followed up, would have saved + the army: but it was not. The marshal slowly continued + his movements: at two o'clock he arrived before Wavres. + The corps of General Vandamme and that of Gerard + endeavoured to open a passage, and wasted time and men + to no purpose. At seven o'clock he received, according + to his own declaration, the order from the + major-general, to march to St. Lambert and attack Bulow; + which step ought to have been suggested to him before + that time by the tremendous cannonading at Waterloo, and + by the order _given in the first despatch received in + the morning_, to draw near to the grand army, and place + himself in a situation to co-operate with it. He did so + then. He crossed the Dyle at the bridge of Limale, and + made himself master of the heights, without meeting any + resistance; but night being come, he halted. + + At three in the morning General Thielman attempted, to + drive our troops back across the Dyle: but he was + victoriously repulsed. The division of Teste, the + cavalry of General Pajol, obliged him to evacuate Bielge + and Wavres. The whole of the corps of Vandamme crossed + the Dyle, took Rosieren, and became master of the road + from Wavres to Brussels. + + Marshal Grouchy, though the Emperor had recommended to + him, to keep open the communications, and to send him + frequent accounts of himself, had given himself no + concern about what was passing at Mont St. Jean; and was + preparing blindly to pursue his own movements, when an + aide-de camp of General Gressot came to announce to him + (this was at noon) the disasters of the preceding day. + The marshal was then sensible, but too late, of the + horrible fault he had committed in remaining unconcerned + on the right bank of the Dyle. He effected his retreat, + in two columns, by Temploux and Namur. + + On the 20th in the morning, his rear-guard was attacked, + and thrown into disorder. The division of Teste, the + cavalry of Excelmans, extricated it from its confusion. + The 20th of dragoons, and its worthy colonel, the young + Briqueville, retook from the enemy two pieces of + artillery, which they had captured. General Clary and + his hussars cut down the horse; and the army reached + Namur in tranquillity. The indefatigable division of + General Teste was appointed to defend this town; and it + maintained its post gloriously, till our wounded and + baggage had evacuated it, and our troops were in safety + on the heights of Dinan and Bouvine. + + On the 22d the whole of the army was assembled at + Rocroi. On the 24th it formed a junction with the wreck + of Mont St, Jean, which the Emperor had ordered, to bend + its course towards Rheims. On the 25th it marched for + the capital. During its retreat, it was exposed to the + exasperated attacks of the Prussians. It repulsed them + all with firmness and vigour. The noble desire of + repairing the involuntary evil, that it had done us at + Mont St. Jean, inflamed the minds of the soldiers with + the most spirited ardour; and perhaps this army of brave + fellows would have changed the fate of France under the + walls of Paris, had not the inspirations of its + patriotism, and generous despair, been repressed or + betrayed.] + +The Duke of Otranto and his party then perceived the necessity of +keeping terms with Napoleon and in a secret conference, which took +place at the house of the minister of police, and at which M. Manuel +and the deputies of most weight in the party of the Duke of Otranto +were present, it was confessed, that it appeared neither prudent nor +possible, to prevent the acknowledgment of Napoleon II.; and that they +would exert themselves merely to retain the authority in the hands of +the committee. + +The next day, as had been foreseen, Count Defermont, dexterously +availing himself of a debate on the oath to be taken by the committee, +asked the assembly, in whose name the committee was to act? how the +titles of its acts should run? and, in fine, whether Napoleon II. +were, or were not, Emperor of the French? (_Yes, yes, yes!_) "The +abdication of Napoleon I. calls to the succession him," said he, "who +in the order established by the constitution is designated beforehand +as his heir." (Here a single voice called out, _The order of the +day!_) "On this fundamental point the slightest hesitation cannot +exist. If it did exist, it would be our duty, to put an end to it. We +must not allow people, to go and persuade the national guard of Paris, +or the armies, that we are waiting for Louis XVIII., and that we all +share the same sentiment." (_A great majority of the members rose, and +exclaimed, "Long live Napoleon II.!" These shouts were repeated with +transport by the tribunes, and by the officers of the line and of the +national guard, who were at the entrance of the hall._) + +"It must frankly be confessed," said another member, M. Boulay de la +Meurthe, "that doubts have been started: some newspaper writers have +gone so far as to say, that the throne is vacant. Were such our +misfortune, this assembly, and our liberties, would be at an end. In +fact, what should we be? By what mandate are we here? We exist only +through the constitution.... It is the same constitution, that +proclaims Napoleon II. Emperor. His father has abdicated: you have +accepted his abdication without restriction the contract is formed, +Napoleon II. is Emperor by the course of events." (_Yes, yes! we ought +not even to deliberate._) "Besides, the Emperor gave his abdication +only under the express condition (_murmurs_).... These murmurs do not +terrify me: I have long made the sacrifice of my life. I will speak +the whole truth in presence of the nation. There exists a faction, +that would persuade us we have declared the throne vacant, in the hope +of filling up this vacancy immediately by the Bourbons. (_No, no! +never, never!_) This faction is that of the Duke of Orleans. It has +seduced some patriots, not too clear-sighted, who do not perceive, +that the Duke of Orleans would accept the throne only to resign it to +Louis XVIII. The assembly must speak out, and instantly declare, that +it acknowledges Napoleon II. as Emperor of the French." + +Count Regnault spoke to the same purpose; but threw cold water on the +debate, by unskilfully introducing the mention of the foreign powers, +and asking in whose name the army was to fight. + +The members of the opposition, who had hitherto confined themselves to +a few murmurs, and calling for the order of the day, now began to +speak. M. Dupin first endeavoured to prove, that the safety of the +country was the first thing to be considered. "Why," said he +afterward, "has the Emperor abdicated? Because he felt, that it was no +longer in his power, to save France. Now, I ask you, if Napoleon I. +could not save the state, how can Napoleon II. save it? Besides, are +not this prince and his mother captives? Have you any hope, that they +will be restored to you? + +"What have been our ideas? We have wished, instead of a name, which +our enemies object to us, as the sole motive of the war, to bring +forward the French nation. Yes, it is in the name of the nation, that +we would fight, and that we would treat. It is from the nation we +await the choice of a sovereign. The nation precedes all governments, +and survives them all." + +"Why do you not propose a republic?" a single voice exclaimed. + +Numerous and violent murmurs had often interrupted M. Dupin. M. +Manuel, more adroit, felt the necessity of being also more temperate. +He appeared at first uncertain on the determination it would be proper +to take; and, after having brought all the parties on the stage, and +placed in the balance the hopes and fears, with which each might +inspire the nation, he exclaimed: "But is it an individual, then, is +it a family, that is in question? No; it is our country. Why should we +deprive ourselves of the means of saving it? Already we have made one +great stride[68]: but do we know, whether it will be great enough, +whether it will be sufficiently complete, to obtain from it the +results we wish? Let us leave it to time to act. In accepting the +abdication of Napoleon, you accepted the condition it carries with it; +and we ought to acknowledge Napoleon II., since the forms of the +constitution require it: but, in conforming to them in this respect, +it is impossible for us not to deviate from them, when the object is +to secure our independence; and it is to attain this object, that you +have thought proper, to place authority in the hands of men, who +particularly possess your confidence; in order that this or that +prince, appointed by the laws the guardian of the sovereign during a +minority, may not claim his rights, and become the arbiter of the fate +of France. + + [Footnote 68: That of forcing Napoleon to abdicate.] + +"I move, therefore, the order of the day, for the following reasons: +1st, that Napoleon II. is become Emperor of the French, by the fact of +the abdication of Napoleon I., and by virtue of the constitution of +the empire. + +"2dly, That the two chambers have willed and intended, by naming a +committee of government, to secure to the nation the guarantees it +requires, under the extraordinary circumstances, in which it is +placed, to preserve its liberty and tranquillity." + +This specious proposal seduced the assembly. It was adopted amid the +most vociferous acclamations, and shouts of "Long live Napoleon II." a +thousand times repeated; without its suspecting, that this order of +the day, which appeared to it so decisive, signified nothing, except +that it proclaimed Napoleon II. because the constitution required it; +but that it declared, at the same time, that it was merely a matter of +form, and that it would be ready to give it up, when the provisional +government should deem it necessary. + +This was the second time of the chamber's being the dupe of its +eagerness: yet it reckoned among its members men of great judgment and +talents; but the greater number, and it is the majority always that +gives the law, never having had a seat in our assemblies, allowed +themselves to be subjugated by the illusions of eloquence, and with so +much the more facility, because there existed in the assembly no fixed +notion, no paramount will, that might serve it as a beacon and guide. + +The provisional government, influenced by M. Fouche, soon evinced, +that it had caught the true sense of M. Manuel's proposal. Two days +after, its acts were issued in the name of the French people. This +insult to the sincerity of the chamber, and to the sovereign it had +acknowledged, excited its astonishment, and its complaints. The +capital and the patriots murmured. The president of the government was +summoned, to explain and justify this strange proceeding. He answered: +"That it had never been the intention of the committee, to disavow +Napoleon II.; but this prince not having been yet acknowledged as +sovereign of France by any of the foreign powers, they could not treat +with them in his name; and the committee had thought it its duty, to +act provisionally in the name of the French people, in order to +deprive the enemy of every pretext for refusing to admit the +negotiation." + +This explanation, strengthened by the hacknied support of the potent +words, our country, the public safety, foreign armies, appeared +plausible; and no more was said. + +The Emperor himself, stunned by the force and rapidity of the blows, +that his enemies inflicted on him, thought no longer of defending +himself; and seemed to leave to Providence the care of watching over +him and his son. He complained: but his dissatisfaction expired on his +lips, and excited in him none of those resolutions, that might have +been expected from the fire and energy of his character. + +The Duke of Otranto, however, and the deputies who had concurred with +him in pulling down Napoleon from his throne, did not look on his +residence at the Elyseum without alarm. They dreaded, lest, emboldened +by the daring counsels of Prince Lucien, by the attachment the army +retained for him, by the acclamations of the federates, and citizens +of all classes, who assembled daily under the walls of his palace, he +should attempt to renew a second 18th Brumaire. They demanded of the +chamber, therefore, by the mouth of M. Duchesne, that the _ex-Emperor_ +should be desired, in the name of their country, to remove from the +capital. This demand having no effect, recourse was had to other +means. Endeavours were made to frighten him. Every day officious +advisers warned him, that attempts were making against his life: and +to give more probability to this clumsy scheme, his guard was suddenly +reinforced. Nay, one night, we were roused out of our beds by a +messenger from the commandant of Paris, General Hulin, who warned us +to be on our guard, as the Elyseum was going to be attacked, &c. But +so great was our contempt for these wretched impositions, we did not +even think it necessary, to mention it to Napoleon; and saw the return +of day, without having lost a single moment's rest. Nothing however +could have been more easy, than to carry off or assassinate Napoleon. +His palace, which ten days before could scarcely contain the bustling +crowd of ambitious men and courtiers, was now one vast solitude. All +those men, destitute of faith and honour, whom power attracts, and +adversity keeps at a distance, had deserted it. His guard had been +reduced to a few old grenadiers: and a single sentry, scarcely in +uniform, watched the gate of that Napoleon, that king of kings, who +lately reckoned millions of soldiers under his banners. + +Napoleon himself, however, was aware, that his presence at Paris, and in +an imperial palace, might give the allies room to question the sincerity +of his abdication, and be detrimental to the re-establishment of peace. +He determined, therefore, to remove. + +His private correspondence with the sovereigns, and some original +letters, concealed from their search in 1814, he caused to be +delivered into his own hands. He then directed us to burn the +petitions, letters, and addresses, that had been received since the +20th of March. I was employed in this business one day, when Napoleon +passed through the closet. He came up to me, and took a letter I had +in my hand. It was one from the Duke of .... He ran it over, and said +to me with a smile: "Don't burn this: keep it for yourself. It will be +an excellent recommendation, if you find yourself in any +trouble. * * * [TN: Missing words in the book] will not fail to +swear to those people, that he has maintained his fidelity toward them +inviolate; and when he knows, that you have in your hands substantial +proof of his having laid himself at my feet, and that I refused both +him and his services, he will be ready to quarter himself to serve +you, for fear you should blab." I thought the Emperor was jesting: he +perceived it, and resumed: "No, I tell you; don't burn that letter, or +any of those from persons of the same description: I give them to you +for your protection."--"But, Sire, they will accuse me of having +stolen them."--"If they complain, threaten, that you will print them +all as they are, and they will say no more: I know them."--"Since it +is your Majesty's desire, I will keep them." I did, in fact, set aside +a certain number of these letters. After the return of the king, I had +the complaisance, to restore some of them to the writers. This is not +said gratuitously: scarcely had their authors, whom I could name, +these letters in their possession, when they extolled their pretended +fidelity to the skies; and became the most virulent detractors, both +in their conversation and writing, of all who had embraced or served +the cause of the 20th of March. + +On the 25th, at noon, Napoleon set off for Malmaison. He was received +there by the Princess Hortensia. This princess, so odiously +calumniated, and so worthy of respect, set us an example of courage +and resignation. Her situation, and that of Napoleon, must have +wounded her to the heart: yet she found sufficient strength of mind, +to suppress her sorrows, and console ours. She was attentive to the +Emperor, she was attentive to us, with such constant solicitude, such +perfect courteousness, that you would have supposed, she had nothing +to think of but the misfortunes of others. If the fate of Napoleon and +of France drew from us groans or imprecations, she ran to us; and, +restraining her own tears, reminded us with the wisdom of a +philosopher, and the sweetness of an angel, that we should surmount +our sorrows and regrets, and submit with docility to the decrees of +Providence. + +Napoleon was roused by the shock, that his departure from the Elyseum +gave him. At Malmaison he recovered his spirit, his activity, his +energy. Accustomed to see all his wishes, all his enterprises, crowned +with success, he had not learned, to contend against the sudden +attacks of misfortune; and, notwithstanding the firmness of his +character, they threw him occasionally into a state of irresolution, +during which a thousand thoughts, a thousand designs, jostled each +other in his mind, and deprived him of the possibility of coming to +any decision. But this moral catalepsy was not the effect of a +cowardly dejection, as has been asserted. His great mind remained +erect amid the temporary numbness of his faculties; and Napoleon, when +he awoke, was but so much the more terrible, and the more formidable. + +A few minutes after his arrival, he was desirous of addressing once +more his old companions in arms, and expressing to them for the last +time his sentiments and regrets. The affection he bore them, and his +despair at being unable to avenge at their head the affront received +at Mont St. Jean, made him forget in his first sketch of a +proclamation, that he had broken with his own hands his sceptre and +his sword. He soon perceived, that the impassioned style, in which he +addressed his army, was not such, as his abdication imposed on him: +and accordingly he substituted the following address in the place of +the too animated effusions of his heart. + + +"_Napoleon to the brave Soldiers of the Army before Paris._ + + "Malmaison, June the 25th, 1815. + +"Soldiers, + +"While I yield to the necessity, that compels me to retire from the +brave French army, I carry with me the pleasing certainty, that it +will justify, by the eminent services its country expects from it, +those praises, which our enemies themselves cannot refuse it. + +"Soldiers, though absent, I shall mark your steps. I know all the +corps; and no one of them can obtain a signal advantage over the +enemy, without my doing justice to the courage it displays. Both you +and I have been calumniated. Men not worthy to judge of your actions +have seen, in the proofs of attachment you have given me, a zeal, of +which I was the sole object: let your future successes teach them, +that it was your country you served more especially in obeying me; and +that, if I had any share in your affection, I owe it to my ardent love +for France, our common mother. + +"Soldiers, yet a few efforts, and the coalition is dissolved. Napoleon +will know you by the blows you strike. + +"Save the honour, the independence of France: continue to the end such +as I have known you these twenty years, and you will be invincible." + + +The Emperor, who perhaps had intended by this proclamation, to turn +the remembrance and concern of his ancient soldiers toward himself, +inquired after the effect it had produced. He was informed, as was the +truth, that it had not been published in the Moniteur, and that the +army knew nothing of it. He showed no mark of vexation or discontent, +and began to talk of the two chambers. + +Since the abdication, the peers and deputies had rivalled each other, +in their zeal and endeavours, to put France into a state, to awe its +enemies at home and abroad. + +They had declared the war national, and summoned all Frenchmen to +their common defence. + +They had authorized the government, to make requisitions in kind, for +victualling the army, and the conveyance of subsistence. + +To raise the conscription of 1815. + +To suspend the laws respecting personal liberty; and to arrest, or +place under inspection, every person charged with exciting +disturbances, or conveying intelligence to the enemy. + +In fine, they had voted it an immense credit, for defraying +provisionally the expense of equipping and paying the army. + +The committee, on its part, took, and executed with indefatigable +care, every measure, that circumstances demanded. Its task, it must be +confessed, was as difficult as perilous. Never was a government placed +in similar circumstances. They required, at least in the majority of +its members, great courage, great devotion, great patriotism: they +required an heroic disregard of ease, of liberty, of life, to assume +the responsibility incurred by power, and by events, towards the +nation, and towards the king. + +The first act of the committee was, to replace in the hands of the +Prince of Essling the command in chief of the national guard, which +had before devolved on the Emperor. The Duke of Otranto was desirous +of taking the post of second in command from General Durosnel, whose +rectitude was embarrassing to him, in order to bestow it on M. T**, +who appeared to him no doubt more tractable. The Duke of Vicenza and +M. Carnot opposed this; and it was left with General Durosnel, to the +satisfaction of the national guard, which had already learned how to +value the excellent character of this officer. + +Marshal Soult not choosing to accept the command, and General Rapp +having resigned his, the committee appointed Marshal Grouchy commander +of the army of the North. + +General Reille was appointed commander of the 1st, 2d, and 6th corps, +united into one: + +General Drouot commander of the guards: + +Marshal Jourdan commander of the army of the Rhine. + +Orders were given in all quarters, to replace the stores of the army, +remount the cavalry, march out the depots, and oblige the straggling +soldiers, to return to their colours. + +In fine, the committee, after having had recourse to every possible +means of supporting the negotiations, by the simultaneous display of +the national forces, appointed MM. de la Fayette, de Pontecoulant, de +la Foret, d'Argenson, Sebastiani, and Benjamin Constant, the last +being added in the character of secretary, to repair to the allied +sovereigns and their generals, to negotiate a suspension of +hostilities, and treat of peace. + +The day on which these plenipotentiaries departed, M. S*** came to +congratulate Napoleon. "The allies," answered the Emperor, "are too +deeply interested in imposing the Bourbons on you, to give you my son. +My son will reign over France, but his time is not yet arrived. The +instructions given the deputies, I have been assured, are in favour of +my dynasty: if this be true, other persons should have been chosen to +defend it. La Fayette, Sebastiani, Pontecoulant, and Benjamin +Constant, have conspired against me. They are my enemies: and the +enemies of the father will never be the friends of the son. Besides, +the chambers have not sufficient energy, to display an independent +will: they obey the directions of Fouche. If they had bestowed on me +what they lavish on him, I would have saved France. My presence alone +at the head of the army would have done more, than all your +negotiations. I would have obtained my son, as the price of my +abdication: you will not obtain him. Fouche is not sincere: he has +sold himself to the Duke of Orleans. He will make fools of the +chambers; the allies will make a fool of him; and you will have Louis +XVIII. He thinks himself able, to manage every thing as he pleases; +but he is mistaken. He will find, that it requires a hand of a +different stamp from his, to guide the reins of a nation, +particularly when an enemy is in the land.... The chamber of peers has +not done its duty: it has behaved like a chicken. It has suffered +Lucien to be insulted, and my son to be dethroned. If it had stood +firm, it would have had the army on its side: the generals there would +have given it to it[69]. Its order of the day has ruined France, and +brought you back the Bourbons, I alone could repair all: but your +party-leaders will never consent to it: they would rather be swallowed +up in the gulf, than join with me to close it." + + [Footnote 69: Most of the peers held commands in the + army.] + +The complaints, the regrets, the menaces, that Napoleon allowed +continually to escape him, alarmed the promoters of his fall more and +more. In the first moments of their warmth they had displayed some +boldness; but after their heads had grown cool, they appeared +themselves to be astonished at their own courage. They turned pale at +the very name of Napoleon and conjured the government night and day, +to make him embark as speedily as possible. + +From the very day of his abdication, the Emperor had thought of +seeking an asylum in a foreign country. Accustomed to powerful +emotions, to extraordinary events, he familiarized himself to this +idea without difficulty; and appeared to take a momentary pleasure in +calculating the hazards of the present, and the chances of the future; +and balancing the fictions of hope against the dangers of reality. + +The Emperor had never confounded the English nation with the political +system of its government. He considered the heart of a Briton as the +inviolable sanctuary of honour, generosity, and all the public and +private virtues, that stamp on man loftiness and dignity. This high +opinion prevailed in his mind over the fears, with which the known +principles and sentiments of the cabinet of London could not fail to +inspire him: and his first intention was, to retire to England, and +there place himself under the protection of hospitality and the laws. +He opened his mind to the Dukes of Bassano and Vicenza. The former did +not appear to relish this determination. The latter, without +condemning of approving it, advised him, if he persisted in taking +this step, to go on board a smuggling vessel; and, as soon as he +landed, to present himself to the magistrate of the place, and +declare, that he came with confidence to invoke the protection of the +English nation. Napoleon appeared, to relish this advice; but the +counsels of other persons induced him, to incline to the United +States. He then sent to the minister of marine for an account of the +American vessels, that were in our ports. The minister sent it to him +immediately. "Take notice, Sire," he wrote, "of the vessel at Havre. +Her captain is in my antechamber; his postchaise at my door. He is +ready to depart. I will answer for him. To-morrow, if you please, you +may be out of the reach of your enemies." + +M. de Vicenza pressed the Emperor, to avail himself of this +opportunity. "I am well aware," answered the Emperor, "that there are +people, who wish me already gone; who want to get rid of me, and to +have me taken prisoner." The duke gave signs of surprise and reproach. +"Ah! Caulincourt, it is not you I am speaking of." The Duke of Vicenza +replied, that his advice came from his heart; and that he had no other +motive, than to see him safe from the dangers, with which he was +threatened by the approach of the allies.--The Emperor stopped him. +"What have I to fear? I have abdicated; _it is the business of France +to protect me!_" + +Several Americans, who were at Paris, wrote of their own accord to +Napoleon, to offer him their services, and assure him, in the name of +their fellow-citizens, that he would be received at Washington with +the sentiments of respect, admiration, and devotion, that were his +due. Napoleon refused their offers. Not that he had any intention of +withdrawing himself from the effects of his abdication: but he had +changed his opinion; and considered, that it was his duty, not to quit +the country, unless it were exacted of him, till it was no longer in +danger. + +The government, however, yielding to the continual importunities of +the deputies, and of M. Fouche, caused it to be hinted to him, that it +was proper he should come to some decision. The Emperor then declared, +that he was ready to repair with his family to the United States; and +that he would embark, as soon as two frigates were placed at his +disposal. The minister of marine was immediately authorized, to fit +out these two frigates. Baron Bignon received orders, to demand from +Lord Wellington the necessary passports and safeconducts: but the +committee, under pretence of not exposing the _frigates_ to fall into +the enemy's hands, decreed, that they should not put to sea, till the +safeconducts were arrived: a singular condition, that cannot be +explained honourably but by the supposition, that the government was +not desirous at bottom of letting Napoleon depart; no doubt +considering his presence in France as a circumstance, that would +render the allies more docile, and less exacting. + +The promise made by the Emperor, and the measures taken to ensure his +departure, were not sufficient, to quiet the apprehensions of his +enemies. They were afraid, that he would avail himself of the delay, +which must take place before the safeconducts could arrive, to seize +on the sovereign authority by main force. Accordingly, they returned +to the charge; and the government, to put an end to their importunate +fears, and answer by anticipation the objections of the foreign +powers, consented to appoint a guardian to the late head of the state. +General Count Beker, a member of the chamber of deputies, was named +commander of the Emperor's guard; and, under this pretext, directed, +to repair to Malmaison, "to watch over the preservation +(_conservation_) of the person of Napoleon, and the respect due to +him; and to prevent ill-disposed persons from making use of his name, +to excite disturbances[70]." + + [Footnote 70: These are the literal terms of General + Beker's commission.] + +When the general made his appearance at Malmaison, it was supposed, +that he came to arrest Napoleon. An exclamation of sorrow escaped from +every heart. Gourgaud and some other officers swore, that no one +should lay a sacrilegious hand off the Emperor. I ran to inform +Napoleon of what was passing. He came out of his closet, and appeared +to our eyes + + Avec cet air serein, ce front majestueux, + Tels que dans les combats, maitre de son courage, + Tranquille, il arretait ou pressait le carnage[71]. + + [Footnote 71: + With air majestic, and with brow serene, + As, master of his fire, amid the fray, + He coolly urges, or restrains the sword.] + +The Emperor ordered us, to respect the person and mission of General +Beker, and let him know, that he might appear without scruple, and +without fear. But this officer had already explained the purpose of +his journey; and a person came to inform the Emperor, that the object +of his mission was, not to arrest him, but to watch over the safety of +his person, placed under the protection of the national honour[72]. + + [Footnote 72: I am eager here to pay the general the + homage he merits. He knew perfectly well, how to + reconcile his duty with the attentions and respect, that + were due to Napoleon, and to his misfortune.] + +This declaration deceived no one. It grieved us profoundly. The +Princess Hortensia's heart was torn by it. "O, my God!" said she, +sorrowfully lifting her eyes to Heaven; "was I born, to see the +Emperor a prisoner to the French in Malmaison?" + +M. Fouche and his followers did not stop at this first precautionary +step; and, to deprive the Emperor of the means "of forming plots," +they took from him in succession, under one pretence or other, most of +the officers, on whose attachment he could depend. Some were sent for +to be about the government, others received missions or commands. All +were spoken to in the sacred name of their country, and all obeyed. I +too was not forgotten and I received orders, as well as my colleague, +Baron Fain, to repair to Paris. I informed the Emperor of it. "Go," +said he: "you have my consent. You will know what passes there, and +will acquaint me with it. I am sorry, that we did not think of sending +you in the suite of the plenipotentiaries: you would have reminded +Metternich of what was said at Bale: you would have informed him, that +Fouche is labouring for the Duke of Orleans, &c. &c. Perhaps it may +not yet be too late. See Caulincourt from me, and tell him, to give +you some mission." + +As soon as I arrived at the Tuileries, I expressed to the president of +the committee, and to M. de Vicence, a wish to make part of the +embassy. I reminded them of the proposals of M. Werner, &c. &c. M. de +Vicence thought, that my services might be very useful. The Duke of +Otranto answered me, that I must give up all thoughts of that; and +nothing more was said about it. + +Thus Napoleon remained at Malmaison almost alone[73]; and there +retired, as Achilles to his tent, he was cursing his state of +idleness, when the minister of marine came to announce to him, in the +name of the government, that the enemy was at Compiegne; that the +committee, apprehensive for his safety, dispensed with his waiting for +the safeconducts, and requested him to depart incognito. The Emperor +promised to depart: but, when he heard at a distance the first report +of a cannon, his whole body thrilled, and he lamented in a tone of +despair, that he was condemned to remain far from the field of battle. +He ordered General Beker to be called: "The enemy is at Compiegne; at +Senlis!" said he to him: "to-morrow he will be at the gates of Paris. +I cannot conceive the blindness of the government. A man must be mad, +or a traitor to his country, to question the bad faith of the foreign +powers. These people understand nothing of affairs." General Beker +made a motion with his head, which Napoleon took for a sign of +approbation, and he went on: "All is lost: is it not so? In this case, +let them make me general; I will command the array; I will immediately +demand this (_speaking in an authoritative tone_): General, you shall +carry my letter; set off immediately a carriage is ready for you. +Explain to them, that it is not my intention, to seize again the +sovereign power: that I will fight the enemy, beat them, and compel +them by victory, to give a favourable turn to the negotiations: that +afterward, this great point obtained, I will pursue my journey. Go, +general, I depend on you; you shall quit me no more." + + [Footnote 73: His court, formerly so numerous, was now + customarily composed only of the Duke of Bassano, Count + Lavalette, General Flahaut, and the persons who were to + go with him, as the following orderly officers, General + Gourgaud, Counts Montholon and de Lascases, and the Duke + of Rovigo. The attachment, that induced the latter to + attend Napoleon, was so much the more to his honour, as + Napoleon, when he returned from the island of Elba, + reproached him very harshly with having neglected him. + He passes however in the opinion of the public, though + very erroneously, for being one of the contrivers of the + 20th of March: but he had always to complain of the + public opinion. It imputes to him a number of wicked + actions, in which he had really no share, and which he + frequently indeed had endeavoured to prevent. The + Emperor employed him on all occasions; because he found + him possessed of a bold and clear judgment, an acute + understanding, and great skill in perceiving the + consequences of a thing, and acting with spirit. + Unfavourable suspicions have been thrown on the motives, + that induced Napoleon, to entrust to him the + administrations of the police: but he was called to this + important office solely because the Emperor had + experience of the infidelity of the Duke of Otranto, who + deserted him on all occasions of difficulty; and wished + to supply his place by a man of tried attachment, a man + who, unconnected with the revolution, and having no + party to keep terms with, could serve him alone, and do + his duty without tergiversation.] + +General Beker, overcome by the ascendancy of his prisoner, set off +immediately. The letter, the former part of which I am sorry I cannot +warrant to be exact, was in substance as follows: + + +"_To the Committee of Government._ + +"In abdicating the sovereign authority, I did not renounce the noblest +right of a citizen, the right of defending my country. + +"The approach of the enemy to the capital leaves no doubt of their +intentions, of their bad faith. + +"Under these weighty circumstances, I offer my services as general, +still considering myself as the first soldier of my country." + + +The Duke of Otranto read this letter aloud, and exclaimed: "Is he +_laughing_ at us?" + +M. Carnot appeared to be of opinion, that the Emperor should be +replaced at the head of the army. + +The Duke of Otranto replied, that the Emperor no doubt had spared the +committee this trouble; that he had probably _stolen away_, the moment +General Beker departed; and was already haranguing the soldiers, and +reviewing them. + +General Beker pledged himself, that Napoleon would await his return. + +The president of the committee observed then, that the recall of +Napoleon would destroy for ever all hope of conciliation: that the +enemy, indignant at our Punic faith, would no longer grant us either +truce or quarter: that the character of Napoleon would not allow any +confidence, to be placed in his promises; and that, if he should meet +with any success, he would re-ascend the throne, and bury himself +under its ruins, rather than descend from it a second time, &c. + +These observations united all their suffrages, and the members of the +committee answered the Emperor, "That their duty toward their country, +and the engagements the plenipotentiaries had entered into with the +foreign powers, did not permit them, to accept his offer." They +appointed M. Carnot, to go to Malmaison; explain to the Emperor his +situation, and that of France; and conjure him, to spare those +calamities, that he appeared desirous of bringing upon France and upon +himself. + +The proposal of Napoleon was soon known all over Paris. It was first +reported, that he had wished, to resume the command; and at last, that +he had resumed it. In fact, immediately after the departure of General +Beker, Napoleon ordered his chargers to be saddled; and for three +hours it was supposed, that he was going to the army. But he had no +thought of basely availing himself of the absence of his guardian, to +make his escape. Such an idea was beneath a man, who had come to +attack and invade a kingdom with eight hundred soldiers. + +General Beker returned to Malmaison. The Emperor snatched the answer +of the committee, ran it hastily through, and exclaimed: "I was sure +of it; these people have no energy. Well, general, since it is so, let +us be gone, let us be gone." He ordered M. de Flahaut to be called; +and directed him, to go to Paris immediately, and concert measures for +his departure and embarkation with the members of the committee. + +The Prince of Eckmuhl was at the Tuileries when M. de Flahaut made his +appearance there. In the mission of this general he saw nothing but a +subterfuge of the Emperor, to defer his departure. "This Bonaparte of +yours," said he to him in a tone of anger and contempt, "will not +depart: but we must get rid of him: his presence hampers us, is +troublesome to us; it is injurious to the success of our negotiations. +If he hope, that we shall take him again, he deceives himself: we will +have nothing more to do with him. Tell him from me, that he must go; +and if he do not depart instantly, I will have him arrested, _I will +arrest him myself_." M. de Flahaut, burning with indignation, +answered: "I could not have believed, M. marshal, that a man, who was +at the knees of Napoleon but a week ago, could to-day hold such +language. I have too much respect for myself, I have too much respect +for the person and misfortunes of the Emperor, to report to him your +words; go yourself, M. marshal, it will befit you better than +me."--The Prince of Eckmuhl, irritated at this, reminded him, that he +was speaking to the minister at war, to the general in chief of the +army: and enjoined him, to repair to Fontainebleau, where he should +receive his orders.--"No, sir," replied Count de Flahaut briskly, "I +will not go; I will not abandon the Emperor I will preserve to the +last moment that fidelity to him, which so many others have +sworn."--"I will have you punished for your disobedience."--"You have +no longer the right to do so. From this moment I give in my +resignation. I can no longer serve under your orders, without +disgracing my epaulettes." + +He went away. The Emperor perceived on his return, that something had +cut him to the heart. He questioned him; and at length brought him to +confess all that had passed. Accustomed since his abdication, to be +surprised at nothing, and to endure every thing without complaint, +Napoleon appeared neither astonished nor displeased at the insults of +his former minister. "Let him come," answered he coolly: "_I am ready, +if he desire it, to hold out my throat to him._ Your conduct, my dear +Flahaut, touches me; but your country wants you: remain in the army, +and forget, like me, the Prince of Eckmuhl and his dastardly menaces." + +History, more rigid, will not forget them. Respect for misfortune has +always been placed in the foremost rank of military virtues. If the +warrior, who insults his disarmed enemy, lose the esteem of the brave, +what sentiment should he inspire, who abuses, insults, and threatens, +his friend, his benefactor, his prince, when under misfortunes? + +In the bosom of faithful friendship the Emperor disburdened his mind of +the chagrin, that the refusal of his services by the committee +occasioned him. "Those people," said he to M. de Bassano, "are blinded +by their avidity of enjoying power, and continuing to act the sovereign. +They feel, that, if they replaced me at the head of the army, they would +be no longer any thing more than my shadow; and they are sacrificing me +and their country to their pride, to their vanity. They will ruin every +thing." After a few moments silence he added: "But why should I let them +reign? I abdicated, to save France, to save the throne of my son. If +this throne must be lost, I had rather lose it in the field of battle +than here. I can do nothing better for all of you, for my son, and for +myself, than throw myself into the arms of my soldiers. My presence +will electrify the army, will be a clap of thunder to the foreign +powers. They will be aware, that I return to the field, to conquer or +die: and, to get rid of me, they will grant all you ask. If, on the +contrary, you leave me to gnaw my sword here; they will laugh at you, +and you will be forced to receive Louis XVIII. _cap in hand_. We must +come to a close: if your five Emperors will not have me, to save France, +I must dispense with their consent. It will be sufficient for me, to +show myself, and Paris and the army will receive me a second time, as +their deliverer."--"I do not doubt it, Sire," answered M. de Bassano: +"but the chamber will declare against you: perhaps it will even venture, +to declare you outlawed. On the other hand, Sire, if fortune should not +prove favourable to your efforts; if the army, after performing +prodigies of valour, should be overpowered by numbers; what will become +of France? what will become of your Majesty? The enemy will be justified +in abusing their victory; and perhaps your Majesty would have to +reproach yourself with having caused the ruin of France for +ever."--"Come, I see, I must always give way." The Emperor remained some +minutes, without uttering another word. He then said: "You are right: I +ought not to take upon myself the responsibility of so great an event. +I ought to wait, till the voice of the people, of the soldiers, of the +chambers recall me. But how is it, that Paris does not call for me? Do +not the people then perceive, that the allies give you no credit for my +abdication?"--"Sire, so much uncertainty pervades their minds, that they +cannot come to an understanding with each other. If they were fully +convinced, that it is the intention of the allies, to restore Louis +XVIII., perhaps they would not hesitate to speak out; but they entertain +hopes, that the allies will keep their promises."--"That infamous Fouche +deceives you. The committee suffers itself, to be led by him. It will +have severe reproaches to make itself. There is nobody in it worth any +thing, except Caulincourt and Carnot: and they are badly fitted with +associates. What can they do with a traitor, a couple of blockheads[74], +and two chambers, that do not know what they would be at? You all +believe, like innocents, the fine promises of the foreign powers. You +believe, that they will give you a fowl in the pot, and a prince of +your own liking, do you not? You deceive yourselves. Alexander, in spite +of his magnanimous sentiments, suffers himself to be influenced by the +English: he is afraid of them; and the Emperor of Austria will do, as he +did in 1814, what others think proper." + + [Footnote 74: This epithet was not an insult in the + mouth of Napoleon. He even applied it commonly to his + ministers, when they showed any irresolution.] + +This conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Generals P. and +Chartran. They had already been refused admittance twice: but this +time they declared, that they would not go away, till they had spoken +with the Emperor. Their business was, to get money from him. General +Chartran, as fatally inspired as Labedoyere, told him, that he had +ruined himself in his service; that the Bourbons were on the point of +returning; that he should be shot, if he had not money to make his +escape; and that money he must have. Napoleon caused a thousand +crowns, to be given to each; and they went away. The Princess +Hortensia, afraid that these illustrious Cossacks should do the +Emperor some ill turn, would generously have given them whatever they +asked. I had infinite difficulty in tranquillising her, and making her +understand, that they had more design on the purse than the person of +Napoleon. + +After they were departed, Napoleon gave me some commands for Paris. I +returned thither. The moment I entered the Tuileries, the committee +had just been informed, that the enemy, after having beaten our +troops, was advancing with all speed to Paris. This news rendered the +government uneasy; and, as there was no orderly officer then at hand, +the Duke of Vicenza requested me, to go and reconnoitre. I set off. On +my arrival at the entrance of Bourget, I met General Reille with his +army. He informed me, that the enemy was following him; but that there +was no reason, to be in fear for the capital. "I know not what is +passing there," said he to me; "but this very moment the brother of M. +de Talleyrand was brought before me. He had with him a false passport, +under the name of Petit. I had an inclination, to send him before the +committee of government: but he declared to me, that he was employed +by it on a mission as important as it was urgent; and as, at all +events, one enemy more can do us no injury, I thought it better to let +him pass, than risk the frustrating of his mission by useless delays." +I hastened to return, to calm the anxiety of the government. + +As soon as I was at liberty, I flew to Malmaison. Napoleon, who felt +himself obliged by this continual posting, always condescended to +receive me immediately. I gave him an account of every thing, that +could be interesting to him. I did not omit to inform him, that the +enemy was already master of part of the environs of Paris; and that it +was important for him, to be on his guard. "I shall have no fear of +them to-morrow," said he to me; "I have promised Decres to set out, +and I will be gone to-night. I am tired of myself, of Paris, of +France. Make your preparations, and do not be out of the +way."--"Sire," answered I, "when I promised yesterday, to attend your +Majesty, I consulted only my attachment; but when I imparted this +resolution to my mother, she conjured me by her gray hairs, not to +desert her. Sire, she is seventy-four years old[75]: she is blind; my +brothers have perished in the field of honour; she has only me, me +alone in the world, to protect her: and I confess to your Majesty, +that I had not the heart to refuse her."--"You have done well," said +Napoleon to me, "you owe yourself to your mother: remain with her. If +at some future time you should be master of your own actions, come to +me: you will always be well received."--"Your Majesty is resolved, +then," I replied, "to depart?"--"What would you have me do here +now?"--"Your Majesty is right: but...."--"But what? would you have me +remain?"--"Sire, I confess to your Majesty, I cannot look on your +departure without alarm."--"In fact the path is difficult; but fortune +and a fair wind...."--"Ah, Sire! fortune is no longer in our favour: +besides, whither will your Majesty go?"--"I will go to the United +States. They will give me land, or I will buy some, and we will +cultivate it. I will end, where mankind began: I will live on the +produce of my fields and my flock."--"That will be very well, Sire: +but do you think, that the English will suffer you, to cultivate your +fields in peace?"--"Why not? what harm could I do them?"--"What harm, +Sire! Has your Majesty then forgotten, that you have made England +tremble? As long as you are alive, Sire, or at least at liberty, she +will dread the effects of your hatred and your genius. You were +perhaps less dangerous to her on the degraded throne of Louis XVIII., +than you would be in the United States. The Americans love and admire +you: you have a great influence over them; and you would perhaps +excite them to enterprises fatal to England."--"What enterprises? The +English well know, that the Americans would lose their lives to a man +in defence of their native soil; but they are not fond of making war +abroad. They are not yet arrived at a pitch, to give the English any +serious uneasiness. Some future day perhaps, they will be the avengers +of the seas; but this period, which I might have had it in my power to +accelerate, is now at a distance. The Americans advance to greatness +but slowly."--"Admitting, that the Americans can give England no +serious uneasiness at this moment, your presence in the United States +will at least furnish it with an occasion, to stir up Europe against +them. The combined powers will consider their work as imperfect, till +you are in their possession; and they will compel the Americans, if +not to deliver you up, at least to expel you from their +territory."--"Well! then I will go to Mexico. I shall there find +patriots, and will put myself at their head."--"Your Majesty forgets, +that they have leaders already: people bring about revolutions for +themselves, not for others; and the chiefs of the independents would +be disconcerted by your Majesty's presence, if they did not oblige +you, to seek an asylum elsewhere...."--"Well, I will leave them as +they are; and go to Caracas; if I do not find myself well received +there, I will go to Buenos Ayres; I will go to California; in fine, I +will go from shore to shore, till I meet with an asylum against the +malignancy and persecutions of men."--"Supposing your Majesty to speak +seriously, can you reasonably flatter yourself with continually +escaping the snares and fleets of the English?"--"If I cannot escape +them, they will take me: their government is good for nothing, but the +nation is great, noble, generous; they will treat me as I ought to be +treated. After all, what would you have me do? Do you wish, that I +should suffer myself to be taken here like a dolt by Wellington, and +give him the pleasure of parading me in triumph through the streets of +London like King John? Since my services are refused, there is but one +step I can take: to depart. The destinies will do the rest."--"There +is still another, Sire, if I dared suggest it to you: your Majesty is +not a man to run away."--"What do you call running away?" said +Napoleon with a proud and angry look: "where do you see me running +away?"--"I entreat your Majesty not to dwell on that expression."--"Go +on, go on."--"I think then, Sire, that your Majesty ought not thus to +quit France, first, for your safety's sake, next for your honour's. +The English are informed, that you have the intention of going to the +United States; and no doubt our coasts already swarm with their +cruisers. This is not all: your Majesty is aware of the hatred and +perfidy of the Duke of Otranto: and who can say, whether secret orders +have not been issued, to delay your departure, or retard the progress +of the vessels, that you may be taken by the English? I consider it +impossible, therefore, that your Majesty should escape them; or, if +you should escape, but that you must ultimately fall into their hands, +sooner or later. In this dilemma, it is right, at least, to endeavour +to fall as nobly as possible."--"What are you driving at?" said +Napoleon peevishly, thinking I meant to propose suicide to him: "I +know, I might say, like Hannibal, 'Let us deliver them from the terror +my name inspires:' but suicide is the business only of minds not +thoroughly steeled, or of distempered brains. _Whatever my destiny may +be, I will never hasten my end a single moment._"--"Such is not my +meaning, Sire; and, since your Majesty condescends to listen to me, +were I in your place, I would renounce the chimerical hope of finding +an asylum in a foreign country; and I would say to the chambers: I +abdicated, in order to disarm our enemies; I learn, that they are not +satisfied; if they must have my liberty, or my life, I am ready, to +place myself in their hands, happy to be able at this price, to save +France and my son. How noble it would be," exclaimed I, "to see +Napoleon the Great, after having laid down the crown placed on his +head by twenty years of victory, offering himself as a sacrifice to +the independence of his country!"--"Yes, yes," said Napoleon, "the +sacrifice would be noble; but a nation of thirty millions of souls, +that could suffer it, would be dishonoured for ever. Besides, to whom +shall I surrender myself? to Blucher? to Wellington? They have not the +power necessary, to treat with me on such conditions. They would begin +with making me their prisoner; and then would do with me, and with +France, whatever they took into their heads."--"I would surrender +myself, Sire, to the Emperor Alexander."--"To Alexander! you know +nothing of those Russians. It would cost the lives of both of us. +However, your idea deserves consideration: I will reflect upon it. +Before taking a step, that cannot be retracted, it is proper to look +at it twice. The sacrifice of myself would be nothing on my own +account; but perhaps it would be lost to France. The faith of an +enemy is never to be trusted. See if Maret and Lavalette be here, and +send them to me." + + [Footnote 75: The uneasiness given her by the terrors of + 1815 conducted her to the grave. I hope the reader will + pardon me these particulars, and this note.] + +Every thing, that bears the stamp of greatness of mind, seduces and +transports me. I confess, that my imagination was fired at the idea of +Napoleon generously devoting himself for France, and for his son. But +this remark of Napoleon's, "A nation of thirty millions of men, that +could suffer such a sacrifice, would be for ever dishonoured," a +remark that I had not foreseen, dissipated the enchantment. On +quitting the closet, I was stopped by the Duke of Rovigo, who said to +me: "You have been talking a long while with the Emperor, has any +thing new passed?"--"No," answered I; "we have been talking of his +departure:" and I gave him an account of our conversation. "Your +advice was noble," replied he; "but what I gave him was, I think, +preferable. It was, to come and fall with us before the walls of +Paris. He will not do so; because, in the first place, Fouche will not +leave it in his power; and, in the next, because the fear of +endangering every thing has laid hold of him. He will set off +to-night. God knows whither we shall go: but no matter, I will follow +him. My first object is, to know that he is out of danger. Besides, I +would rather ramble at a venture with him, than remain here. Fouche +thinks, that he shall get himself out of the scrape: he is mistaken; +he will be hanged like the rest, and more richly deserve it. France is +sunk, lost! I wish I was dead!" + +While I was conversing with the Duke of Rovigo, Napoleon was +discussing the proposal, which I had ventured to submit to him. +Several times he was on the point of adopting it; but still recurred +to his prevailing idea, that such a sacrifice was unworthy a great +nation; and that France probably would derive no more advantage from +it, than had been derived from his abdication. All things considered, +therefore, Napoleon resolved, to entrust his fate "to fortune and the +winds." But the committee, advised by a despatch from our +plenipotentiaries, which I shall transcribe farther on, "that the +escape of Napoleon, before the conclusion of the negotiations, would +be considered by the allies as an act of bad faith on our part, and +would compromise the safety of France," directed him to be informed, +that unforeseen political circumstances compelled it, to subject his +departure anew to the arrival of the safeconduct. Thus Napoleon was +obliged to remain. + +I returned to Paris. Here I learned, that the enemy had made immense +progress; and, according to custom, I was desirous of getting off, to +acquaint Napoleon with it. The barriers were strictly closed, and no +one could go out without permission. I endeavoured to obtain one. The +Duke of Otranto answered me, that my presence with the cabinet was +necessary; and ordered me to remain. I knew, that one Chauvin, who was +to go with the Emperor, was setting out for Malmaison. I ran to +acquaint him with what was passing; and directed him, to give the +information to Count Bertrand. At the same moment M. G. D.[76], +informed, I know not by what means, that the Prussians designed, to +carry off the Emperor; that Blucher had said, "If I can catch +Bonaparte, I will hang him up at the head of my army;" and that +Wellington had strenuously opposed this cowardly and criminal design, +M. G. D. hastened, to transmit this information to Napoleon; and soon +after found means, by favour of his employment in the national guard, +to repair in person to Malmaison. Napoleon made him relate at large +all he knew. When he was acquainted with the position of the +Prussians, he laid it down on the map[77], and said with a smile: +"Aha! so I have suffered myself in fact to be turned." He then sent an +orderly officer, to see whether the bridges of Bezons and Peck had +been broken down. He found, that the latter was not. "I desired it, +however: but I am not surprised at it." + + [Footnote 76: From accounts communicated to me.] + + [Footnote 77: That is, be marked out the enemy's + positions with pins.] + +The Emperor then made some arrangements, to secure himself against a +surprise: but these precautions were superfluous; he had found, +without calling for it, an inviolable rampart against the enterprises +of his enemies in the devotion of his old companions in arms. The +soldiers, officers, and generals, posted in the direction of +Malmaison, sent him assurances, that they would watch over him, and +were ready to pour out their blood to the last drop in his defence. +One of the commanders of the red lancers of the guard, the young de +Brock, rendered himself particularly distinguished by his +indefatigable zeal. + +The schemes of Blucher, and the proximity of our troops to the place +where the Emperor was detained, gave the committee the most serious +alarms. + +They had at once to fear: + +That Napoleon, roused by the sound of arms, and the acclamations of +his faithful soldiers, would be unable to repress the desire of coming +to fight at their head: + +That the army, still idolizing its ancient general, would come to tear +him from his state of repose, and oblige him to lead it against the +enemy: + +Or, lastly, that the enemy would contrive to seize his person by +surprise, or by force. + +The removal of the Emperor to a distance would quiet at once this +state of anxiety: but the despatch of the plenipotentiaries stood in +the way; and the committee, restrained by the fear of offending the +allies, dared not either oblige, or even authorize Napoleon to remove. +Meantime the Duke of Wellington informed M. Bignon, "that he had no +authority from his government, to give any answer whatever to the +demand of a passport and safeconduct for Napoleon Bonaparte." Having +no longer any plausible pretence for detaining him, and unwilling to +take on itself the disgrace and responsibility of events, the +committee no longer hesitated on the path it had to pursue: it +directed the Duke Decres and Count Boulay, to go immediately to the +Emperor (it was half after three in the morning); to inform him, that +Lord Wellington had refused the safeconducts; and to notify to him +the injunction, to depart immediately. + +The Emperor received this communication without any emotion, and +promised to be gone in the course of the day. + +Orders were immediately given to General Beker, not to allow him to +return: + +To the prefect of the Lower Charente, to prevent his stay at +Rochefort, as far as possible: + +To the commandant of the marine, not to suffer him to set foot on +shore, from the moment he should embark, &c. &c. &c. + +Never was criminal surrounded with precautions more numerous, and at +the same time more useless. + +If Napoleon, instead of yielding to the fear of compromising the +independence and existence of the nation, had wished to revive a +second 20th of March, neither the instructions of General Beker, nor +the threats of Marshal Davoust, nor the intrigues of M. Fouche, could +have prevented him: it would have been sufficient for him to make his +appearance. The people, the army, would have received him with +enthusiasm and not one of his enemies, the Prince of Eckmuhl at their +head, would have dared to lift their eyes, and oppose his triumph. + +The moments preceding his departure were exceedingly affecting. He +conversed with the few friends, who had not deserted him, on the +great vicissitudes of fortune. He deplored the evils, which their +devotion to his person, and to his dynasty, would accumulate on their +heads; and exhorted them, to oppose their strength of mind, and the +purity of their consciences, to the persecutions of their enemies. The +fate of France, who can doubt it? was also the object of his anxious +and tender solicitude: he put up ardent prayers for its repose, its +happiness, and its prosperity. + +When information was brought him, that all was ready, he pressed the +Princess Hortensia affectionately to his bosom; tenderly embraced his +friends, melting into tears; and recommended to them a new unity, +courage, and resignation. His demeanour was firm, his voice calm, his +countenance serene: not a complaint, not a reproach, escaped his lips. + +On the 29th of June, at five in the afternoon, he threw himself into a +carriage prepared for his suite; and made General Gourgaud, and his +orderly officers, take that intended for himself. His eyes were +several times turned towards that last abode, so long the witness of +his happiness and his power. He thought, no doubt, that he should see +it again no more! + +He had demanded, that an advice-boat should be placed under his +orders; and that rear-admiral Violette should have the command of his +convoy. The committee, which, in all its intercourse with the Emperor, +had not ceased to pay him the most respectful attention, readily +complied with these demands. Admiral Violette being absent, it was +agreed, that the command should be given to the senior captain of the +two frigates; and the following are the instructions given him. + + +"_Instructions for Captain Philibert, commanding the Saale, and Ponce, +commanding the Medusa._ + +"VERY SECRET. + +"The two frigates are appointed, to carry him, who was lately our +Emperor, to the United States of America. + +"He will embark in the Saale, with such persons of his suite as he +shall choose. The rest will embark in the Medusa. + +"The baggage will be distributed between the two frigates agreeably to +his directions. + +"If, previous to sailing, or on the voyage, the Medusa shall be found +to be a swifter sailer than the Saale, he will go on board the Medusa, +and captains Philibert and Ponce will exchange their commands. + +"The profoundest secrecy is to be kept respecting the embarkation, +which will be conducted under the care of the maritime prefect, as +well as respecting the person on board. + +"Napoleon travels, incognito; and he will make known himself the name +and title, by which he chooses to be called. + +"Immediately after his embarkation, all communication with the shore +must cease. + +"The commanders of the frigates, the officers, and the crews, will be +informed by their own hearts, that it is their duty, to treat him +personally with all the attention and respect due to his situation, +and to the crown he has worn. + +"When on board, the highest honours will be paid him, unless refused +by himself. He will dispose of the interior of the frigates for his +own accommodation, in whatever manner he may deem most convenient, +without detriment to their means of defence. His table, and the +service of his person, will be conducted as he shall direct. + +"Every thing that can contribute to his accommodation on the voyage +will be prepared, without regard to the expense; and the prefect has +received orders for this purpose. + +"Such provision for himself and suite will be sent on board by the +prefect, as is compatible with the profound secrecy to be observed +respecting his abode and his embarkation. + +"When Napoleon has embarked, the frigates will put to sea within +four-and-twenty hours at farthest, if the wind permit, and the enemy's +cruisers do not prevent their sailing. + +"They will not remain in the road twenty-four hours after the +embarkation of Napoleon, unless he desire it; for it is of importance, +to depart as soon as possible. + +"The frigates will proceed with all possible speed to the United +States of America; and will land Napoleon and his suite either at +Philadelphia, or at Boston, or at any other port of the United States, +that they can most easily and speedily reach. + +"The commanders of the two frigates are forbidden to enter any +roadsteads, from which they might find difficulty or delay in +departing. They are authorized to do so, only if it should be +necessary for the safety of the vessels. + +"They will avoid all the ships of war they may fall in with: if they +should be obliged to engage a superior force, the frigate, that has +not Napoleon on board, will sacrifice herself to detain the enemy; and +to give that, on board of which he is, an opportunity of escaping. + +"I need not remind you, that the chambers and the government have +placed Napoleon under the protection of French loyalty. + +"When arrived at the United States, the disembarkation will take place +with all possible celerity; and the frigates will not remain there +more than four-and-twenty hours, under any pretence whatever, unless +they be prevented from sailing by a superior force; and they will +return directly to France. + +"The laws and regulations respecting the police of vessels at sea, and +the military subordination of the persons embarked as passengers to +the commanders of the vessels, will be strictly observed. + +"I recommend to the captains' own sense of duty, as well as to their +delicacy, every circumstance not provided for by these presents. + +"I have nothing to add to what I have said already, that the person of +Napoleon is placed under the safeguard of the loyalty of the French +people; and this trust is confided specially, on the present occasion, +to the captains of the Saale and the Medusa, and the officers and +crews of these two vessels. + +"Such are the orders, which the committee of government has directed +me to transmit to captains Philibert and Ponce. + + (Signed) "The Duke DECRES." + + +On the 29th of June, the committee informed the two chambers by a +message, that "the approach of the enemy, and the fear of an internal +commotion, had imposed on it the sacred duty, of causing Napoleon to +depart." + +The terms, in which this message was couched, gave reason to suppose, +that the Emperor had shown some resistance. M. de Lavalette called on +the Duke Decres to explain the facts; and it was then known, that the +Emperor had not hesitated for a moment, to submit to the fate imposed +upon him by his abdication; and that, if he did not set out before, it +was because the committee had judged it proper to defer his departure, +till the arrival of the safeconducts demanded. + +The Emperor had at first expressed his intention of not stopping on +the road. When he arrived at Rambouillet, he alighted from his +carriage, and said, that he would pass the night at the castle. He +made the grand marshal write to the keeper of the moveables of the +crown, to require him to send to Rochefort, where they would be +embarked, the necessary beds and furniture for seven or eight +principal apartments. He had previously claimed the library of Petit +Trianon, M. de Visconti's Greek Iconography, and a copy of the grand +work of the Egyptian Institute. The faculty of associating thoughts +the most serious with ideas of the greatest simplicity, occupations +the most vast with cares the most minute, was one of the +distinguishing features of the character of Napoleon. + +At daybreak he received a courier from M. de ****. He read his +despatches, and then said to General Beker, casting a sorrowful look +toward Heaven: "The business is finished! it is all over with France! +let us begone!" + +He was received on his journey with the most lively testimonies of +interest and attachment: but nothing could equal the transports, which +the troops and inhabitants of Niort expressed at seeing him. He +recommended to General Beker, to inform the government of this. "Tell +them, general, that they knew little of the spirit of France; that +they were too hasty in sending me away; that, if they had accepted my +proposal, the face of affairs would have been changed; that I might +still, in the name of the nation, exert a great influence on the +course of political transactions, in backing the negotiations of +government by an army, to which my name would serve as a rallying +point." + +The general was preparing, to forward to the committee the words of +the Emperor; and had just finished his despatch, when information was +brought that a heavy cannonade had been heard on the 30th. The Emperor +immediately made him add the following postscript, which the general +wrote from his dictation: "We hope, that the enemy will allow you +time, to cover Paris, and to see the issue of the negotiations. If, +under these circumstances, the English cruisers should prevent the +Emperor's departure, he is at your disposal as a soldier." + +The Emperor continued his course; and, his journey from Niort to +Rochefort affording no remarkable incident, I resolved, though with +regret, to lose sight for a moment of this august victim, and return +to the government, that had succeeded him. + +The government, impressed with the importance of its functions, had +not ceased, since its formation, to use its utmost endeavours, to +justify the confidence of the chambers. Its politics, which were +perfectly open, were included in these few words: no war, no Bourbons: +and its double resolve was, to make every concession to the allies, +necessary to obtain a peace conformable to the wishes of the nation; +or to oppose to them an inflexible resistance, if they resolved to +intrench on the independence of the nation, and impose on it a +sovereign not of its own choice. + +The Duke of Otranto, president of the committee, appeared in the +council, and in public, to approve the principles and determinations +of his colleagues. In private, it was a different affair. Devoted in +appearance to all parties, he flattered and deceived them in turn, by +pretended confidential communications, and chimerical hopes. He spoke +of liberty to the republicans, of glory and Napoleon II. to the +Bonapartists, of legitimacy to the friends of the King, of guarantees +and a general peace to the partizans of the Duke of Orleans; and thus +contrived to secure himself on all sides, in case of need, favourable +chances and supporters[78]. Men familiar with his practices were not +the dupes of his artifices, and endeavoured to unmask them: but his +apparent conduct was so irreproachable, that their warnings were +considered as the result of personal prejudice, or unjust suspicion. + + [Footnote 78: The Emperor, informed of the manoeuvres of + M. Fouche, said: "He is ever the same; always ready to + thrust his foot into every one's slipper."] + +Besides, it was agreed on all hands, that the fate of France depended +on the negotiations with foreign powers: and it was hoped, that the +plenipotentiaries, and particularly Messrs. d'Argenson and la Fayette, +whose principles were inflexible, would render every kind of surprise +or treachery impracticable. + +These plenipotentiaries had left Paris on the 25th of June. Their +instructions were as follows: + + +_Instructions for Messieurs the Plenipotentiaries of the Committee of +Government to the Allied Powers._ + + "Paris, June the 23d, 1815. + +"The object of the mission of messieurs the plenipotentiaries, +appointed to repair to the allied powers, has no farther need of being +developed. It is in their hearts, as it is in the hearts of all +Frenchmen: the business is, to save their country. + +"The salvation of the country is connected with two essential +subjects: the independence of the nation, and the integrity of its +territories. + +"The independence of the nation cannot be complete, except the +constituent principles of the present organization of France be secure +from every foreign attack. One of the principles of this organization +is the inheritance of the throne in the imperial family. The Emperor +having abdicated, his rights have devolved on his son. The foreign +powers cannot make the least attack on this principle of inheritance, +established by our constitutions, without violating our independence. + +"The declaration of the 13th, and the treaty of the 25th of March, +have received an important modification by the explanatory article, +which the British cabinet annexed to the ratification of this treaty: +an article, by which this cabinet announces, _that it has no intention +of pursuing the war for the purpose of imposing a particular +government on France_. This modification has been adopted by the +allies; it has been sanctioned by Lord Clancarty's letter of the 6th +of May, to the drawing up of which all the other plenipotentiaries +gave their assent; it has been sanctioned by a note of Prince +Metternich's, dated the 9th; and finally by the declaration of the +combined powers dated the 12th of the same month. + +"It is this grand principle, acknowledged by the combined powers, to +which messieurs the plenipotentiaries ought particularly to appeal. + +"We cannot conceal, that it is much to be feared, that the combined +powers will think themselves at present bound more by the +declarations, which they made before the commencement of hostilities. +They will not fail to object, + +"That, if, previous to the war, they set up a distinction between the +nation and the Emperor, this distinction no longer exists, when the +nation, by uniting all its forces in the hands of this prince, has in +fact united his fate with its own: + +"That, though, previous to the war, they were sincere in their +intention of not interfering in the internal concerns of France, they +are compelled to interfere in them now, precisely for the prevention +of any similar recurrence of war, and for ensuring tranquillity for +the future. + +"It would be superfluous, to point out to messieurs the +plenipotentiaries the answers they may make to these objections. They +will find their best refutation in the sentiments of national honour, +which, after the whole nation had joined the Emperor, could not but +fight with him and for him; and could not separate from him, till some +act, such as that of an abdication, dissolved the ties between the +nation and its sovereign. It will be easy to them to demonstrate, +that, if this sacred duty of honour compelled the French nation, to +make war for its own defence, as well as that of the head, that was +attempted to be taken from it; the abdication of this head replaces +the nation in a state of peace with all the powers, since it was this +head alone, that they wished to remove: and that, if the declaration +made by the combined powers, of having no intention to impose on +France a particular government, were frank and sincere, this +sincerity, and this frankness, ought now to be manifested by their +respect for the national independence, when recent circumstances have +removed the only grievance, of which they thought themselves +authorised to complain. + +"There is an objection of a more serious nature, which the combined +powers might bring forward first, if they be determined to avail +themselves of all the advantages, which their military position seems +to offer them. This objection would be that of an inclination to +refuse to acknowledge the committee of government, and the +plenipotentiaries, and the acts of the national representatives, as +proceeding from a state of things illegal in their eyes, because they +have constantly refused, to admit the principle, on which it is +founded. This objection, if it be strongly urged, and the combined +powers will not wave it, will leave little prospect of the possibility +of an accommodation. However messieurs the plenipotentiaries will +assuredly neglect no endeavour, to combat such objections; and they +will be in no want of arguments, to combat them with success, +particularly with respect to the British government, the present +dynasty of which reigns solely in virtue of those principles, the +application of which we in our turn have occasion to claim. + +"Perhaps, too, without disavowing the independence of the French +nation, the allied sovereigns will persist in declaring, that they +have no proof, that the wishes of the nation are the wishes expressed +by the government, or even by the chambers; and that thus, in order to +know the real wishes of the nation, they must begin by restoring +things to the state in which they were before the month of March, +1815; leaving to the nation afterwards to decide, whether it ought to +retain its old government, or give itself a new one. + +"The answer to these objections also will be found in that which +England itself formerly gave to the enemies, who were for disputing +its right of changing its government and its dynasty. England then +answered, that the simple fact of the possession of the sovereign +authority authorised foreign powers, to treat with him, who was +invested with it. Thus, in case the authorities actually existing in +France were not, what in fact they are, clothed in the most perfect +legality, the refusal to treat with them can be supported by no solid +argument. It would be declaring, that they are resolved to try, how +far they can carry the claims of force; and announcing to France, that +there is no security for her but in the resources of desperation. + +"In fine, there is one less obnoxious chance, against which also we +ought to be provided. It is, that the combined powers, faithful at +least in part to their declaration, do not absolutely insist on +imposing the Bourbon family on France; but that, on the other hand, +they require the exclusion of the son of the Emperor Napoleon, under +pretence, that a long minority might give rise either to a dangerous +display of ambitious views on the part of the principal members +possessing the authority in France, or to internal commotions, the +shock of which would be felt abroad. Were the question brought to this +point, messieurs the plenipotentiaries would find in the principles of +the objection itself the principle of its answer; since the division +of power in the hands of a council commonly renders its authority +weaker, and the minority of a prince is always a period of slackness +and languor in the government. They would find it particularly in the +present temper of the French nation, in the want it feels of a long +peace, in the fears which the idea of a continuation or renewal of war +must inspire, and in the shackles imposed by the laws of the +constitution on the passions of the members of the government. +Besides, whatever its construction may be, they will find in all its +circumstances, and in a thousand others besides, very valid arguments, +to oppose to those, that may be alleged against the maintenance of +hereditary principles in the dynasty of the Emperor Napoleon. + +"The first and most solid pledge, that the allies can give the French +nation of their intention to respect its independence, is to renounce +without reserve all design of subjecting it anew to the government of +the Bourbon family. The allied powers must now be well convinced +themselves, that the re-establishment of this family is incompatible +with the general tranquillity of France, and consequently with the +repose of Europe. If it be their wish, as they declare, to produce a +stable order of things in France and other nations, the purpose would +be completely defeated. The return of a family, strangers to our +manners, and continually surrounded by men, who have ceased to be +French, would rekindle a second time among us every kind of animosity, +and every passion; and it would be an illusion, to expect a stable +order to arise from the midst of so many elements of discord and +trouble. Thus the exclusion of the Bourbon family is an absolute +condition of the maintenance of the general tranquillity; and for the +general interest of Europe, as well as for the particular interest of +France, it is one of the points, to which messieurs the +plenipotentiaries must most strongly adhere. + +"The question of the integrity of the territory of France is +intimately connected with that of its independence. If the war, +declared by the allied powers against the Emperor Napoleon, were in +fact declared against him alone, the integrity of our territory is not +threatened. It is of importance to the general balance of power, that +France should retain at least the limits assigned it by the treaty of +Paris. What the foreign cabinets themselves considered as proper and +necessary in 1814, they cannot look upon with other eyes in 1815. What +pretence can justify now a dismemberment of the French territory by +the foreign powers? Every thing in the system of Europe is altered; +all to the advantage of England, Russia, Austria, and Prussia; all to +the detriment of France. The French nation is not jealous; but it will +not be subjugated, or dismembered. + +"Thus the efforts of messieurs the plenipotentiaries will have two +leading objects; the maintenance of the national independence, and the +preservation of the integrity of the French territories. + +"These two objects are linked together, and mutually dependent on each +other: they cannot be separated, and no modification of either of them +can be admitted, without endangering the safety of the country. + +"But if the foreign powers should make any proposals, capable of being +reconciled with our dearest interests; and they should be offered to +us as the ultimatum of our safety; messieurs the plenipotentiaries, +refraining from the expression of a premature opinion, will hasten +_to give an account of them, and to demand the orders of government_. + +"Whatever may be the dispositions of the foreign powers; whether they +acknowledge the two principles, that are pointed out to messieurs the +plenipotentiaries as the bases of their mission; or the negotiations +lead to other discussions, of a nature to require enlarging upon; it +is highly important, on either supposition, that a general armistice +should be previously agreed on. The first care of messieurs the +plenipotentiaries must consequently be, to demand an armistice, and +insist on its being promptly concluded upon. + +"There is one sacred duty, that the French nation cannot forget; which +is, _to stipulate the safety and inviolability of the Emperor Napoleon +out of its territory_. This is a debt of honour, which the nation +feels the necessity of acquitting toward a prince, who long covered it +with glory; and who in his misfortunes renounces the throne, that the +nation may be saved without him, since it appears, that with him it +cannot be saved. + +"The choice of the place, to which the Emperor will have to retire, +may be a subject of discussion. Messieurs the plenipotentiaries will +appeal to the personal generosity of the sovereigns, to obtain a +residence to be fixed upon, with which the Emperor will have reason +to, be satisfied. + +"Independently of the general considerations, which messieurs the +plenipotentiaries will have to urge to the allied sovereigns +indiscriminately, they will themselves judge of the various arguments, +which they will have to employ with respect to the different cabinets +separately. + +"The interests of England, Austria, Russia, and Prussia, not being the +same; it will be proper, to exhibit under different points of view to +each of these cabinets the advantages, that the new order of things, +recently established in France, may offer them respectively. All the +powers will find in it a guarantee of the preservation of whatever +they possess, either of territory, or of influence: but, with these +general advantages, some of them must find themselves separately +benefited. + +"Austria may well be supposed, not to see with pleasure the +re-establishment of one branch of the Bourbon dynasty on the throne of +Fiance, while another branch of the same house reascends the throne of +Naples. + +"This circumstance, which belongs to the policy of the cabinet, may +also receive some support from family affection: the regard of his +Majesty the Emperor of Austria for his grandson may induce him, not to +oppose the high destiny offered to him. It may be, that the Austrian +cabinet may perceive in this bond of relationship a means of +strengthening its cause by the support of the French nation; and that, +alarmed at the aggrandisement of Russia and of Prussia, whose alliance +no doubt is a grievance to it, it may lay hold of the opportunity of +an advantageous reconciliation with France, so as in case of need to +find in it a powerful auxiliary against those two governments. + +"Other reasons offer themselves, to incline the cabinet of Petersburg +toward us. The liberal opinions professed by the Emperor of Russia +authorize a language to be held to his minister, and even to this +potentate himself, to which few other sovereigns would be capable of +listening. There is room for thinking also, that this monarch takes +but little interest personally in the welfare of the Bourbon family, +whose conduct in general has not been pleasing to him. He had not much +reason to be satisfied with it, when he found it express its gratitude +almost exclusively to the Prince Regent of England. Besides, the +object of Russia is attained all its thirst of power, and its +self-love, are equally satisfied. Tranquil for a long time to come, +and victor without having fought, the Emperor Alexander may proudly +return to his dominions, and enjoy a success, that will not have cost +him a single man. The continuance of the war with France would now be +to him a war without an object. It would be repugnant to all the +calculations of good policy, and to the interests of his people. +Messieurs the plenipotentiaries will avail themselves of these +circumstances, and of many others also, to endeavour to neutralize a +power so formidable as Russia. + +"That continental power, from which France has the least favour to +expect, is the court of Berlin: but this court is that of which the +forces have received the most violent check; and if Russia and Austria +be ever so little disposed; to enter into negotiations, Prussia will +be inevitably compelled to accede to them. Besides, even with this +court, arguments of great weight will not be wanting, to render it +more amicably disposed, if it will listen only to its real and +permanent interests. + +"Messieurs the plenipotentiaries will find with the allied sovereigns +the British plenipotentiaries and it will be with these, perhaps, that +the negotiation will present most difficulties. The question with +respect to the allies is scarcely a matter of discussion: with this +power, every argument and every principle are in our favour; but it +remains to be seen, whether its will be not independent of all +principles, and of all arguments. + +"The particulars noticed above were no doubt unnecessary; as every +thing there mentioned would have suggested itself to messieurs the +plenipotentiaries themselves. But these hints may not be without their +use, since their natural effect will be, to lead the minds of +messieurs the plenipotentiaries to more weighty considerations, and +more powerful motives, which they will know how to employ seasonably +for the grand purpose of the important and difficult mission with +which they are charged. + +"Messieurs the plenipotentiaries will find in the reports made to the +Emperor by the Duke of Vicenza on the 12th of April and 7th of June +last, as well as in the justificatory pieces, that accompany these +reports, all the data they can require, to form a just estimate of our +situation with regard to the foreign powers, and to regulate their +conduct toward the ministers of these different powers." + + +On the 26th of June the plenipotentiaries had their first interview +with two Prussian officers delegated by Marshal Blucher. They gave an +account of it to the committee by the following despatch, addressed to +M. Bignon, who had the portfolio of foreign affairs. + + + "Laon, June the 26th, 1815, + "Ten o'clock in the evening. + +"Monsieur le Baron Bignon, + +"We have received the letter, which you did us the honour to write to +us yesterday the 25th, respecting the Emperor's intention of repairing +to the United States of America with his brothers. + +"We have at length just received our passports, to proceed to the +head-quarters of the allied sovereigns, which we shall find at +Heidelberg or at Manheim. The Prince of Schoenburgh, aide-de-camp of +Marshal Blucher, accompanies us. We shall take the road through Metz; +and set off in an hour. + +"Marshal Blucher has declared to us, by the Prince of Schoenburgh and +Count Noslitz, who was more particularly empowered by him, that France +will be in no degree restricted in the choice of a government: but in +the armistice he proposed, _he required for the security of his army +the fortified towns of Metz, Thionville, Mezieres, Maubeuge, +Sarrelouis, and others_. He sets out with the principle, that he ought +to be secured against any attempts, which the party, that he supposes +the Emperor to have, may make. We combated this argument by +irrefragable reasons, without gaining any ground. You are sensible, +sir, that it was impossible for us, to accede to such demands. + +"We did all in our power, to obtain the armistice on moderate terms; +but it was impossible for us, to come to any conclusion, 'because,' +said the prince, 'he is not authorized to grant one, and immense +advantages alone could induce him, to take such a step, as long as the +principal object is unattained.' + +"We offered a suspension of hostilities, at least for five days. The +refusal was equally positive, and for the same motives. Count de +Noslitz has offered in the name of Prince Blucher, to receive at his +head-quarters, _and at those of the Duke of Wellington, any +commissioners you may send, who shall be exclusively employed in the +negotiations necessary to stay the march of the armies, and prevent +the effusion of blood_. It is a matter of urgency, that these +commissioners set out to-morrow even, and that they take the road to +Noyon, where orders will be given by Marshal Blucher to receive them. +Noyon will be his head-quarters. They cannot too often repeat, that +the Emperor has no great party in France; that he availed himself +rather of the faults of the Bourbons, than of any dispositions +existing in his favour; and that he could not fix the attention of the +nation, but for the allies failing to adhere to their declaration. + +"We have hopes of seeing our negotiations take a successful turn, +though we cannot be insensible to their difficulties. The only means +of preventing the events of the war from occasioning their failure +absolutely consist in granting a truce of a few days. The choice of +negotiators may have some influence on this; and we repeat, there is +not a moment to be lost in sending them to the English and Prussian +armies. + +"The two aides-de-camp of Prince Blucher declared repeatedly, that the +allies are in no respect tenacious of the restoration of the Bourbons: +but we have proofs, that they are inclined to approach as near as +possible to Paris, and then they may frame some pretence, to change +their language. + +"All these things should only hasten still more the measures, to be +taken for re-organizing the army, and particularly for the defence of +Paris; an object to which their thoughts appear essentially turned. + +"From the conversations we have had with the two aides-de-camp, it +follows definitively, and we repeat it with regret, that the person +of the Emperor will be one of the greatest difficulties. They think, +that the combined powers will require guarantees and precautions, that +he may never re-appear on the stage of the world. They assert, that +their people themselves demand security against his enterprises. _It +is our duty to observe, that his escape before the conclusion of our +negotiations would be considered as an act of bad faith on our part, +and might essentially involve the safety of France._ We have hopes, +however, that this affair also may be terminated to the Emperor's +satisfaction; since they have made few objections to his residence, +and that of his brothers, in England; which they appeared to prefer to +the scheme of a retreat in America. + +"_The imperial prince has not been mentioned in any of our +conversations._ It was not our business, to start this subject, on +which they did not enter. + + (Signed) "H. SEBASTIANI. + Count de PONTECOULANT. + LA FAYETTE. + D'ARGENSON. + Count DE LA FORET. + Benjamin CONSTANT." + + +The committee, immediately on the receipt of this despatch, appointed +Messieurs Andreossy, de Valence, Flaugergues, Boissy d'Anglas, and +Labenardiere, to repair in quality of commissioners to the +head-quarters of the allied armies, to demand a suspension of +hostilities, and negotiate an armistice. + +The Duke of Otranto, ever eager to open an ostensible correspondence, +under cover of which he might carry on secret communications if +necessary, persuaded the government, that it would be proper to pave +the way for the commissioners by a previous step; and in consequence +he addressed a letter of congratulation to the Duke of Wellington, in +which he entreated him with pompous meanness, to bestow on France his +suffrage and protection. + + +Copies of the former instructions were delivered to the commissioners; +and to these were added the following: + + +"_Instructions for Messieurs the Commissioners appointed to treat for +an Armistice._ + + "Paris, June the 27th, 1815. + +"The first overtures made to our plenipotentiaries on the conditions, +at the price of which the commander in chief of one of the enemy's +armies would consent to an armistice, are of a nature to alarm us +respecting those, which the commanders of the armies of the other +powers might also demand, and to render the possibility of an +arrangement very problematical. However unfavourable our military +situation at the present moment may be, there are sacrifices, to which +the interest of the nation will not allow us to submit. + +"It is evident, that the motive, on which Prince Blucher founded his +demand of six of our fortified towns, which were named, and some +others besides, which were not named, _the security of his army_, is +one of those allegations brought forward by force, to carry as far as +possible the advantages arising from the success of the moment. This +allegation is very easily refuted: since it may be termed an act of +derision, to demand pledges for the security of an army already master +of a considerable portion of our territory, and which is marching +without obstacle almost alone in the heart of France. There is another +declaration made on the part of Prince Blucher, calculated still more +to disquiet us: which is, that he can be induced only by immense +advantages, to take upon himself to conclude an armistice, for which +he has no authority. In this declaration there is a frankness of +exaction, that offers many difficulties in the way of accommodation. +However, though the committee of government is far from being inclined +to favour the cessions required, it does not tie itself up, by a +peremptory refusal, from entering into discussions of an arrangement, +the conditions of which are not carried beyond the bounds traced by +the true interests of the public. + +"If, to arrive at a conclusion, we must submit to the cession of some +fortified town, it is thoroughly to be understood, that such a cession +ought not to take place, unless it were the guarantee of an armistice, +to be prolonged till peace is concluded. It is unnecessary to add, +that the delivery of such a town is not to take place; till the +armistice has been ratified by the respective governments. + +"One of the points, that demands all the zeal of messieurs the +commissioners, is that of fixing the line, where the occupation of the +French territory by the enemy's armies is to stop. + +"It would be of great importance, to obtain the line of the Somme; +which would place the foreign troops nearly thirty leagues from Paris, +messieurs the commissioners ought strongly to insist on keeping them +at least at this distance. + +"If the enemy were yet more exacting, and we should be finally +compelled to greater condescension, a line traced between the Somme +and the Oise should not let them approach within twenty leagues of +Paris. The line, that separates the department of the Somme from that +of the Oise, might be taken, detaching from the latter the northern +part of the department of the Aisne, and thence a straight line +through the department of the Ardennes, which should be continued till +it reached the Meuse near Mezieres. + +"However, in fixing the line of the armistice, we must rely on the +ability of messieurs the commissioners, to endeavour to obtain the +most favourable arrangement. + +"Their mission being to the English and Prussian armies in common, +there is no occasion to inform them, that it is indispensable for the +armistice to be common to both armies. + +"It would be very important likewise, to introduce into the armistice, +as one of its clauses, that it should extend to the armies of all the +other enemies, taking for its basis the _status quo_ of the respective +armies, at the moment when information of the armistice should reach +them. If this stipulation be rejected, under pretence, that the +commanders of the English and Russian armies have no right, to make +arrangements in the names of the commanders of the armies of the other +powers; they may at least consent, to invite the others to accede to +it on the basis above mentioned. + +"As even the negotiations for the armistice, from the nature of the +conditions already placed foremost, which must be the subject of more +serious debate, will inevitably occasion some delay, it is a +precaution rigidly necessary to be obtained, that, in order to treat +of an armistice, all movements should be stopped for a few days, or at +least for eight and forty hours. + +"There is one precautionary arrangement, which messieurs the +commissioners must not neglect. This is, to stipulate, that the +enemy's armies shall levy no extraordinary contributions. + +"Though the particular object of their mission is the conclusion of an +armistice, as it is scarcely to be imagined, that messieurs the +commissioners, in their intercourse with the Duke of Wellington and +Prince Blucher, will not hear from these generals either proposals, or +suggestions, or at least simple conjectures, respecting the views the +allied sovereigns may adopt with respect to the form of government in +France; messieurs the commissioners undoubtedly will not fail, +carefully to collect every thing, that may appear to them capable of +having any influence on the part to be taken definitively by the +government. + +"The copy of the instructions given to messieurs the plenipotentiaries +appointed to repair to the allied sovereigns, which has been delivered +to them, will make them acquainted with the bases, on which the +government has been desirous hitherto of founding its negotiations. It +is possible, that the course of events may oblige it, to _extend these +bases_: but messieurs the commissioners will judge, that, if absolute +necessity compel it, to assent to arrangements _of a different +nature_, so that we cannot preserve _the principle of our independence +in all its plenitude_, it is a sacred duty, to endeavour to emancipate +ourselves from the greater part of the inconveniences, that are +attached to the bare misfortune of its being modified. + +"A copy of the letter, written from Laon by messieurs the +plenipotentiaries, and dated yesterday, the 26th, is also delivered to +messieurs the commissioners. The resolutions[79], which have been +taken to-day by the government, will furnish them with the means of +answering all the objections, that may be made to them on the danger +and possibility of the return of the Emperor Napoleon. + + [Footnote 79: These resolutions consisted in sending + General Beker to Malmaison, to watch Napoleon.] + +"That the language of messieurs the commissioners may perfectly accord +with all that has been done by the committee of government, copies of +the letters, that have been written to Lord Castlereagh and the Duke +of Wellington, respecting the approaching departure of Napoleon and +his brothers, are hereto annexed. + +"On the questions relative to the form of government of France, +provisionally, messieurs the commissioners will confine themselves to +hearing the overtures, that may be made to them; and they will take +care, to transmit an account of them, in order that, according to the +nature of their reports, government may come to such a determination, +as the safety of our country may prescribe." + + +From this document it appears, that the committee, already foreseeing +the impossibility of preserving the throne to Napoleon II., was +disposed to enter into a discussion with the allies on the choice of a +sovereign. Bound by its mandate, it would never have consented +willingly, to covenant with the Bourbons; but it would have had no +repugnance, at least as I conjecture, to allow the crown to be placed +on the head of the King of Saxony, or of the Duke of Orleans. + +The party of the latter prince, for which M. Fouche had collected +recruits, was reinforced by a great number of deputies and generals. +"The qualities of the duke; the remembrance of Jemappes, and of some +other victories under the republic, in which he was not unconcerned; +the possibility of forming a treaty, that should reconcile the +interests of all parties; the name of Bourbon, which might have been +employed abroad, without uttering it at home: all these motives, and +others besides, afforded in this choice a prospect of repose and +security even to those, who could not see in it the presage of +happiness." + +The King of Saxony had no other title to the suffrages of France, than +the heroic fidelity, which he had maintained toward it in 1814. But +after him the empire might have returned to Napoleon II.: and as a +prince, possessed of experience, wisdom, and virtue, may reign +indifferently over any people, and render them happy, the French +nation would have resigned itself to the government of a foreign +monarch, till the day when his death would have restored the sceptre +to the hands of its legitimate possessor. + +The deference which the committee was prepared to pay to the will of +the allied powers, was not the effect of its own weakness. It was +enjoined it by the alarming reports, which Marshal Grouchy sent it +daily, of the defection and dejected state of the army. + +The soldiers, it is true, discouraged by the abdication of the +Emperor, and the reports of the return of the Bourbons, appeared +irresolute. "Our wounds," said they, "will no longer entitle us to any +thing but proscription." The generals themselves, rendered timid by +their uncertainty of the future, spoke with circumspection: but all, +generals and soldiers, maintained the same sentiments in the bottom of +their hearts; and their hesitation, their lukewarmness, were the work +of their leader; who, in France as on the banks of the Dyle, wanting +resolution and strength of mind, did not take the trouble to conceal, +that he considered the national cause as lost, and awaited only a +favourable opportunity, to pacify the Bourbons and their allies by a +prompt and complete submission. + +The committee, however, having their eyes opened by private letters, +conceived suspicions of the veracity of the marshal's reports. It +commissioned General Corbineau, to give it an account of the state of +the army. Informed of the truth, it was no longer afraid of being +obliged to submit humbly to the law of the victor: and, desirous of +preventing Marshal Grouchy, whose intentions had ceased to be a +mystery, from endangering the independence of the nation by an +inconsiderate act, it prohibited him from negotiating any armistice, +or commencing any negotiation; and ordered him, to lead his army to +Paris. + +The Prince of Eckmuhl, whose want of firmness was so wretchedly +displayed in the retreat from Moscow, could not resist this fresh +blow: the example of Marshal Grouchy led him away; and, persuaded like +him, that it was necessary to submit without delay, he declared to the +government, that there was not a moment to be lost in recalling the +Bourbons, and proposed to it, to send to the king the following +offers: + +1st, To enter Paris without a foreign guard: + +2d, To take the tri-coloured cockade: + +3d, To guaranty security of person and property to all, whatever may +have been their functions, offices, votes, or opinions: + +4th, To retain the two chambers: + +5th, To ensure to persons in office the retention of their places, and +to the army that of their ranks, pensions, honours, and prerogatives: + +6th, To retain the legion of honour, and its institution, as the first +order in the state. + +The committee, too _clear-sighted_ to be caught by this proposal, was +eager to reject it; and, faithful to its system of concealing nothing +from the two chambers, acquainted the principal members with it; +repeating to: them, that, be the event what it might, "it would never +propose to them any thing pusillanimous, or contrary to its duty; and +that it would defend to the last extremity the independence of the +nation, the inviolability of the chambers, and the liberty and +security of the citizens." + +The representatives answered this declaration by placing Paris in a +state of siege, and voting an address to the army[80]. "Brave +soldiers," such were its words; "a great reverse must have +astonished, but not dejected you. Your country has need of your +constancy and courage. To you it has confided the care of the national +glory; and you will answer its expectations. + + [Footnote 80: On the 2d of July the chamber voted an + address to the French. + + This address, which perished in the birth, related to + the political situation of France with respect to the + allies. It appeared to me not very interesting, and I + thought I might dispense with a particular account of + it. It gave rise, however, to a remarkable incident. M. + Manuel, who had the principal hand in drawing it up, had + not thought proper, to speak of the Emperor's successor + in it; and the chamber decided, to add in the address, + that Napoleon II. had been called to the empire.] + +"Plenipotentiaries have been sent to the allied powers ... the success +of the negotiations depends on you. Close round the tri-coloured flag, +consecrated by glory and the wishes of the nation. You will see us, if +necessary, in your ranks; and we will convince the world, that +twenty-five years of glory and sacrifices will never be effaced, and +that a people, who wills to be free, must ever remain so." + +The attitude of the chamber and of the government did not remove the +apprehensions of the Prince of Eckmuhl. He returned to the charge; and +wrote to the president of the committee, in the night of the 29th, +"that he had vanquished his prejudices and opinions, and found, that +no means of safety existed but in concluding an armistice, and +immediately proclaiming Louis XVIII." + +The president answered him: + +"I am as well persuaded as you, M. marshal, that nothing better can be +done, than to treat with promptitude of an armistice: but we must +know, what the enemy wants. An injudicious conduct would produce three +evils: + +"1st, That of having acknowledged Louis XVIII. previous to any +engagement on his side: + +"2d, That of being equally compelled, to admit the enemy into Paris: + +"3d, That of obtaining no conditions from Louis XVIII. + +"I take upon myself, to authorize you, to send to the advanced posts +of the enemy, and to conclude an armistice, making every sacrifice, +that is compatible with our duties, and with our dignity. It is better +to give up fortified towns, than to sacrifice Paris." + +The Duke of Otranto having laid this letter before the committee, it +thought, that the answer of its president _decided implicitly the +question of the recall of Louis XVIII._, and allowed the Prince of +Eckmuhl too great latitude. It made him write immediately a +supplementary letter, saying: "It is unnecessary to remind you, M. +marshal, that your armistice must be purely military, and must contain +no political question. It would be proper, that this demand of an +armistice should be made by a general of the line, and a major-general +of the national guard." + +Thus in the space of the twenty-four hours, that preceded and followed +the Emperor's departure, the committee had to repel, and did repel, +the instigations more or less culpable of the minister at war, the +general in chief of the army, and the president of the government[81]. + + [Footnote 81: The reader will be aware, that I reason + here, as well as every where else, on the principles of + the mandate given to the committee.] + +The army, however, had arrived step by step at the gates of Paris. + +Marshal Grouchy, dissatisfied and disconcerted, gave in his +resignation on the score of his health. + +The Prince of Eckmuhl, who, by an air of sincerity, and reiterated +protestations of devotion and fidelity, had regained, thanks to the +Duke of Otranto, the confidence of the majority of the members of the +committee, was invested with the command in chief of the army. + +On the 30th of June a message informed the chambers, that the enemies +were within sight of the capital; that the army, re-organized, +occupied a line of defence, by which Paris was protected; that it was +animated with the best disposition; and that its devotion equalled its +valour. + +Deputations from the two chambers immediately set out, to carry to the +defenders of their country the expression of the principles, the +sentiments, and the hopes of the national representation. Their +patriotic language, their tri-coloured scarfs, and the name of +Napoleon II., which they took care to employ, electrified the +soldiery; and completely restored to them that confidence in +themselves, and that resolution to conquer or die, which are the +infallible presages of victory. + +The moment for marching to battle was propitious. The Prince of +Eckmuhl solicited peace. + +The Duke of Albufera had just concluded an armistice with Marshal +Frimont, commander of the Austrian forces. The prince informed the +Duke of Wellington of it; and demanded of him, to cause a cessation of +hostilities, _till a decision of congress should take place_. "If I +appear on the field of battle with the idea of your talents," he +added, "I shall carry with me the conviction, that I am fighting for +the most sacred of causes, that of the defence and independence of my +country; and, whatever may be the result, my lord, I will merit your +esteem." + +If, instead of holding a language more suitable to a man half +vanquished, than to a French general accustomed to conquer, another +chief, differently inspired, had declared with noble firmness, that he +was ready, if a stop were not put to unjust aggressions, to give to +his eighty thousand brave soldiers the signal of victory or death; the +enemy would unquestionably have desisted from pursuing a war, now +become without object, without utility, and without glory. But the +Duke of Wellington, faithfully informed of the true state of things, +knew that the Prince of Eckmuhl, satisfied with having surmounted his +prejudices and opinions, appeared more disposed to neutralize the +courage of his troops, than to put it to the proof; and Wellington +refused the suspension of hostilities proposed. It entered into the +policy of the princes, who had taken up arms for legitimacy, to compel +us to receive Louis XVIII. _cap in hand_: and the consequence of this +was, that the allied generals avoided treating; as the sentiments of +the president of the committee, and of the general of the French army, +fully satisfied them, that they might wait without any risk, till +circumstances or treachery compelled us, to submit to the law of +necessity. + +Wellington had rejected the proposal of Marshal Davoust, under the +frivolous pretence, that the Emperor had resumed the command of the +army. It is naturally to be presumed, that the committee had not +neglected, to give the commissioners immediate information of the +departure of Napoleon, and of the circumstances, that had preceded it. +But it had hitherto received no communication from them. Their +correspondence, intentionally fettered by the allies, had been farther +prevented by our advanced posts; who, considering the persons +appointed to hold a parley as machinators of treason, stopped their +way with their muskets. The committee resolved, therefore, to obtain +news of them at any price: and, on the recommendation of the Duke of +Otranto, it despatched to them M. de Tromeling. It was not ignorant, +that this emigrant officer, a Vendean, and long detained in the Temple +as the companion of Sir Sidney Smith and Captain Wright, little +merited the confidence of the patriots. But the double-faced agents of +M. Fouche alone could open the enemy's lines; and it was obliged, in +spite of itself, to make use of them. + +M. de Tromeling set out. Instead of delivering his despatches to the +commissioners, he was afraid of their being taken from him by the +enemy, and he destroyed them. The committee thought, that he had +rather deceived himself by his cunning; but it readily excused this +error, to attend wholly to the news he had brought. + +Our commissioners arrived at the English head-quarters on the 28th, +and were eager to solicit a suspension of arms. + +Lord Wellington informed them, that he wished to consult with Prince +Blucher on this point; and on the 29th of June, at half after eleven +in the evening, he sent them the following answer. + + + Head quarters of Prince Blucher, + June the 29th, 1815, 11-1/2 at night. + +"Gentlemen, + +"I have the honour to acquaint you, that having consulted Marshal +Prince Blucher on your proposal for an armistice, his highness has +agreed with me, that, under present circumstances, no armistice can +take place, while Napoleon Bonaparte is in Paris, and at _liberty_; +and that the operations are in such a state, that he cannot stop them. + +"I have the honour, &c. + + "WELLINGTON." + + +On the 1st of July in the morning, they had a conference, of which +they gave an account to the government by the following despatch, +addressed to Baron Bignon, secretary of state, assistant to the +minister of foreign affairs. + + + "Louvres, July the 1st, 1815, forenoon. + +"Monsieur le Baron, + +"The despatches, Nos. 1, 2, and 3, which we have had the honour to +address to you, remain unanswered[82]. We are absolutely deprived of +the knowledge of what is passing at Paris, and in the rest of France. +To whatever cause this want of communication is to be ascribed, it +renders our situation painful, and is detrimental to the activity of +our proceedings. It may render them useless: we request you, to remedy +this as speedily as possible. + + [Footnote 82: As these despatches are now uninteresting, + I have not inserted them.] + +"At present we are authorized to think, that, as soon as you have made +known, that Napoleon Bonaparte is at a distance, a suspension of +hostilities for three days may be signed, in order to adjust an +armistice, during which a treaty for peace may take place. + +"Directed by the instructions given us, to listen to what may be said +to us, and make you acquainted with it, we have to inform you, the +Duke of Wellington has repeated to us several times, that as soon as +our government has a head, peace will speedily be concluded. + +"Speaking, as he says, merely as a private individual, but supposing +however, that his opinion may be taken into consideration, he more +than objects to the government of Napoleon II.; and thinks, that, +under such a reign, Europe could enjoy no security, and France no +repose. + +"They say, that they do not pretend to oppose the choice of any other +head to the government. They repeat on every occasion, that the powers +of Europe do not pretend, to interfere in this choice: but they add, +that, if the prince chosen were such, as by the nature of his +situation to excite apprehensions for the tranquillity of Europe, by +rendering that of France problematical, it would be necessary for the +allied powers to have guarantees; and we have reason to believe, that +these guarantees would be cessions of territory. + +"One person alone, Louis XVIII. seems to unite all the conditions, +that could prevent Europe from demanding guarantees for its security. + +"Already, they say, he resides at Cambray. Quesney has opened its +gates to him. These places, and other towns, are in his power; either +by having delivered themselves up, or having been put into his hands +by the allies. + +"The Duke of Wellington admits and enumerates a considerable part of +the faults committed by Louis XVIII. during his government of a few +months. He puts in the first rank his having given to the princes of +his family entrance into his council; his having had a ministry +without union, and without responsibility; his having created a +military household, not chosen from the soldiers of the army; and his +not having placed about him persons, who were truly interested in the +maintenance of the charter. + +"It seems to him, that, by making known our grievances, _without +settling conditions_, engagements might be formed with the public, +which would remove its apprehensions for the future, by giving France +the guarantee, it might desire. + +"If a discussion of conditions take place, others beside the actual +authorities might deliberate, resumed the Duke. + +"If any time be lost, generals of other armies might interfere in the +negotiations; and they would be rendered more complicated by +additional interests. + +"We add two proclamations of Louis XVIII. &c. + + (Signed) "ANDREOSSY, + "Count BOISSY D'ANGLAS, + "FLAUGERGUES, + "VALENCE, + "LABESNARDIER." + + +M. Bignon's despatch, announcing the departure of Napoleon, having +reached them after the conclusion of this first conference, they +hastened to communicate it to Lord Wellington; and to claim a +suspension of hostilities, in order to conclude an armistice, to which +the presence of Napoleon had hitherto been the only obstacle. + +Lord Wellington answered them: "that it was necessary for him, to +confer with Prince Blucher, and that he would give them an answer in +the course of the day." + +In the evening they had a fresh conference with this general, which +gave occasion to the following despatch: + + + "Louvres, July the 1st, half after 8 in the evening. + +"Lord Wellington has communicated to us a letter from Manheim, written +in the names of the Emperors of Russia and Austria by MM. de +Nesselrode and de Metternich. This letter strongly urged the +continuance of operations; and declares, that, if any armistice be +entered into by the generals, who are at this moment near Paris, their +majesties will not consider it as putting any stop to their march, but +will order their troops, to approach Paris. + +"The Count d'Artois has just arrived at the head-quarters of the Duke +of Wellington, who received us alone in his saloon. We did not +perceive the prince; he was in a separate apartment. + +"We insisted on the execution of the promise given us. The Duke of +Wellington answered, that he had always declared to us, he could enter +into no definitive engagements, till he had conferred with Marshal +Prince Blucher; to whom he would go, to prevail on him to join with +him in agreeing on an armistice. + +"He added, he would not conceal from us, that the Field Marshal had an +extreme aversion to every thing, that would stay his operations, which +extended already to the left bank of the Seine; and that he could not +avoid supporting his movements, if he could not bring him to agree in +his opinion. + +"He communicated to us a proposal for an armistice, made by the Prince +of Eckmuhl, which he had just received. + +"He assured us, that, as soon as he had seen Prince Blucher, he would +return, and join us at Louvres; and sent to request us, to repair to +Gonesse. + +"In talking on the possible conditions of an armistice, he insinuated, +that he should require the army to quit Paris; which we declined, +objecting, that on the contrary it was proper for the army of the +allies, to take remote positions; otherwise it would be impossible, to +deliberate freely on the important interests of our country, the +influence of which on those of Europe he appeared to acknowledge. + +"The conference thus terminating, we have some reason to think, that +Lord Wellington will give the Count d'Artois to understand, that he +ought to remain at a much more considerable distance from Paris." + +To this Baron Bignon immediately sent the following answer: + + +"_To Messieurs the Commissioners charged with the Armistice._ + + July the 1st. + +"You announced to us, gentlemen, that you were authorized to believe, +that, if Napoleon Bonaparte were away, a suspension of hostilities +might be signed, during which a treaty for peace might be entered +into. _The desired condition being fulfilled_, there is at the present +moment no motive, that can oppose a suspension of hostilities, and an +armistice. It is strongly to be desired, that the suspension of +hostilities, instead of being for three days only, should be at least +for five. + +"We do not think, that the English and Prussians alone will attempt to +force our lines. It would be gratuitously incurring useless losses. +According to their own account, they can be joined by the Bavarians +only in the first fortnight of this month: so that it may be +convenient to them to wait for this reinforcement, which is an +additional reason for their not refusing an armistice, that will be +attended with as much or more advantage to themselves than to us. In +fine, if the allies do not choose, to forget altogether their solemn +declarations, what do they now require? The only obstacle, that, +according to them, opposed the conclusion of peace, is irrevocably +removed: thus nothing any longer opposes its re-establishment; and, to +arrive at peace, nothing is more urgent than an armistice. + +"The committee of government has had laid before it all the +particulars, that you have transmitted, of the language held to you by +the Duke of Wellington. It desires, gentlemen, that you will persist +in distinguishing the political question of the form of government of +France from the actual question, the conclusion of an armistice. +Without repelling any of the overtures made you, it is easy, to give +the Duke of Wellington to understand, that, if, in the present state +of affairs, the political question of the government of France _must +inevitably become the subject of a sort of discussion between France +and the allied powers_, the general interest of France, and of the +powers themselves, is to do nothing precipitately; and not to decide +on a definitive part, till after having maturely weighed what will +offer real guarantees for the future. It is possible, that the allied +powers themselves, when better informed of the sentiments of the +French nation, will not persevere in the resolutions they may have +formed from different data. Napoleon is no longer at Paris, and has +not been for nearly a week. His political career is at an end. If any +national disposition in favour of the Bourbons existed, this +disposition would have been loudly manifested, and their recall would +have been already consummated. It is evident, therefore, that the +re-establishment of this family is not the will of the nation. It +remains for the allied sovereigns to examine, whether, in wishing to +impose it on the nation in despite of its will, they do not themselves +act contrary to their own intentions; since, instead of securing the +internal peace of France, they would only be sowing in it the seeds of +fresh discord. + +"The proclamations of Louis XVIII. are known here: and the nature of +these proclamations already destroys all the hopes, that the language +of the Duke of Wellington might give. It may be judged from the spirit +that breathes in these pieces recently published, that the present +royal ministry either could not, or would not prevent, what the French +nation might expect from that government. + +"For the rest, gentlemen, you should confine yourselves to hearing +every thing: you ought to affirm, that France itself desires nothing, +but what will be of the greatest benefit to the general interest: and +that, if it would prefer any plan to the re-establishment of the +Bourbons, it is because there is none, that offers it so many +inconveniences, and so few advantages. + +"You must strongly repeat, gentlemen, to the Duke of Wellington and +Prince Blucher, that, if the French government warmly insist on an +armistice, it is because it perceives the possibility of coming to a +good understanding on points, on which opinions appear to be farthest +divided. It is because the communications and connexions, established +between their head-quarters and us, enable us thoroughly to appreciate +the true spirit of France. We think in particular, that the nobleness +of the Duke of Wellington's character, and the wisdom of the allied +sovereigns, cannot lead them to a desire, to force the French nation +to submit to a government, that is repugnant to the real wishes of the +great majority of the population." + + +This language, so remarkable for its moderation, was corroborated by +the _ostensible_ letter below, which the Duke of Otranto thought +proper to address to each of the generals in chief of the besieging +armies. + + +"My Lord (or Prince), + +"Independently of the course of our negotiations, I make it my duty, +to write personally to your lordship on the subject of an armistice, +the refusal of which, I confess, seems to me inexplicable. Our +plenipotentiaries have been at head-quarters ever since the 28th of +June, and we have not yet a positive answer. + +"Peace already exists, since the war has no longer an object. Our +right to independence, and the engagement taken by the sovereigns to +respect it, would not the less subsist after the taking of Paris. It +would be inhuman, therefore, it would be atrocious, to engage in +sanguinary battles, that would make no alteration in the questions to +be decided. + +"I must speak candidly to your lordship; our state of possession, our +legal state, _which has the double sanction of the people and of the +chambers, is that of a government, where the grandson of the Emperor +of Austria is the head of the state. We cannot think of altering this +state of things, unless the nation acquires a certainty, that the +powers revoke their promises, and that the preservation of our present +government is in opposition to their common wishes_. + +"What then can be more just, than to conclude an armistice? Are there +any other means of allowing the combined powers time to explain +themselves, and France time to be acquainted with their wishes? + +"It will not escape your lordship, that already one great power finds +in our state of possession a personal right to interest itself in our +interior concerns. As long as this state remains unaltered, the two +chambers have hence an additional obligation, not to consent at +present to any measure capable of altering our possession. + +"Is not the step, that has been adopted on our eastern frontier, the +most natural to follow? It was not confined to an armistice between +General Bubna and Marshal Suchet: it was stipulated, that we should +return to our limits according to the treaty of Paris; because, in +fact, the war ought to be considered as ended by the simple fact of +the abdication of Napoleon. + +"Field-marshal Frimont, on his part, has agreed to the armistice, to +meet by preliminary arrangements those, that may take place between +the allies. We do not even know, whether England and Prussia have +changed their minds on the subject of our independence; for the march +of the armies cannot be any certain indication of the minds of the +cabinets. Neither can the will of two powers suffice us; it is their +general agreement we want to know. Would you anticipate this +agreement? Would you oppose an obstacle to it, in order to give rise +to a new political tempest from a state of things so near to peace? + +"I am not afraid, for my own part, to anticipate all objections. +Perhaps you suppose, that the occupation of Paris by two of the allied +armies will second the views you may entertain of restoring Louis +XVIII. to the throne. But can an augmentation of the evils of war, +which can be ascribed to this motive alone, be a means of +reconciliation? + +"I must declare to your lordship, that every sinister attempt to +impose on us a government, before the allied powers have explained +themselves, would immediately oblige the chambers to take measures, +that would not leave the possibility of a reconciliation in any case. +It is even the interest of the King, that every thing should remain in +a state of suspension: force may replace him on the throne, but cannot +keep him there. It is neither by force, nor by surprise, nor by the +wishes of one party, that the national will can be brought to change +its government. It would even be in vain, at the present moment, to +offer us conditions, to render a new government more supportable. +There are no conditions that can be examined, as long as the necessity +of bending our necks to the yoke, of renouncing our independence, is +not proved to us. Now, my lord, this necessity cannot even be +suspected, before the allied powers are in accord. None of their +engagements have been revoked: our independence is under their +protection: it is we, who enter into their views; and, according to +the sense of their declaration, it is the besieging armies, that +deviate from them. + +"According to these declarations, and never were there any more +solemn, every employment of force, in favour of the King, by these +armies, on that part of our territory, which is solely in their power, +will be considered by France as an avowal of the formal design of +imposing on us a government against our will. We may be allowed to ask +your lordship, whether you have received any such authority. Besides, +force is not a pacificator: a moral resistance repelled the late +government, that the King had been made to adopt: the more violence is +employed toward the nation, the more invincible would this resistance +be rendered. It cannot be the intention of the generals of the +besieging armies, to compromise their own governments; and to revoke +in fact the law, that the allied powers have imposed on themselves. + +"My lord, the whole question lies in the compass of these few words. + +"Napoleon has abdicated, as the allied powers desired: peace is +therefore restored: who the prince shall be, that is to reap the fruit +of this abdication, ought not even to be brought into the question. + +"Is our state of possession to be altered by force? The allied powers +would not only violate their promises, promises made in the face of +the whole world, but they would not obtain their end. Is the change to +come from the will of the nation? Then it is necessary, in order to +lead this will to declare itself, for the allied powers first to make +known their formal refusal, to let our present government subsist. An +armistice, therefore, is indispensable. + +"The full force of these considerations, my lord, it is impossible not +to perceive. Even in Paris, should the event of a battle open its +gates to you, I should still hold to your lordship the same language. +It is the language of all France. Were rivers of blood made +causelessly to flow, would the pretensions, that gave rise to them, be +more secure, or less odious? + +"I hope soon to have an intercourse with your lordship, that will lead +us both to the work of peace, by means more conformable to reason and +justice. An armistice would allow us, to treat in Paris: and it will +be easy for us to come to an understanding on the great principle, +that the tranquillity of France is a condition inseparable from the +tranquillity of Europe. It is only from a close inspection of the +nation and of the army, that you can judge, on what the quietness and +stability of our future condition depend. + +"I beg, &c. &c." + + +Though in this letter the Duke of Otranto pleaded the cause of +Napoleon IL, and pretended to be ignorant of the dispositions of the +allies, it was nevertheless very easy to perceive, that he considered +the question as irrevocably decided in favour of the Bourbons. Their +name, which he had long avoided mentioning, was incessantly on his +lips: but always the same, always inclined naturally and +systematically, to have more strings than one to his bow, he appeared +to incline alternately _for the younger branch, and for the reigning +branch_. At one time the former seemed to him to offer preferably, and +in a higher degree, all the guarantees the nation could desire: at +another he insinuated, that it would be possible, to come to an +accommodation with the King, if he would consent, to dismiss certain +dangerous persons, and make fresh concessions to France. + +This change, too sudden not to be noticed, drew on his conduct more +than ever the scrutinizing eyes and reproaches of the antagonists of +the Bourbons. + +He was accused of encouraging by impunity the newspaper writers and +pamphleteers, who openly advocated the recall of the ancient dynasty +of protecting the royalist party; and of having restored to liberty +one of its most subtle agents, Baron de Vitrolles. + +He was charged with holding nocturnal conferences with this same M. de +Vitrolles, and several eminent royalists; and with daily sending +emissaries, unknown to his colleagues, to the King, to M. de +Talleyrand, and to the Duke of Wellington. + +Two of the deputies, M. Durbach and General Solignac, went to him, and +declared, that they were acquainted with his manoeuvres; that his +ambition blinded him; that no compact could ever subsist between Louis +XVIII. and the murderer of his brother; and that sooner or later +France would take vengeance on this treason. + +An old minister of state, M. Deferment, reproached him to his teeth +with privately selling the lives and liberties of the French. + +Other accusations, not less serious, or less virulent, were addressed +to him by M. Carnot, and by General Grenier. "If he betray us," said +the latter, "I will blow his brains out." + +The Duke of Otranto, accustomed to brave political storms, coolly +repelled these imputations. He reminded his accusers of the numerous +pledges he had given to the revolution. He offered his head as the +guarantee of his fidelity. His protestations, his oaths, and the +imperturbable assurance, with which he answered for the safety and +independence of the nation, if he were suffered to go on his own way, +allayed the storms: but he had too much penetration, not to be aware +of the ground on which he stood; he could not but feel, that he was +lost, if he did not hasten to a conclusion; and there is every reason +to believe, that he rejected _no means_ of arriving speedily at a +decisive result[83]. + + [Footnote 83: If we may believe the declaration of M. + Macirone, confirmed by the testimony of two other secret + agents, MM. Marechal and St. Jul***, the Duke of Otranto + wrote to Lord Wellington, by a letter of which M. + Macirone was the bearer, and which he concealed in his + stockings, that the enthusiasm of the federates and + Bonapartists was at the height; and that it would be + impossible, to restrain them any longer, if the Duke of + Wellington did not hasten, to come and put an end to + their fury by the occupation of Paris.] + +Blucher, however, to whom only a shadow of defence was opposed, had +crossed the Seine at the bridge of Pecq, which had been preserved by +the care of a journalist named Martainville, and appeared to intend, +to spread his troops round the south-west of Paris[84]. Our generals, +witnessing this adventurous march, were unanimously of opinion, that +the Prussians had compromised themselves. They summoned the Prince of +Eckmuhl to attack them; and he could not avoid assenting to it. + + [Footnote 84: It was just at this moment, that the + Emperor declared to the government, that he was certain + of crushing the enemy, if they would entrust him with + the command of the army.] + +The whole army, generals, officers, soldiers, were still animated with +a devotion, that nothing could rebut. Proud of the confidence placed +in them by the national representatives, they had answered their +appeal by an address full of spirit and patriotism; they had sworn to +each other, to die in defence of the honour and independence of the +nation; and they were impatient, to fulfil their oaths. + +General Excelmans was sent after the Prussians with six thousand men. +A corps of fifteen thousand infantry, under the command of General +Vichery, was to follow him by the bridge of Sevres, and connect its +movements with six thousand foot of the 1st corps, and ten thousand +chosen horse, who were to march by the bridge of Neuilly. But at the +moment of executing these movements, the success of which would +unquestionably have ensured the destruction of the Prussian army, +counter-orders were issued by the Prince of Eckmuhl, from what motives +I know not. General Excelmans alone maintained the battle. He attacked +the enemy in advance of Versailles, drove them into an ambuscade, cut +them to pieces, and took from them their arms, baggage, and horses. +Generals Strulz, Pire, Barthe, and Vincent, colonels Briqueville, +Faudoas, St. Amand, Chaillou, Simonnet, Schmid, Paolini, and their +brave regiments, performed prodigies of valour, and were intrepidly +seconded by the citizens of the neighbouring communes, who had +preceded as sharpshooters the arrival of our troops on the field of +battle, and during the battle proved themselves worthy, to fight by +their side. + +This victory filled the Parisian patriots with hope and joy. It +inspired them with the noble desire of imitating the fine example, +that had just been set them. But when it was known, that a general +engagement had been unanimously desired and agreed upon; and that the +enemy, had it not been for counter-orders, surprised and cut off, +would have been annihilated, this intoxication was changed into +depression, and a cry was raised on all hands of infamy and treason. + +Excelmans and his brave men, not being supported, were obliged to +retreat. The Prussians advanced, the English moved out to support +them; they formed a junction, and came and encamped together on the +heights of Meudon. + +The committee hastened to inform the commissioners of the critical +situation of Paris, and desired them, as the Duke of Wellington was +incessantly sending them from Caiphas to Pilate, to endeavour to see +Prince Blucher. They answered, "that they had never been able to have +any communication with the marshal; and that they could not establish +a conference with him, unless through the intervention of Lord +Wellington, without the risk of occasioning a rupture." + +They added to their despatch a fresh letter, by which his lordship +announced to them, that "Prince Blucher continued to express to him +the greatest repugnance to the conclusion of an armistice," &c. &c. + +The government no longer doubted the ill will of the English general. +Count Carnot said, "that they must address themselves definitively to +the brutal frankness of Blucher, rather than live in the uncertainty, +in which they were kept by the civilities of Wellington." + +The Duke of Vicenza thought the same, that the only way of coming to a +conclusion was by bluntly making a proposal without the knowledge of +the English. He remarked to the committee, that the great repugnance +shown by Marshal Blucher to concluding an armistice, no doubt, arose +from his being probably unwilling, to negotiate under the direction +and influence of Wellington, to whose head-quarters he apparently +avoided paying a visit. That he would be much more tractable, if he +were addressed directly. That, by taking this step, they would also +have the advantage of removing the negotiations from the place, where +the Bourbons were; and of being able more easily to avoid the +political question, on which Wellington seemed far more decided than +Blucher. The commission, influenced by these observations, adopted the +advice of M. Carnot; and the Prince of Eckmuhl was ordered, to address +to Marshal Blucher direct proposals, founded principally on the +armistice concluded with the chiefs of the Austrian forces. + +The prince immediately answered: + +"If Marshal Frimont have thought himself authorised, to conclude an +armistice, this is no reason for our doing the same. We shall follow +up our victory: God has given us the means, and the will. + +"Consider what you have to do. Do not precipitate a city anew into +calamities; for you are aware to what lengths an enraged soldiery may +go, if your capital be taken by assault. Would you draw down on your +head the curses of Paris, as you have those of Hamburgh? + +"_We are resolved to enter Paris, to secure the honest people there +from the plunder; with which they are threatened by the populace_[85]. +It is only in Paris, that we can conclude a secure armistice." + + [Footnote 85: From this passage it appears + unquestionable, that Wellington had communicated M. + Fouche's letter to Prince Blucher.] + +This letter was revolting to the committee; but however great its just +indignation, there was now no middle path: _the commander in chief had +refused, to avail himself of a palpable fault of the enemy: the +opportunity of victory had been let slip: it was necessary, to +sustain a siege, or capitulate._ + +The committee, sensible of all the importance of the part it should +take, was desirous of having recourse to the skill, the councils, and +the responsibility of the most experienced men. It sent for the +immortal defenders of Genoa and Toulouse, the conqueror of Dantzic, +Generals Gazan, Duverney, and Evain, Major-General Ponton of the +engineers, who had distinguished himself at the siege of Hamburgh, and +in fine the presidents and committees (_bureaux_) of the two chambers. + +Count Carnot, who had been to examine our positions and those of the +enemy in company with General Grenier, made a report on the situation +of Paris to the assembly. + +He stated: + +That the fortifications erected on the right bank of the Seine +appeared sufficient, to secure Paris against any assault on that side. +But that the left bank was entirely open, and presented a spacious +field to the enemy's attempts. + +That the English and Prussian generals had moved the greater part of +their armies to this vulnerable point _with impunity_: and appeared +disposed, to attempt an attack with open force. That, if they failed +the first time, they might return to the charge a second; and renew +their attempts, till they rendered themselves masters of the capital. +That they would have fresh troops, to oppose to us continually; while +ours, obliged to be constantly on their guard, would soon be exhausted +with fatigue. + +That the arrival of subsistence was becoming difficult; and that a +corps of sixty thousand Bavarians would apparently block up the way +between the Seine and Marne in the course of a few days. + +That the enemy, already masters of the heights of Meudon, and the best +surrounding positions, might entrench themselves there, cut off our +retreat, and reduce Paris and the army, to surrender at discretion. + +The president of the committee, after having called the attention of +the members of the assembly to these serious considerations, requested +them to give their opinions. + +It was observed to him, that it appeared necessary, previously to make +known the present state of the negotiations. This the committee did +not refuse: but the communication having brought on a discussion +respecting the Bourbons, the committee reminded them, that they ought +to confine themselves to the military question; and that the point +was, purely and simply to decide, whether it were advisable or +possible, to defend Paris. + +The Prince of Essling, being called upon, said, that this city would +be impregnable, if the inhabitants would make of it a second +Saragossa: but there was not sufficient harmony in their sentiments, +to think of a resolute resistance and the most prudent part would be, +to obtain a suspension of hostilities at any price. + +The Duke of Dantzic declared, that he did not think it impossible, to +prolong their defence, by rapidly accelerating the works begun in the +plains of Montrouge. + +The Duke of Dalmatia maintained, that the left bank of the Seine was +not tenable: that it was even very hazardous, since the occupation of +Aubervilliers, to remain on the right side: that if the line of the +canal, that joins St. Denis to Lavillette, should be forced, the enemy +might enter by the barrier of St. Denis pell-mell with our troops. + +Some of the members, agreeing in opinion with the Duke of Dantzic, +demanded, that positive information should be procured respecting the +possibility of putting the left bank into a state of defence, previous +to coming to a decision. In fine, after some debate, it was decided, +that the assembly was not competent, to determine such a question: +and that it should be submitted to the examination and decision of a +council of war, which the Prince of Eckmuhl should convene for the +night following. + +The occupation of Paris by the foreigners was the object of the +impatient wishes of the royalists, and of the men who had sold or +devoted themselves from policy, ambition, or fear, to the party of the +Bourbons. Persuaded, that it would decide the fate of France in 1815, +as it had done in 1814, they had omitted beforehand no step, no +promise, no threatening insinuation, that could tend to accomplish +their wishes and their triumph by the surrender of the city. + +The Duke of Otranto, whether he were in concert with the royalists, or +considered the speedy capitulation of Paris necessary to his own +security; or were desirous of making a merit, at some future day, of +having brought France under the sway of its legitimate sovereign +without effusion of blood; appeared to consider it of great importance +that the defence of Paris should not be prolonged. "Every thing is on +the point of being settled," said he to the members, who had most +influence in the chambers and in the army: "let us be very careful +not to sacrifice a secure present to an uncertain future. The allies +are agreed, that we shall have _a_ Bourbon; but it is necessary, that +he submit to the conditions imposed on him by the nation. The chamber +will be retained, the generals will remain at the head of the army; +all will go well. Is it not better to submit, than to expose France to +be partitioned, or delivered over to the Bourbons bound hand and foot? +A prolonged resistance would have no other result, than to retard our +fall. It would rob us of the price of a voluntary submission, and +authorise the Bourbons to be implacable." If little disposition were +shown, to share his confidence and his sentiments; he imposed silence +on the refractory by all the forms of the most lively interest. "Your +opposition," he said to them, "astonishes and grieves me: would you +pass for an incendiary, and incur the penalty of being exiled? Let us +go on our own way, I conjure you: I will answer for the future.".... +An internal presentiment warned the hearers, that this future would be +far from answering the expectations of M. Fouche: but his political +life, his great talents, his connexions with the foreign ministers, +the attention paid him in 1814 by the Emperor Alexander and the king +of Prussia, gave such weight, such an ascendancy, to his words, that +they ultimately did violence to their own reason, and gave themselves +up, though not without murmuring, to confidence and hope. + +The council of war assembled on the night of the 1st of July at the +head-quarters at Lavillette, under the presidentship of the Prince of +Eckmuhl. Care was taken, it appeared, to keep away some suspected +generals; and not to neglect calling those officers, whose principles, +moderation, or weakness, was known. All the marshals present in the +capital were admitted; and they, who had lately refused to fight, did +not refuse to come to capitulate. + +The committee, in order to prevent all political discussion, had +stated the questions, to which the members of the council were to +confine their deliberations: but this precaution, as might be +supposed, did not prevent their entering familiarly into the moral and +political considerations, that might influence the defence or +surrender of the place besieged. Marshal Soult pleaded the cause of +Louis XVIII.; and was eagerly seconded by other marshals, and several +generals, who, though they entered into the council under the +national colours, would willingly have gone out of it with the white +cockade. + +It is impossible, to recapitulate the opinions, given in turn or +confusedly by the fifty persons, who were called to take a share in +this great and important deliberation. Their speeches, or rather their +conversation, turned alternately on Paris and on the Bourbons. + +"We are told," said the partisans of Louis XVIII. and the +capitulation, "that Paris, covered without by an army of eighty +thousand men; and defended within by the federates, the sharpshooters, +the national guard, and an immense population; might resist the +efforts of the allies for twenty days at least. We are told, that its +immense extent will render the arrival of provision easy. We admit the +possibility of all this: but what will be the ultimate effect of this +resistance? To allow the Emperor Alexander, and the Emperor of +Austria, time to arrive.... The allies, we know perfectly well, +promise to leave us the power of choosing our sovereign: but will they +keep their promises? and what conditions will they annex to them? +Already Wellington and Blucher have announced, that they will require +guarantees, and fortified towns, if Louis XVIII. be rejected. Is not +this equivalent to a formal declaration, that the allies are resolved, +to retain that sovereign on the throne? Let us voluntarily rally round +him, therefore, while we still can. His ministers led him astray, but +his intentions were always pure: he knows the faults he has committed; +he will be eager to repair them, and to give us the institutions yet +necessary, to consolidate the rights and liberties of the people on +bases not to be shaken." + +"This reasoning may be just," answered their opponents; "but +experience, of more weight than any reasoning, has convinced us, that +we must not rely on empty promises. The hopes you have conceived rest +on conjecture, or on the word of the agents of the Bourbons. Before we +surrender ourselves into the hands of the King, he must make known to +us the guarantees, by which we are to be secured. If they be agreeable +to us, then we may deliberate but if we open our gates without +conditions, and previous to the arrival of Alexander, Wellington and +the Bourbons will make a jest of their promises, and oblige us to +submit to the will of the conqueror without pity. Besides, why should +we despair of the safety of France? Is the loss of a single battle, +then, to decide the fate of a great nation? Have we not still immense +resources, to oppose to the enemy? Have the federates, the national +guard, and all true Frenchmen, refused to shed their blood in defence +of the glory, the honour, and the independence of their country? While +we are fighting under the walls of the capital, the levy in mass of +the patriots will be arranged in the departments: and when our enemies +see, that we are determined to defend our independence, they will +rather respect it, than expose themselves to a patriotic and national +war for interests not their own. We must refuse, therefore, to +surrender; and place ourselves in a situation, by a vigorous defence, +to give the law, instead of receiving it." + +"You maintain," it was replied, "that we may raise in mass the +federates and the patriots. But how will you arm them? we have no +muskets. Besides, can a levy in mass be organised on a sudden? Before +you could have a single battalion at your disposal, Paris would have +under its feeble ramparts sixty thousand Bavarians, and a hundred and +forty thousand Austrians more to fight. What will you do then? You +must ultimately surrender: and the blood you will have shed will be +lost without return, and without utility. But will not that we shall +have spilt of the enemy fall on our own heads? Will they not make us +expiate our mad and cruel resistance by a disgraceful capitulation? If +the allies, at the present moment, think themselves strong enough to +refuse you a suspension of hostilities, what will they do, when they +have their twelve hundred thousand soldiers on our territory? The +dismemberment of France, the pillage and devastation of the capital, +will be, perhaps, the fruit of the rash defence you propose to us." + +These considerations, the force of which was generally felt, were +unanimously approved. It was acknowledged, that it would be +unquestionably most prudent, not to expose the capital to the +consequences and dangers of a siege, or of being taken by assault. It +was acknowledged, too, at least by implication, that, the return of +the Bourbons being inevitable, it was better to recall them +voluntarily, under good conditions, than to leave to the allies the +act of restoring them. But the members did not think proper, to +explain themselves on this delicate subject; and accordingly confined +themselves to laconic answers of the questions proposed by the +committee. + + +_Questions proposed by the Committee of Government to the Council of +War, assembled at la Villette, July the 1st, 1815._ + +"1st. What is the state of the intrenchments raised for the defence of +Paris?--_Answer._ The state of the intrenchments, and their supply of +ordnance, on the right bank of the Seine, though incomplete, is in +general satisfactory enough. On the left bank the intrenchments may be +considered as null. + +"2d. The army, can it cover and defend Paris?--_Ans._ It may: but not +indefinitely. It ought not to expose itself to a want of provision, or +to have its retreat cut off. + +"3d. If the army were attacked on all points, could it prevent the +enemy from penetrating into Paris on one side or the other?--_Ans._ It +would be difficult for the army to be attacked on all points at once: +but should this happen, there would be little hope of resistance. + +"4th. In case of a defeat, could the commander in chief reserve, or +collect, sufficient means, to oppose a forcible entry?--_Ans._ No +general can answer for the consequences of a battle. + +"5th. Is there sufficient ammunition for several battles?--_Ans._ Yes. + +"6th. In fine, can you answer for the fate of the capital? and for how +long a time?--_Ans._ We can warrant nothing on this head. + + (Signed) "The Marshal Minister at War, + "The Prince of ECKMUHL. + +"July the 2d, 3 o'clock in the morning." + + +The answer of the council of war was transmitted immediately to the +Tuileries, and there became the subject of a long and profound +deliberation. + +In fine, after having weighed the advantages and dangers of a +protracted defence; after having considered, that Paris, without hope +of succour, and surrounded on all sides, would either be taken by +assault, or forced to surrender at discretion that the army, without +any means of retreat, would find themselves perhaps reduced to choose +between the disgrace of surrendering themselves prisoners, and the +necessity of burying themselves under the ruins of the capital; the +committee decided unanimously, that Paris should not be defended, and +that they would submit to deliver it into the hands of the allies, +since the allies would not suspend hostilities at any other price. + +General Ziethen, who commanded Prince Blucher's advanced guard, was +informed of this determination by the Prince of Eckmuhl. He returned +him the following answer: + + +"_To the Prince of Eckmuhl._ + + "July the 2d. + +"Monsieur General, + +"General Revest has communicated to me verbally, that you demand an +armistice, to treat of the surrender of Paris. + +"In consequence, M. General, I have to inform you, that I am in no way +authorized to accept an armistice. I dare not even announce this +demand to his Highness Marshal Prince Blucher: but however, if the +deputies of the government declare to my aide-de-camp, Count +Westphalen, that they will surrender the city, _and that the French +army will surrender itself also_, I will accept a suspension of +hostilities. + +"I will then communicate it to his highness Prince Blucher, to treat +of the other articles. + + (Signed) "ZIETHEN." + + +When Brennus, abusing his victory, offered an insult to the +vanquished, the Romans ran to arms. We, less sensible, and less proud, +heard, without shuddering, the insult offered to our eighty thousand +brave soldiers, and accepted, without blushing, the disgrace thus +inflicted upon them and us! + +Our only revenge was to despatch MM. de Tromeling and Macirone, the +former to Prince Blucher, the latter to Lord Wellington. + +The Duke of Otranto, without the knowledge of the committee, delivered +to M. Macirone a confidential note in the following terms: + +"The army is dissatisfied, because it is unhappy; encourage it: it +will become faithful and devoted. + +"The chambers are indocile for the same reason; encourage every body, +and every body will be on your side. + +"Let the army be sent away: the chambers will consent to it, on a +promise to add to the charter the guarantees specified by the King. In +order to come to a good understanding, it is necessary, that +explanations should take place: do not enter Paris, therefore, in less +than three days; in this interval every thing will be settled. _The +chambers will be gained; they will fancy themselves independent, and +will sanction every thing._ It is not force that must be employed with +them, but persuasion." + +I know not whether M. de Tromeling were also furnished with a similar +note, or whether Lord Wellington interposed his authority; but Prince +Blucher, become on a sudden more tractable, consented to treat of the +surrender of Paris. + +On the 3d of July, General Ziethen announced on his part to the Prince +of Eckmuhl, "that the deputies of the government might present +themselves: that they would be conducted to St. Cloud, where they +would find deputies from the English and Prussian generals." + +Baron Bignon, Count de Bondy, and General Guilleminot, provided with +powers from the Prince of Eckmuhl (Blucher having declared, that he +would have nothing to do with any person but the chief of the French +army), repaired to the Prussian advanced posts, and were conducted to +St. Cloud; _where, without any regard to the laws of nations, they +were deprived of all means of communicating with the government, and +kept in a private prison, during the whole continuance of the +negotiations._ + +Baron Bignon, the principal negotiator, and his two colleagues, +defended the political rights, the private interests, the +inviolability of persons and property, national and individual, with +inestimable firmness and zeal. They were far from foreseeing, that +the following convention, which they considered as sacred, would +subsequently open such a fatal!! door to the interpretations of +vengeance and bad faith. + + +CONVENTION. + +This day, July the 3d, 1815, the commissioners named by the commanders +in chief of the respective armies, namely: + +M. Baron Bignon, having in charge the portfolio of foreign affairs; M. +Count Guilleminot, chief of the staff of the French army; M. Count de +Bondy, prefect of the department of the Seine; furnished with full +powers by Marshal the Prince of Eckmuhl, commander in chief of the +French army, on the one part; + +And M. Major-General Baron de Muffling, furnished with powers by his +Highness Marshal Prince Blucher, commander-in-chief of the Prussian +army; and M. Colonel Hervey, furnished with full powers by his +excellency the Duke of Wellington, commander-in-chief of the English +army, on the other; + +Have agreed on the following articles: + +ART. I. + +There shall be a suspension of hostilities between the allied armies +commanded by his highness Prince Blucher, his excellency the Duke of +Wellington, and the French army, under the walls of Paris. + +ART. II. + +To-morrow the French army shall commence its march, to retire behind +the Loire. The total evacuation of Paris shall be effected in three +days, and its movement of retiring behind the Loire shall be finished +in eight days. + +ART. III. + +The French army shall take with it its stores, field artillery, +military convoys, horses, and property of the regiments, without any +exception. This shall equally apply to what belongs to (_le personnel +des_) the depots, and the different branches of administration, +belonging to the army. + +ART. IV. + +The sick and wounded, as well as the medical officers, whom it may be +necessary to leave with them, are under the particular protection of +MM. the commissaries in chief of the English and Prussian armies. + +ART. V. + +The military and non-military persons, mentioned in the preceding +article, may rejoin the corps to which they belong, as soon as they +are recovered. + +ART. VI. + +The women and children of all persons belonging to the French army +shall be at liberty to remain in Paris. + +These women shall meet with no obstruction to their quitting Paris, to +rejoin the army, or to taking with them their own property or that of +their husbands. + +ART. VII. + +The officers of the line employed with the federates, or with the +sharpshooters of the national guard, may either rejoin the army, or +return to their place of residence, or to the place where they were +born. + +ART. VIII. + +To-morrow, July the 4th, at noon, St. Denis, St. Ouen, Clichy, and +Neuilly, shall be delivered up; the next day, July the 5th, at the +same hour, Montmartre shall be delivered; and on the 3d day, July 6, +all the barriers shall be delivered. + +ART. IX. + +The interior duty of Paris shall continue to be performed by the +national guard, and by the corps of municipal gendarmerie. + +ART. X. + +The commanders in chief of the English and Prussian armies _engage to +respect, and to make those under them respect, the present +authorities, as long as they subsist_. + +ART. XI. + +_Public property_, except what relates to war, whether it belong to +the government, or depend on the municipal authority, _shall be +respected_, and the allied powers will not interfere in any manner in +its management, or in its conduct. + +ART. XII. + +The persons and property of individuals shall be equally respected: +the inhabitants, and all persons in general, who happen to be in the +capital, shall continue to enjoy their rights and liberties, _without +being molested, or any inquiry being made into the functions they +occupy or may have occupied, their conduct, or their political +opinions_. + +ART. XIII. + +The foreign troops shall oppose no obstacle to the supply of the +capital with provision; and on the contrary shall protect the arrival +and free circulation of articles intended for it. + +ART. XIV. + +The present convention shall be observed, and serve as a rule for the +mutual conduct of the parties, till a peace is concluded. + +In case of a rupture, it shall be announced in the usual forms at +least ten days beforehand. + +ART. XV. + +_If any difficulties arise_, respecting the execution of some of the +articles of the present convention, _the interpretation shall be in +favour of the French army_, and of the city of Paris. + +ART. XVI. + +The present convention is declared common to all the allied armies, +saving the ratification of the powers, to which those armies belong. + +ART. XVII. + +The ratifications shall be exchanged to-morrow, at six o'clock in the +morning, at the bridge of Neuilly. + +ART. XVIII. + +Commissioners shall be named by the respective parties, to superintend +the execution of the present convention. + +Done and signed at St. Cloud, in triplicate, by the commissioners +undernamed, the day and year above mentioned, + + (Signed) Baron BIGNON. + Count GUILLEMINOT. + Count DE BONDY. + Baron DE MUFFLING. + B. HERVEY, Colonel. + +Approved and ratified, + + (Signed) Marshal Prince ECKMUHL. + + +The title of capitulation was originally given to this treaty: but the +Duke of Otranto, aware of the power of words, and dreading the +impression this would produce, hastened to recall the copies already +distributed, and to substitute the milder title of convention. This +precaution, however, fascinated the eyes only of a few friendly +deputies. Numerous groups were formed: the government and Prince +Eckmuhl were openly charged with having a second time delivered up and +sold Paris to the allies and the Bourbons. The patriots, the +sharpshooters, the federates, who had offered to defend the city with +their lives, were equally indignant, that the city had been given up +without firing a single shot. They resolved, to seize on the heights +of Montmartre, join the army, and sell dearly to the enemy the last +sighs of liberty and of France. But their threatening clamours were +not unheard by the government. It called out the national guards; and +these at length appeased the malecontents, by opposing to them the +example of their own resignation. + +The publication of the convention produced an effervescence not less +formidable in the camps. The generals assembled, to protest against +this impious act, and oppose its accomplishment. They declared, that +the Prince of Eckmuhl, _in whose house they had frequently caught M. +de Vitrolles_, had forfeited the esteem of the army, and was no longer +worthy to command it. They repaired to General Vandamme, and offered +him the command. But this officer, who had made one of the council of +war, which they did not know, and approved its sentiments, refused his +consent to their wishes. The soldiers, who had been made to swear by +the representatives of the people, that they would never suffer the +enemy to penetrate into the capital, spontaneously shared the +indignation of their leaders; and declared, like them, that they would +never consent, to surrender Paris. Some broke their arms, others +brandished them in the air with curses and threats; all swore, to die +on the spot, rather than desert it. A general insurrection appeared +inevitable and at hand; when the General, alarmed at the calamities it +might occasion, harangued the soldiers, and at length calmed their +irritation. The imperial guard, yielding to the ascendancy the brave +and loyal Drouot possessed over it, gave the first example of +submission, and every thing was restored to order. + +The government, to justify its conduct, and prevent similar +insurrections in the other armies, and in the departments, published +the following proclamation, a pompous tissue of eloquent impostures, +and of fallacious promises[86]. + + [Footnote 86: It was the performance of the Duke of + Otranto.] + + +"_The Committee of Government to the French._ + +"Frenchmen, + +"Under the difficult circumstances, in which the reins of government +were entrusted to us, it was not in our power, to master the course of +events, and repel every danger: but it was our duty, to protect the +interests of the people, and of the army, equally compromised in the +cause of a prince, abandoned by fortune and by the national will. + +"It was our duty, _to preserve_ to our country the precious remains of +those brave legions, whose courage is superior to misfortune, and who +have been the victims of a devotion, which their country now claims. + +"It was our duty, to save the capital from the horrors of a siege, or +the chances of a battle to maintain the public tranquillity amid the +tumults and agitations of war, _to support the hopes of the friends of +liberty_, amid the fears and anxieties of a suspicious foresight. It +was above all our duty, to stop the useless effusion of blood. We had +to choose _between a secure national existence_, or run the risk of +exposing our country and its citizens to a general convulsion, that +would leave behind it neither hope, nor a future. + +"_None of the means of defence_, that time and our resources +permitted, nothing that the service of the camps or of the city +required, have we neglected. + +"While the pacification of the West was concluding, plenipotentiaries +went to meet the allied powers; and all the papers relative to this +negotiation have been laid before our representatives. + +"The fate of the capital is regulated by a convention: its +inhabitants, whose firmness, courage, and perseverance, are above all +praise, will retain the guarding of it. _The declarations of the +sovereigns of Europe must inspire too great confidence, their promises +have been too solemn, for us to entertain any fears of our liberties, +and of our dearest interests, being sacrificed to victory._ + +"_At length we shall receive guarantees_, that will prevent the +alternate and transient triumphs of the factions, by which we have +been agitated these five and twenty years; that will terminate our +revolutions, and _melt down under one common protection_ all the +parties, to which they have given rise, and all those, against which +they have contended. + +"Those guarantees, which have hitherto existed only in our principles +and in our courage, _we shall find_ in our laws, in our constitution, +in our representative system. For whatever may be the intelligence, +the virtues, the personal qualities of a monarch, these can never +suffice, to render the people secure against the oppressions of power, +the prejudices of pride, the injustice of courts, and the ambition of +courtiers. + +"Frenchmen, peace is necessary to your commerce, to your arts, to the +improvement of your morals, to the development of the resources +remaining to you: be united, _and you are at the end of your +calamities_. The repose of Europe is inseparable from yours. Europe is +interested in your tranquillity, and in your happiness. + +"Given at Paris, July the 5th, 1815. + + (Signed) "The president of the committee, + + "The Duke of OTRANTO." + + +By the terms of the convention, the first column of the French was to +commence its march on the 4th. The soldiers, still irritated, declared +they would not set out, till they received their arrears of pay. The +treasury was empty, credit extinguished, the government at bay. The +Prince of Eckmuhl proposed, to seize the funds of the bank: but this +attempt struck the committee with horror. One resource alone, one only +hope, remained: this was to invoke the support of a banker, at that +time celebrated for his wealth, now celebrated for his public virtues. +M. Lafitte was applied to: the chances of the future did not deter +him; he listened only to the interest of his country; and several +millions, distributed by his assistance through the ranks of the army, +disarmed the mutineers, and crushed the seeds of a civil war. + +The army began its march. Amid the despair, into which it had been +plunged by the capitulation, it had frequently called on Napoleon! The +committee, apprehensive that the Emperor, having no longer any +measures to keep, would come and put himself in a state of desperation +at the head of the patriots and soldiers, sent orders by a courier to +General Beker, "to effect the arrival of Napoleon at Rochefort without +delay; _and, without departing from the respect due to him, to employ +all the means necessary, to get him embarked_; as his stay in France +compromised the safety of the state, and was detrimental to the +negotiations." + +The retreat of the army, the occupation of Paris by the foreigners, +and the presence of the King at Arnouville, unveiled the future; and +those men who were not blinded by incurable illusions, prepared to +fall again under the sway of the Bourbons. + +Their partisans, their emissaries, their known agents (M. de Vitrolles +and others) had asserted, that the King, ascribing the revolution of +the 20th of March to the faults of his ministry, would shut his eyes +to all that had passed; and that a general absolution would be the +pledge of his return, and of his reconciliation with the French. This +consolatory assertion had already surmounted the repugnance of many; +when the proclamations of the 25th and 28th of June, issued at +Cambray, made their appearance[87]. These in fact acknowledged, that +the ministers of the King had committed faults; but, far from +promising a complete oblivion of those committed by his subjects, one +of them, the work of the Duke of Feltre, on the contrary announced, +"that the King, whose potent allies had cleared the way for him to his +dominions, by dispersing _the satellites of the tyrant_, was hastening +to return to them, to carry the existing laws into execution against +the guilty." + + [Footnote 87: They were published by order of the + chamber.] + +Information was soon brought by the commissioners, returned from the +head quarters of the allies, and confirmed by the reports of MM. +Tromeling and Macirone, that Blucher and Wellington, already taking +advantage of our weakness, openly declared, that the authority of the +chambers and of the committee was illegal; and that the best thing +they could do would be, to give in their resignations, and proclaim +Louis XVIII. + +All the good effected by the cajolery of M. Fouche, and the hope of a +happy reconciliation, now disappeared. Consternation seized the +weak-minded; indignation, men of a generous spirit. The committee, +disappointed of the hope of obtaining Napoleon II., or the Duke of +Orleans; who, according to the expression of the Duke of Wellington, +would have been only an usurper of a good family; could no longer +disguise from itself, that it was the intention of the foreign powers, +to restore Louis XVIII. to the throne; but it had imagined, that his +re-establishment would be the subject of an agreement between the +nation, the allied monarchs, and Louis. + +When it was acquainted with the language held by the enemy's generals, +it foresaw, that the independence of the powers of the state, +stipulated by the convention, would not be respected; and it +deliberated, whether it would not be proper for it and the chambers, +to retire behind the Loire with the army. This measure, worthy of the +firmness of M. Carnot, who proposed it, was strongly combated by the +Duke of Otranto. He declared, that this step would ruin France; "that +the greater part of the generals would not assent to it, and that he +himself would be the first, to refuse to quit Paris. That it was at +Paris the whole must be decided: and that it was the duty of the +committee to remain there, to protect the high interests confided to +it, and contend for them to the last extremity." + +The committee gave up the idea; not out of deference to the +observations of M. Fouche, for he had lost all his empire over it; but +because it was convinced on reflection, that things had gone too far, +for any benefit to be expected from this desperate step. It would +probably have rekindled the foreign war, and a civil war; and, though +the soldiers might be depended on, their leaders could no longer be +so, with the same security. Some, as General Senechal, had been +stopped at the advanced posts, when going over to the Bourbons. Others +had openly declared themselves in favour of Louis. The greater number +appeared inflexible: but this difference of opinion had brought on +distrust and dissensions; and in political wars all is lost, when +there is a divergency of wills and opinions. Besides it would have +been necessary, since the committee persisted in rejecting Napoleon, +to place at the head of the army some other chief, whose name, sacred +to glory, might serve as a stay and rallying point: and on whom could +the choice of the committee fall[88]? + + [Footnote 88: Events have justified the prudence of the + marshals; but I am not judging of events, I am relating + them.] + +Marshal Ney had been the first, to give the alarm, and despair of the +safety of the country[89]. + + [Footnote 89: On the 23d of June, M. Carnot, after + having delivered to the chamber of peers Napoleon's act + of abdication, entered into some details of the state of + the army. Marshal Ney rose, and said ... "What you have + just heard is false, entirely false; Marshal Grouchy and + the Duke of Dalmatia cannot assemble sixty thousand + men.... Marshal Grouchy has been unable to rally more + than seven or eight thousand; Marshal Soult could not + maintain his post at Rocroy; you have no longer _any + means_ of saving the country, but by negotiations." M. + Carnot and General Flahaut immediately refuted this + imprudent negation. General Drouot completely refuted + the marshal in the following sitting.... "I have heard + with regret," said he, "what had been said to diminish + the glory of our armies, exaggerate our disasters, or + depreciate our resources. I will say what I think, what + I fear, and what I hope. On my frankness you may depend. + My attachment to the Emperor cannot be doubted: but + before all things, and above all things, I love my + country." The general then gave a true and authenticated + account of the battles of Ligny and Mont St. Jean; and, + after having justified the Emperor from the faults, + indirectly attempted to be imputed to him, continued: + "Such are the particulars of this fatal day. It ought to + have crowned the glory of the French army, destroyed all + the vain hopes of the enemy, and perhaps soon given a + peace to France.... But heaven decided otherwise.... + Though our losses are considerable, still our situation + is not desperate: the resources yet left us are great, + if we will employ them with energy ... such a + catastrophe should not discourage a nation great and + noble like ours.... After the battle of Cannae, the Roman + senate voted thanks to their vanquished general, because + he had not despaired of the safety of the republic; and + laboured incessantly, to furnish him with the means of + repairing the disasters of which he had been the + cause.... On an occasion less critical, would the + representatives of the nation suffer themselves to be + depressed? Or would they forget the dangers of their + country, and waste their hours in ill-timed debates, + instead of having recourse to a remedy, that should + ensure the safety of France?"] + +Marshal Soult had relinquished his command. + +Marshal Massena, worn out by victories, had no longer the bodily +strength, that circumstances required. + +Marshal Macdonald, deaf to the shout of war raised by his old +companions in arms, had suffered his sword, to remain peaceably in its +scabbard. + +Marshal Jourdan was on the Rhine. + +Marshal Mortier had been seized with the gout at Beaumont. + +Marshal Suchet had displayed irresolution and repugnance from the +beginning. + +In fine, Marshals Davoust and Grouchy no longer possessed the +confidence of the army. + +The committee, therefore, it is grating to the pride of a Frenchman to +confess it, would not have known to whose hands the fate of France +might be entrusted; and the part it took, that of waiting the issue of +events in the capital, if not the most dignified, was at least the +wisest and most prudent. + +The representatives of the people, on their part, far from showing +themselves docile to the advice of Wellington and of Blucher, +displayed with more energy than ever the principles and sentiments +that animated them. They collected round the tri-coloured flag; and, +though the army had laid down its weapons, they were still resolved to +contend in defence of liberty, and the independence of the nation. + +On the very day when the convention of Paris was notified to them by +the government, they exposed, in a new bill of rights, the fundamental +principles of a constitution, which alone, in their opinion, could +satisfy the wishes of the public: and declared, that the prince called +to reign over them should not ascend the throne, till he had given his +sanction to this bill and taken an oath to observe it, and cause it to +be observed. + +Informed almost immediately by sinister rumours, that soon they would +be no longer allowed to deliberate, they resolved, on the motion of M. +Dupont de l'Eure, solemnly to express their last will in a kind of +political testament, drawn up in the following words. + + +"_Declaration of the Chamber of Representatives._ + +"The troops of the allied powers are about to occupy the capital. + +"The chamber of representatives will nevertheless continue to sit amid +the inhabitants of Paris, to which place the express will of the +people has sent its proxies. + +"But, under the present serious circumstances, the chamber of +representatives owes it to itself, owes it to France and to Europe, to +make a declaration of its sentiments and principles. + +"It declares, therefore, that it makes a solemn appeal to the fidelity +and patriotism of the national guard of Paris, charged with the +protection of the national representatives. + +"It declares, that it reposes itself with the highest confidence on +the moral principles, honour, and magnanimity, of the allied powers, +and on their respect for the independence of the nation, positively +expressed in their manifestoes. + +"It declares, that the government of France, whoever may be its head, +ought to unite in its favour the wishes of the nation, legally +expressed; and form arrangements with the other governments, in order +to become a common bond and guarantee of peace between France and +Europe. + +"It declares, that a monarch cannot offer any real guarantees, if he +do not swear to the observance of a constitution, formed by the +deliberations of the national representatives, and accepted by the +people. Accordingly any government, that has no other title than the +acclamations and will of a party, or is imposed on it by force; any +government, that does not adopt the national colours, and does not +guarantee, + +"The liberties of the citizens; + +"Equality of rights, civil and political; + +"The liberty of the press; + +"Freedom of religious worship; + +"The representative system; + +"Free assent to levies and taxes; + +"The responsibility of ministers; + +"The irrevocability of sales of national property, from whatever +source originating; + +"The inviolability of property; + +"The abolition of titles, of the old and new hereditary nobility, and +of feudal claims; + +"The abolition of all confiscation of property, the complete oblivion +of opinions and votes given up to the present day; + +"The institution of the legion of honour; + +"The recompenses due to the officers and soldiers; + +"The succour due to their widows and children; + +"The institution of a jury; the indefeasibleness of the office of +judge; + +"The payment of the public debt; + +"Would not ensure the tranquillity of France and of Europe. + +"If the fundamental principles, announced in this declaration, should +be disregarded or violated, the representatives of the French people, +acquitting themselves this day of a sacred duty, enter their protest +beforehand, in the face of the whole world, against violence and +usurpation. They entrust they maintenance of the arrangements, which +they now proclaim, to all good Frenchmen, to all generous hearts, to +all enlightened minds, to all men jealous of liberty, and, in fine, to +future generations." + + +This sublime protest was considered by the assembly as a funeral +monument, erected to patriotism and fidelity. All the members arose, +and adopted it spontaneously, with shouts a thousand times repeated of +"Long live the nation! Liberty for ever!" It was resolved, that it +should be sent immediately to the chamber of peers: "It must be made +known," said M. Dupin, "that the whole of the national representation +shares the noble sentiments expressed in this declaration. It must be +made known to all worthy and reasonable men, the friends of judicious +liberty, that their wishes have found interpreters here, and that +force itself cannot prevent us from uttering them." + +At the same moment M. Bedoch announced, that our plenipotentiaries +were returned; and that one of them, M. Pontecoulant, had affirmed, +that "the foreign powers, and particularly the Emperor Alexander, had +shown favourable dispositions he had frequently heard it said and +repeated, that it was not the intention of the allied sovereigns, to +put any constraint on France in the choice of a government; and that +the Emperor Alexander would be at Nancy in a few days[90]." + + [Footnote 90: The plenipotentiaries, who set out from + Laon on the 26th of June, arrived on the 1st of July at + Hagueneau, the head-quarters of the allied sovereigns. + + The sovereigns did not think fit, to give them an + audience; and Count Walmoden was appointed on the part + of Austria, Count Capo d'Istria on that of Russia, + General Knesbeck on that of Prussia, to hear their + proposals. The English ambassador, Lord Stewart, having + no powers _ad hoc_, was simply invited, to be present at + the conferences. + + Lord Stewart did not fail, as was foreseen in the + instructions given to the plenipotentiaries, to dispute + the legality of the existence of the chambers and of the + committee; and asked the French deputies, by what right + the nation pretended to expel their King, and choose + another sovereign. By the same right, answered M. de la + Fayette, as Great Britain had to depose James, and crown + William. + + This answer stopped the mouth of the English minister. + + The plenipotentiaries, warned by this question of the + disposition of the allies, exerted themselves less for + obtaining Napoleon II., than for rejecting Louis XVIII. + They declared, I am told, that France had an insuperable + aversion to this sovereign and his family; and that + there was no prince, it would not consent to adopt, + rather than return under their sway. In fine, they + hinted, that the nation might agree to take the Duke of + Orleans, or the King of Saxony, if it were impossible + for it to retain the throne for the son of Maria Louisa. + + The foreign ministers, after some insignificant + discourse, politely put an end to the conference; and in + the evening the French plenipotentiaries received their + dismissal by the following note: + + _Hagueneau, July the 1st._ + + "According to the stipulation of the treaty of + alliance, which says, that none of the contracting + parties shall treat of peace or an armistice, but + by common consent, the three courts, that find + themselves together, Austria, Russia, and Prussia, + declare, that they cannot at present enter into any + negotiation. The cabinets will assemble together, + as soon as possible. + + "The three powers consider it as an essential + condition of peace, and of real tranquillity, that + Napoleon Bonaparte shall be incapable of disturbing + the repose of France, and of Europe, for the + future: and in consequence of the events, that + occurred in the month of March last, _the powers + must insist, that Napoleon Bonaparte be placed in + their custody_. + + (Signed) WALMODEN. + Capo d'ISTRIA. + KNESBECK." + + +General Sebastiani confirmed these explanations. The chamber, feeling +its hopes revive, immediately ordered, that its declaration should be +carried to the foreign monarchs by a deputation of its members. "They +will understand our language," said M. Dupont de l'Eure, with a noble +feeling: "it is worthy of them, and of the great nation we represent." + +Thus, at the very moment when the chamber was about to expire, its +dying looks were still turned with pleasing confidence toward the +foreign kings, whom the inconstancy of fortune had rendered the +arbiters of France. It appealed particularly, in all its wishes, to +that loyal and magnanimous prince, who had already preserved the +French from the calamities of conquest, and who appeared destined to +preserve it from evils still more deplorable. His name, uttered with +respect, with gratitude, issued from every mouth; it was sufficient, +to calm disquietude, allay grief, and revive hope; it seemed to be the +pledge of peace, independence, and happiness, to the nation. O +Alexander! this high esteem, this tender confidence, of a whole people +not thy own, doubt not, will be placed by posterity in the first rank +of thy claims to glory. + +The committee, however, dissuaded the representatives from applying to +the sovereigns. It remonstrated to them, that the foreign powers +refused to acknowledge the legal character of the chambers, and this +step would expose them to humiliations unworthy the majesty of the +nation. The representatives, convinced of their mistake, did not +persevere: they tranquilly resumed their labours on the +constitution[91], and continued, while the despotic sword of kings +hung over their heads, stoically to discuss the imprescriptible rights +of the people. + + [Footnote 91: This constitution, founded on the + additional act, differed from it only in abolishing + hereditary mobility. M. Manuel, however, who displayed + talents of the first order in this discussion, was of + opinion, that the order of nobility should not be + suppressed, being essentially necessary in a monarchy. + Had I to draw up an eulogy of the additional act, or a + charge against those who hold it in contempt, I would + only refer them to his constitution.] + +The Duke of Wellington, when the convention was signed, had expressed +a desire, to confer with the Duke of Otranto on its execution. The +committee did not oppose their interview. It was a certain means of +knowing definitively what was to be depended on, with regard to the +dispositions of the allies. It was agreed, that the president of the +committee should reproduce the arguments of the letter of the 1st of +July; that he should endeavour, to keep out the Bourbons, and turn the +temporary vacancy of the throne to the advantage of the nation and of +freedom. + +The Duke of Otranto, on his return, informed the committee, "that +Wellington had formally declared in favour of Louis XVIII.; and had +said, that this sovereign would make his entrance into Paris on the +8th of July. + +"That General Pozzo di Borgo had repeated the same declaration in the +name of the Emperor of Russia; and had communicated to him a letter +from Prince Metternich, and from Count Nesselrode, expressing the +resolution, to acknowledge only Louis XVIII, and to admit no proposal +to the contrary." He added, "that the Duke of Wellington had conducted +him to the King: that he had gone _for his sake_ (_pour son compte_); +that he had left him ignorant of nothing with respect to the situation +of France, or to the disposition of people's minds against the return +of his family. That the King had listened to him with attention, and +with approbation that he had manifested an inclination, to add to the +charter fresh guarantees, and to remove all idea of reaction. _That, +as to the expressions in the proclamations, they would rather furnish +opportunities for clemency, than means of severity._" In fine, he +added, "that he had spoken of the tri-coloured cockade, but that all +explanation had been refused: that the opposition appeared to him, to +proceed less from the King, than from those about him, and from M. de +Talleyrand." + +After this interview, the Duke of Otranto appeared to act separately +from his colleagues; and no longer made his appearance with +punctuality at their frequent meetings. + +The newspapers soon made public, that he was appointed minister of +police to the King. This he had concealed from the committee. The +royalists congratulated him on this mark of favour; the patriots +loaded him with curses, considering it as the reward of his treachery. + +The King's party, which had hitherto kept itself in obscurity, was +desirous of making reparation for this long and pusillanimous +inactivity by some brilliant act. It plotted the disarming of the +posts of the national guard, under favour of night; seizing the +Tuileries, dissolving the committee and the chambers, and proclaiming +Louis XVIII. + +Some precautions taken by the Prince of Essling taught the +conspirators, that their designs were known: and they prudently left +the execution of them to foreign bayonets. They had not to wait long. +On the 7th of July, at five o'clock in the afternoon, several Prussian +battalions, in spite of the convention, surrounded the palace, where +the government was sitting. An officer of the staff delivered to the +committee a demand from Prince Blucher of a contribution of a hundred +millions in cash, and a hundred millions in articles for the troops. +The committee declared with firmness, that this requisition was +contrary to the convention; and that it would never consent, to make +itself an accomplice in such exactions. During this debate, the +Prussians had forced the gates of the Tuileries, and invaded the +courts and avenues of the palace. The committee being no longer free, +and not choosing to become an instrument of oppression, ceased its +functions. + +Its first care was, to record by an authentic protest, _that it had +yielded only to force, and that the rights of the nation remained +intact_. The Duke of Otranto, the docile composer of the public papers +of the government, took up the pen for this purpose: but the +committee, fearing the effects this protest might have on the public +tranquillity, thought it better, to content itself with sending to the +two chambers the following message. + + +"Mr. President, + +"Hitherto we had reason to believe, that the allied sovereigns were +not unanimous in their intentions, respecting the choice of a prince +to reign over France. Our plenipotentiaries gave us the same assurance +on their return. The ministers and generals of the allied powers, +however, declared yesterday in the conferences they held with the +president of the committee, that all the sovereigns had engaged, to +replace Louis XVIII. on the throne; and that this evening, or +to-morrow, he would make his entry into the capital. + +"The foreign troops are come to occupy the Tuileries, where the +government sits. In this state of things, we can do nothing, but put +up prayers for our country; and, our deliberations being no longer +free, we think it our duty to separate." + + +This message, the last testimonial of the audacious duplicity of the +Duke of Otranto, now become a minister of the King, contained in +addition what follows. "Fresh guarantees will be added to the charter; +and we have not lost the hope of retaining the colours so dear to the +nation:" but this paragraph, of which I give only the substance, was +afterwards suppressed. + +The chamber of peers, which had received with coldness the bill of +rights, and the declaration of the chamber of representatives, +separated without a murmur[92]. + + [Footnote 92: This chamber, after the abdication of + Napoleon, was merely a superfetation. The departure of + those peers, who formed part of the army, completed its + reduction to an absolute nullity. Without patriotism, + without energy, it confined itself to sanctioning with + an ill grace the measures adopted by the + representatives. M. Thibaudeau, M. de Segur, M. de + Bassano, and a few others, alone raised themselves to a + level with the state of affairs. M. Thibaudeau in + particular distinguished himself, on the 28th of June + and the 2d of July, by two speeches on our political + situation; which were considered then, as they long will + be, as noble specimens of courage, patriotism, and + eloquence.] + +The chamber of deputies received its sentence of death with heroic +tranquillity. When M. Manuel, repeating the memorable words of +Mirabeau, exclaimed: "We are here by the will of the people; we will +not depart, till compelled by the bayonet: it is our duty, to devote +to our country our last moments; and, if necessary, the last drop of +our blood:" all the members of the assembly rose, in testimony of +their assent; and declared, that they would remain firm at their +posts. + +But they were not allowed, to fulfil this glorious resolution. The +president, M. Lanjuinais, betraying their courage, and despising their +will, dissolved the sitting, and retired. "M. President," said General +Solignac to him, "the muse of history is here, and will record your +conduct." + +The next morning, they found the avenues of their palace occupied by +foreigners, and the doors of the assembly closed. M. de Cazes, at the +head of some royal volunteers, had taken away the keys. This act of +violence, against which they protested, at length removed the bandage +from their eyes: they perceived the error they had committed, in too +hastily removing Napoleon from the throne, and blindly entrusting to +other hands the fate of their country[93]. + + [Footnote 93: I repeat here a preceding observation, + that I confine myself to a relation of facts, without + deciding upon them.] + +Thus terminated, after a month's existence, that assembly, which the +French had chosen, to confirm the imperial dynasty, to secure their +liberties and their tranquillity; but which, through precipitancy, +want of foresight, and an excess of zeal and patriotism, had given +rise to nothing but convulsions and calamities. + +The dissolution of the chambers, and of the government, put an end to +all illusions. + +The tri-coloured flags, that had been retained, disappeared. + +The shouts of "Long live the nation!" and "Liberty for ever!" ceased. + +M. Fouche went to announce to his new master, that the whole was +consummated. + +And on the 8th of July Louis XVIII. in triumph took possession of his +capital[94], and of his throne. + + [Footnote 94: On the 8th of July M. de Vitrolles caused + the following official article to be inserted in the + Moniteur. + + "Paris, July the _7th_.--The committee of + government made known to the King, by the mouth of + its president, that it had just dissolved itself." + + This article, written with the intention, to make + France and Europe believe, that the committee had + voluntarily deposited its authority in the hands of + the King, called forth strong remonstrances from + the Duke of Vicenza. Incapable of paltering with + his duty, or with the truth, he went immediately to + the King's minister, the Duke of Otranto; + reproached him severely with having compromised the + committee and declared, that he would not quit his + house, till he had obtained a formal disavowal of + it. The minister protested, that the article was + not written by him; and consented to disavow it. + + Count Carnot, Baron Quinette, and General Grenier, + having joined the Duke of Vicenza, the latter + wrote, in the Duke of Otranto's closet, the letter + subjoined; the boldness and firmness of which, I + trust, it is unnecessary to remark. + + "Monsieur le Duc.--As the committee of government, + on its retiring, neither ought nor could charge + your excellency with any mission, we desire you, to + cause the article inserted in the Moniteur of this + day, the 8th of July, to be disavowed; and to + procure the insertion of our last message to the + two chambers. + + (Signed) CAULINCOURT. + CARNOT. + QUINETTE. + GRENIER." + + + The Duke of Otranto answered this letter by the + following declaration: + + "Gentlemen.--The committee of government having + dissolved itself on the 7th of July, every act + emanating from it posterior to its message to the + chambers is null, and ought to be considered as not + having taken place. + + "Your remonstrance against the article inserted in + the Moniteur of the 8th of July is just. I disavow + it, as totally unfounded, and published without my + authority. + + (Signed) The Duke of OTRANTO."] + +At the moment when this prince re-entered the Tuileries, Napoleon was +busied at Rochefort on the means of quitting France. His presence +excited such enthusiasm among the people, the mariners, and the +soldiers, that the shore uninterruptedly resounded with shouts of +"Long live the Emperor!" and these shouts, repeated from mouth to +mouth, could not but teach those, who had flattered themselves with +having mastered the will of Napoleon, how easy it would be for him, to +shake off his chains, and laugh at their vain precautions. But +faithful to his determination, he firmly resisted the impulse of +circumstances; and the continual solicitations made him, to put +himself at the head of the patriots and the army. "It is too late," he +incessantly repeated: "the evil is now without remedy: it is no longer +in my power, to save the country. A civil war now would answer no +end, would be of no utility. To myself alone it might prove +advantageous, by affording me the means of procuring personally more +favourable conditions: but these I must purchase by the inevitable +destruction of all that France possesses of most generous and most +magnanimous and such a result inspires me with horror[95]." + + [Footnote 95: The words recorded by M. de Lascases.] + +Up to the 29th of June, the day when the Emperor quitted Malmaison, no +English vessel had been seen off the coast of Rochefort, and there is +every reason to believe, that Napoleon, if circumstances had allowed +him to embark immediately after his abdication, would have reached the +United States without obstruction. But when he arrived at the +sea-coast, he found every outlet occupied by the enemy, and appeared +to retain little hope of escaping. + +The 8th of July[96] he went on board the frigate la Saale, prepared to +receive him. His suite was embarked on board the Medusa; and the next +day, the 9th, the two vessels anchored at the Isle of Aix. Napoleon, +always the same, ordered the garrison under arms, examined the +fortifications most minutely, and distributed praise or blame, as if +he had still been sovereign master of the state. + + [Footnote 96: At the same moment Louis XVIII. entered + Paris. It was another remarkable singularity, that the + King entered the capital the first time on the same day, + on which the Emperor went on board the brig, that + conveyed him to Porto Ferrajo.] + +On the 10th, the wind, hitherto contrary, became fair; but an English +fleet of eleven vessels was cruising within sight of the port, and it +was impossible to get to sea. + +On the 11th, the Emperor, weary of this state of anxiety, sent Count +de Las Cases, now become his secretary, to sound the disposition of +the English admiral; to inquire, whether he were authorised to allow +him liberty, to repair to England, or to the United States. + +The admiral answered, that he had no orders: that still he was ready, +to receive Napoleon, and convey him to England: but that it was not in +his power, to answer whether he would obtain permission to remain +there, or to repair to America. + +Napoleon, little satisfied with this answer, caused two half-decked +vessels to be purchased, with intention, under favour of night, to +reach a Danish smack, with which he had contrived to hold +intelligence. + +This step having failed, some young midshipmen, full of courage and +devotion, proposed to him, to go on board the two barks; and swore +they would forfeit their lives, if they did not convey him to New +York. Napoleon was not deterred by so long a voyage in such slight +vessels: but he knew, that they could not avoid stopping on the coasts +of Spain and Portugal, to take in water and provision; and he would +not expose himself and people, to the danger of falling into the hands +of the Portuguese or Spaniards. + +Being informed, that an American vessel was at the mouth of the +Gironde, he sent off General Lallemand on the spur, to ascertain the +existence of the vessel, and the sentiments of the captain. The +general returned with all speed, to inform him, that the captain would +be happy and proud, to extricate him from the persecutions of his +enemies: but Napoleon, yielding, as it is said, to the advice of some +persons about him, gave up the idea of attempting this passage, and +determined to throw himself on the generosity of the English. + +On the 14th he caused the admiral to be informed, that the next day he +would repair on board his vessel. + +On the 15th in the morning, he went off in the brig l'Epervier, and +was received on board the Bellerophon with the honours due to his +rank, and to his misfortune. General Beker, who had orders not to quit +him, attended him. The moment they came alongside, the Emperor said to +him: "Withdraw, general; I would not have it be believed, that a +Frenchman is come to deliver me into the hands of my enemies." + +On the 16th the Bellerophon set sail for England. + +The Emperor had prepared a letter to the Prince Regent, which General +Gourgaud was directed, to carry to him immediately. It was as follows. + + + "Rochefort, July the 13th, 1815. + +"Royal Highness, + +"Exposed to the factions, that distract my country, and to the enmity +of the greatest powers of Europe, I have terminated my political +career; and I come, like Themistocles, to seat myself on the hearth of +the British people. I put myself under the protection of its laws, +which I claim of your Royal Highness, as the most powerful, the most +constant, and the most generous of my enemies." + +General Gourgaud had orders, to make known to the Prince, if he +deigned to admit him to his presence or to his ministers, that it was +Napoleon's intention, to retire into any of the counties of England; +and to live there peaceable and unknown, under the name of Colonel +Duroc. + +The Emperor showed no apprehension, no anxiety, on the passage. He +relied with security on the noble character of the English. + +When he arrived at Plymouth, he was not permitted, to set his foot on +shore; and he was soon informed, the allied powers had decided, that +he should be considered as a prisoner of war, and confined at St. +Helena. + +He protested solemnly to the English admiral, and in the face of +Heaven and of mankind, against this violation of the most sacred +rights; against the violence put upon his person, and upon his +liberty. + +This protest proving vain, he submitted with calm and majestic +resignation to the decree of his enemies. He was removed on board the +Northumberland, which immediately set sail for St. Helena. + +On passing Cape la Hogue, he descried the coast of France. Immediately +he saluted it; and, stretching out his hands toward the shore, +exclaimed with a voice of deep emotion: "Adieu, land of the brave! +adieu, dear France! a few traitors less, and thou wilt still be the +great nation, and mistress of the world." + +On the 17th of October the parched rocks were pointed out to him, that +were soon to become the walls of his prison. He contemplated them +without complaint, without agitation, without fear. + +On the 18th he landed; and, after having protested anew against this +violence done his person, he repaired to the place of his captivity +with a firm and confident step. + +Thus terminated the political life of Napoleon. + +Some have been astonished, that he chose to survive himself. He might +have killed himself; nothing is easier for a man. But was such an end +worthy of him? A king, a great king, ought not to die the desperate +death of a conspirator, of the head of a party. To use the proper +words of the illustrious captive at St. Helena, he ought to be +superior to the rudest attacks of adversity. + +No! it was worthy of the great Napoleon, to oppose the inflexibility +of his mind to the fickleness of fortune; and like the Roman, who was +reproached with not having died by his own hand after a great +catastrophe, he too made answer: "I have done more, I have lived!" + + + + +FATE OF THE PERSONS + +WHO ARE NOTICED IN THESE MEMOIRS. + + +ROYAL GOVERNMENT. + + +MINISTERS. + +Prince Talleyrand, dismissed, a peer of France. + +M. Dambray, dismissed, a peer of France. + +M. L'Abbe de Montesquiou, dismissed, a peer of France. + +General Dupont, dismissed, a peer of France. + +Marshal Soult, dismissed, proscribed. + +The Duke of Feltre, dismissed, dead. + +The Comte de Blacas, dismissed, a peer of France. + + +MINISTERS OF STATE. + +Comte Ferrand, dismissed, a peer of France. + +The Viscount de Chateaubriand, dismissed, a peer of France. + +Baron de Vitrolles, dismissed. + + +MARSHALS. + +Marshal Marmont, major-general of the royal guards. + +Marshal Macdonald, major-general of the royal guards. + +Marshal Victor, major-general of the royal guards. + +Marshal Gouvion de St. Cyr, minister at war. + + +IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT. + + +MINISTERS. + +The Prince Cambaceres, banished, returned. + +The Prince of Eckmuhl, a peer of France. + +The Duke of Vicenza, retired from public affairs. + +The Duke of Decres, retired from public affairs. + +The Duke of Otranto, banished. + +The Duke of Gaeta, a peer of France, (secret letter, _lettre close_). + +Count Mollien, a peer of France. + +M. Carnot, proscribed. + +The Duke of Bassano, proscribed. + + +MINISTERS OF STATE. + +Count Defermont, proscribed, recalled. + +Count Regnault de St. Jean d'Angely, proscribed, recalled: died in +consequence of his exile. + +Count Boulay de la Meurthe, proscribed. + +Count Merlin de Douay, proscribed. + +Count Andreossy, a peer of France. + + +MARSHALS. + +Marshal Ney, shot. + +Marshal Brune, massacred. + +The Prince of Eckmuhl, a peer of France. + +Prince Massena, dismissed, died. + +Marshal Mortier, a peer of France. + +Marshal Jourdan, a peer of France. + +Marshal Soult, proscribed, recalled. + +Marshal Lefevre, a peer of France. + +Marshal Suchet, a peer of France. + +Marshal Grouchy, proscribed. + +The Duke of Rovigo, condemned to death for non-appearance. + +Count Bertrand, condemned to death for non-appearance. + +General Drouot, tried, acquitted, retired from the service. + +General Cambronne, tried, acquitted, retired from the service. + + +GRENOBLE. + +General Marchand, tried, acquitted. + +General Debelle, condemned to death, pardoned. + +Colonel Labedoyere, shot. + + +LYONS. + +General Brayer, condemned to death for non-appearance. + +General Mouton Duvernet, shot. + +General Girard, killed at Ligny. + + +PLOT AT COMPIEGNE AND LAFERE. + +(Vol. I. Page 205.) + +General d'Erlon, condemned to death for non-appearance. + +General Lefevre Desnouettes, condemned to death for non-appearance. + +The Generals Lallemand (brothers), condemned to death for +non-appearance. + + +BORDEAUX. + +General Clausel, condemned to death for non-appearance. + +The Generals Faucher (brothers), shot. + + +VALENCE (DROME). + +Marshal Grouchy, proscribed. + +General Chartran, shot. + + +VENDEE. + +General Travot, condemned to death, imprisoned for life. + +General Lamarque, proscribed, recalled. + + +ARMIES. COMMANDERS OF CORPS. + +General Decaen, tried, acquitted. + +General Rapp, a peer of France. + +General Reille, a peer of France. + +General de Lobau, proscribed, recalled. + +General d'Erlon, condemned to death for non-appearance. + +General Gerard, retired from the service. + +General Vandamme, proscribed. + +General Excelmans, proscribed, recalled. + +General Pajol, retired from the service. + +General Foi, retired from the service [one of the new fifth of the +chamber of deputies.--_Tr._]. + +General Fressinet, proscribed. + +General de Bourmont, commandant of the cavalry of the guard. + + +MEMBERS OF THE CHAMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES. + +M. Lanjuinais, president, a peer of France. + +M. Dupont de l'Eure, dismissed from his office of president of the +court of Rouen. A deputy in the present chamber. Leader of the +opposition. + +M. Durbach, proscribed, recalled. + +M. M. Defermont, Boulay, Regnault, proscribed. + +M. Lafayette, a deputy, in opposition. + +M. Manuel, a deputy, in opposition. + +M. Roi, minister of state, a deputy. + +M. Dupin, counsellor at law, celebrated for his talents and +patriotism. + + +NEGOTIATING COMMISSIONERS. + +General Sebastiani, in actual service. + +Count de Pontecoulant, a peer of France. + +Count Delaforest, a peer of France. + +Count Andreossy, a peer of France. + +Count Boissy d'Anglas, a peer of France. + +Count de Valence, excluded from the chamber of peers. + +M. de la Besnardiere, retired from public affairs. + +M. Lafayette, a deputy, in opposition. + +M. D'Argenson, a deputy, in opposition. + +M. Flaugergues, without any employment, neuter in his opinions. + +M. Benjamin Constant, a political writer and deputy. + +M. Delavalette, condemned to death, saved from the scaffold by +conjugal affection, and the heroism of three Englishmen, Sir Robert +Wilson, Mr. Bruce, and Mr. Hutchinson. + +General Grenier, a deputy, in opposition. + +Baron Quinette, banished, recalled. + +M. Thibaudeau, proscribed. + +General Beker, a peer of France. + +General Flahaut, naturalized in England. + +M. de Tromeling, a major-general in actual service. + + +The author of these Memoirs, independent. + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Memoirs of the Private Life, Return, +and Reign of Napoleon in 1815, Vol. II, by Pierre Antoine Edouard Fleury de Chaboulon + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRIVATE LIFE OF NAPOLEON *** + +***** This file should be named 24718.txt or 24718.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/7/1/24718/ + +Produced by StevenGibbs, Christine P. 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