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+The Project Gutenberg Etext of Private Life of Napoleon, by Constant, v10
+NB#27 in our Napoleon series
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+Title: The Private Life of Napoleon Bonaparte, v10
+
+Author: Constant
+
+Release Date: December, 2002  [Etext #3577]
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+[The actual date this file first posted = 05/21/01]
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+Edition: 11
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+Language: English
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+The Project Gutenberg Etext Private Life of Napoleon, by Constant, v10
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+
+RECOLLECTIONS OF THE PRIVATE LIFE OF NAPOLEON, V10
+
+By CONSTANT
+
+PREMIER VALET DE CHAMBRE
+
+TRANSLATED BY WALTER CLARK
+
+1895
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+During the whole Russian campaign, the Emperor was nearly always badly
+lodged.  It was necessary, however, to accommodate himself to
+circumstances; though this was a somewhat difficult task to those who
+were accustomed to lodge in palaces.  The Emperor accepted the situation
+bravely, and all his followers consequently did the same.  In consequence
+of the system of incendiarism adopted as the policy of Russia, the
+wealthy part of the population withdrew into the country, abandoning to
+the enemy their houses already ruined.  In truth, on the whole road
+leading to Moscow, with the exception of a few unimportant towns, the
+dwellings were very wretched; and after long and fatiguing marches, we
+were very happy if we found even a hut at the place the Emperor indicated
+as headquarters.  The owners of these miserable hovels on quitting them
+left there sometimes two or three seats and wooden beds, in which were an
+abundant supply of vermin that no invasion could drive out.  The least
+filthy place was chosen, which was usually the most airy; and we knew
+when the cold came, icy breezes would not fail us.  When the location had
+been chosen, and we decided to halt there, a carpet was spread on the
+ground, the Emperor's iron bedstead set up, and a dressing-case
+containing everything necessary in a bedroom placed open on a small
+table.  This case also contained a breakfast service for several persons,
+which luxury was displayed when the Emperor entertained his marshals.  It
+was necessary, at all events, to bring ourselves down to the habits of
+the humblest citizens of the province.  If the house had two rooms, one
+served as sleeping and dining room, the other for his Majesty's cabinet.
+The box of books, geographical maps, the portfolio, and a table covered
+with green cloth, were the entire furniture.  This was also the council
+chamber; and from these beggarly huts were sent forth those prompt and
+trenchant decisions which changed the order of battle and often the
+fortunes of the day, and those strong and energetic proclamations which
+so quickly reanimated the discouraged army.  When our residence was
+composed of three rooms,--an extremely rare occurrence, then the third
+room, or closet, was occupied by the Prince de Neuchatel, who always
+slept as near by as possible.  We often found in these wretched dwellings
+old decayed furniture of singular shapes, and little images in wood or
+plaster of male or female saints which the proprietors had left.
+Frequently, however, we found poor people in these dwellings, who, having
+nothing to save from conquest, had remained.  These good people seemed
+much ashamed to entertain so badly the Emperor of the French, gave us
+what they had, and were not, on that account, less badly esteemed by us.
+More of the poor than rich received the Emperor into their houses; and
+the Kremlin was the last of the foreign palaces in which the Emperor
+slept during the Russian campaign.
+
+When there were no houses to be found, we erected the Emperor's tent,
+and, in order to divide it into three apartments curtains were hung; in
+one of these apartments the Emperor slept, the next was the Emperor's
+cabinet, and the third was occupied by his aides-de-camp and officers of
+the service; this latter room being ordinarily used as the Emperor's
+dining-room, his meals being prepared outside.  I alone slept in his
+room.  Roustan, who accompanied his Majesty on horseback, slept in the
+entrance room of the tent, in order that the sleep which was so necessary
+to him should not be disturbed.  The secretaries slept either in the
+cabinet or the entrance room.  The higher officers and those of the
+service ate where and when they could, and, like the simple soldiers,
+made no scruple of eating without tables.
+
+Prince Berthier's tent was near that of the Emperor, and the prince
+always breakfasted and dined with him.  They were like two inseparable
+friends.  This attachment was very touching, and points of difference
+rarely arose between them.  Nevertheless, there was, I think, a little
+coolness between him and the Emperor at the time his Majesty left the
+army of Moscow.  The old marshal wished to accompany him; but the Emperor
+refused, and thereupon ensued an animated but fruitless discussion.
+
+The meals were served on the campaign by M. Colin, controller of the
+kitchen service, and Roustan, or a bedroom servant.
+
+During this campaign more than any other the Emperor rose often in the
+night, put on his dressing-gown, and worked in his cabinet: frequently he
+had insomnia, which he could not overcome; and when the bed at last
+became unbearable, he sprang from it suddenly, took a book and read,
+walking back and forth, and when his head was somewhat relieved lay down
+again.  It was very rarely he slept the whole of two nights in
+succession; but often he remained thus in the cabinet till the hour for
+his toilet, when he returned to his room and I dressed him.  The Emperor
+took great care of his hands; but on this campaign he many times
+neglected this species of coquetry, and during the excessive heat did not
+wear gloves, as they inconvenienced him so greatly.  He endured the cold
+heroically, though it was easy to see he suffered much from it
+physically.
+
+At Witepsk the Emperor, finding the space in front of the house in which
+he had his quarters too small to hold a review of the troops, had several
+small buildings torn down in order to enlarge it.  There was a small
+dilapidated chapel which it was also necessary to destroy in order to
+accomplish this, and it had been already partly torn down, when the
+inhabitants assembled in large numbers, and loudly expressed their
+disapprobation of this measure.  But the Emperor having given his consent
+to their removing the sacred objects contained in the chapel, they were
+pacified; and, armed with this authority, several among them entered the
+sacred place, and emerged bearing with great solemnity wooden images of
+immense height, which they deposited in the other churches.
+
+We were witnesses while in this town of a singular spectacle, and one
+well calculated to shock our sense of decency.  For many days during the
+intense heat we saw the inhabitants, both men and women, rushing to the
+banks of the river, removing their clothing with the greatest
+indifference to spectators, and bathing together, most of them nearly
+naked.  The soldiers of the guard took pleasure in mingling with these
+bathers of both sexes; but as the soldiers were not so decorous as the
+inhabitants, and as the imprudencies committed by our men soon went too
+far, these worthy people relinquished the pleasures of their bath, very
+much displeased because sport was made of an exercise they had enjoyed
+with so much gravity and seriousness.
+
+One evening I was present at a grand review of the foot grenadiers of the
+guard, in which all the regiments seemed to take much delight, since it
+was in honor of the installation of General Friant
+
+     [Louis Friant, born in Picardy, 1758; brigadier-general, 1794;
+     served on the Rhine and in Italy; accompanied Napoleon to Egypt, and
+     became general of division; wounded at Austerlitz (1805), and was at
+     Jena and Wagram; commanded the grenadiers of the guard in Russian
+     campaign, and was severely wounded at Waterloo; died 1829]
+
+as commander of the corps.  The Emperor gave him the accolade, which was
+the only occasion on which I saw this done during the campaign; and as
+the general was much beloved by the army, it was amidst the acclamations
+of all that he received this honor from the Emperor.
+
+Promotions were usually welcomed by the soldiers with great enthusiasm,
+for the Emperor required that they should take place with much pomp and
+ceremony.
+
+Many persons thought that to be near the Emperor was a proof of being
+well provided for on the campaign.  This is a great mistake, as even the
+kings and princes who accompanied his Majesty on his campaigns could
+easily prove; and if these great personages lacked absolute necessaries,
+it may well be believed that the persons comprising the different
+services fared badly.  The Emperor himself often dispensed with ordinary
+comforts which would have been very agreeable to him after the fatigues
+of the day.
+
+At the hour for the bivouac it was a general "lodge who can;" but the
+poorest soldier never had in his deprivation the chagrin of seeing his
+superiors enjoying abundance and scandalous luxury.  The first generals
+of the army often dined on ammunition-bread with as much pleasure as the
+simple soldier, and on the retreat the misery could not have been more
+general.  This idea of deprivations shared by all did much to restore
+hope and energy to the most discouraged; and, I may add, never has more
+reciprocal sympathy between chiefs and soldiers been seen, in support of
+which statement innumerable instances could be given.
+
+When evening came the fires were kindled, and those foragers who had been
+most successful invited their companions to share their good cheer.  In
+the worst times there was poor, yet still not the worst, fare to offer,
+consisting of slices of broiled horse-flesh.
+
+Many soldiers deprived themselves of some valuable booty to offer it to
+their chief, and selfishness was not so general that this noble French
+courtesy did not reappear from time to time to recall the happy days of
+France.  Straw was the bed of all; and those of the marshals who in Paris
+slept on most luxurious beds of down did not find this couch too hard in
+Russia.
+
+M. de Beausset has given me a very amusing account of one night, when
+sleeping pell-mell on a little straw, in very narrow quarters, the aides-
+de-camp attending upon the Emperor stepped mercilessly on the limbs of
+their sleeping companions, who, fortunately, did not all suffer from gout
+like M. Beausset, and were not injured by such sudden and oft-repeated
+onslaughts.  He cried, "What brutes!"  and drawing his legs under him,
+cowered down in his corner until this passing and repassing had ceased
+for a while.
+
+Picture to yourself large rooms, filthy, unfurnished, and open to the
+wind, which entered through every window, nearly all the glass of which
+was broken, with crumbling walls and fetid air, which we warmed as well
+as possible with our breath, a vast litter of straw prepared as if for
+horses, and on this litter men shivering with cold, throwing themselves
+about, pressing against each other, murmuring, swearing, some unable to
+close their eyes, others more fortunate snoring loudly, and in the midst
+of this mass of legs and feet, a general awakening in the night when an
+order from the Emperor arrived, and you may form an idea of the inn and
+the guests.
+
+As for myself, during the entire campaign I did not a single time undress
+to retire to bed, for I never found one anywhere.  It was necessary to
+supply this deficiency by some means; and as it is well known that
+necessity is ever ready with inventions, we supplied deficiency in our
+furnishings in the following manner: we had great bags of coarse cloth
+made, into which we entered, and thus protected, threw ourselves on a
+little straw, when we were fortunate enough to obtain it; and for several
+months I took my rest during the night in this manner, and even this I
+frequently could not enjoy for as many as five or six nights at a time,
+so exacting were the requirements of my position.
+
+If it is remembered that all these sufferings continued in their petty
+details each day, and that when night came we had not even a bed on which
+to stretch our weary limbs, some idea may be formed of the privations we
+endured on this campaign.  The Emperor never uttered a word of complaint
+when beset by such discomforts, and his example inspired us with courage;
+and at last we became so accustomed to this fatiguing and wandering
+existence, that, in spite of the cold and privations of every sort to
+which we were subjected, we often jested about the dainty arrangements of
+our apartments.  The Emperor on the campaign was affected only by the
+sufferings of others, though his health was sometimes so much impaired as
+to cause anxiety, especially when he denied himself all rest not
+absolutely required; and yet I heard him constantly inquiring if there
+were lodgings for all, and he would not be satisfied until fully informed
+of every particular.
+
+Although the Emperor nearly always had a bed, the poor quarters in which
+it was set up were often so filthy, that in spite of all the care taken
+to clean it, I more than once found on his clothing a kind of vermin very
+disagreeable, and very common in Russia.  We suffered more than the
+Emperor from this inconvenience, being deprived as we were of proper
+linen and other changes of clothing, since the greater part of our
+effects had been burned with the wagons containing them.  This extreme
+measure had been taken, as I have said, for good reasons, all the horses
+having died from cold or famine.
+
+We were little better lodged in the palace of the Czars than on the
+bivouac.  For several days we had only mattresses; but as a large number
+of wounded officers had none, the Emperor ordered ours to be given them.
+We made the sacrifice willingly, and the thought that we were assisting
+others more unfortunate than ourselves would have made the hardest bed
+endurable.  Besides, in this war we had more than one opportunity to
+learn how to put aside all feelings of egotism and narrow personality;
+and had we been guilty of such forgetfulness, the Emperor was ever ready
+to recall us to this plain and simple duty.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+The only too famous twenty-ninth bulletin of the grand army was not
+published in Paris, where the consternation it spread through all classes
+is well known, until the 16th of December; and the Emperor, following
+close upon the heels of this solemn manifesto of our disasters, arrived
+in his capital forty-eight hours after, as if endeavoring to annul by his
+presence the evil effects which this communication might produce.  On the
+28th, at half past eleven in the evening, his Majesty alighted at the
+palace of the Tuileries.  This was the first time since his accession to
+the consulate that Paris had witnessed his return from a campaign without
+announcing a new peace conquered by the glory of our arms.  Under these
+circumstances, the numerous persons who from attachment to the Empress
+Josephine had always seen or imagined they saw in her a kind of
+protecting talisman of the success of the Emperor, did not fail to remark
+that the campaign of Russia was the first which had been undertaken since
+the Emperor's marriage to Marie Louise.  Without any superstition, it
+could not be denied that, although the Emperor was always great even when
+fortune was contrary to him, there was a very marked difference between
+the reign of the two Empresses.  The one witnessed only victories
+followed by peace.  And the other, only wars, not devoid of glory, but
+devoid of results, until the grand and fatal conclusion in the abdication
+at Fontainebleau.
+
+But it is anticipating too much to describe here events which few men
+dared to predict directly after the disasters of Moscow.  All the world
+knows that the cold and a freezing temperature contributed more to our
+reverses than the enemy, whom we had pursued even into the heart of his
+burning capital.  France still offered immense resources; and the Emperor
+was now there in person to direct their employment and increase their
+value.  Besides, no defection was as yet apparent; and, with the
+exception of Spain, Sweden, and Russia, the Emperor considered all the
+European powers as allies.  It is true the moment was approaching when
+General Yorck would give the signal,--for as well as I can recall, the
+first news came to the Emperor on the 10th of the following January,--and
+it was easy to see that his Majesty was profoundly affected by it, as he
+saw that Prussia would have many imitators in the other corps of the
+allied armies.
+
+At Smorghoni, where the Emperor had left me setting out, as I have before
+related, with the Duke of Vicenza in the coach which had been destined
+for me, scarcely anything was thought of but how to extricate ourselves
+from the frightful situation in which we found ourselves placed.  I well
+remember that after a few regrets that the Emperor was not in the midst
+of his lieutenants, the idea of being assured that he had escaped from
+all danger became the dominant sentiment, so much confidence did all
+place in his genius.  Moreover, in departing, he had given the command to
+the King of Naples, whose valor the whole army admired, although it is
+said that a few marshals were secretly jealous of his royal crown.  I
+have learned since, that the Emperor reached Warsaw on the 10th, having
+avoided passing through Wilna by making a circuit through the suburbs;
+and at last, after passing through Silesia, he had arrived at Dresden,
+where the good and faithful King of Saxony, although very ill, had
+himself borne to the Emperor.  From this place his Majesty had followed
+the road by Nassau and Mayence.
+
+I followed also the same route, but not with the same rapidity, although
+I lost no time.  Everywhere, and above all in Poland at the places where
+I stopped, I was astonished to find the feeling of security I saw
+manifested.  From all directions I heard the report that the Emperor was
+to return at the head of an army of three hundred thousand men.  The
+Emperor had been known to do such surprising things, that nothing seemed
+impossible; and I learned that he himself had spread these reports on his
+passage, in order to restore the courage of the population.  In several
+places I could procure no horses; and consequently, in spite of all my
+zeal, I did not reach Paris until six or eight days after the Emperor.
+
+I had hardly alighted from my carriage, when the Emperor, who had been
+informed of my arrival, had me summoned.  I observed to the messenger
+that I was not in a condition which would allow me to present myself
+before his Majesty.  "That makes no difference," replied he; "the Emperor
+wishes you to come immediately, just as you are."  I obeyed instantly;
+and went, or rather ran, to the Emperor's cabinet, where I found him with
+the Empress, Queen Hortense, and another person whose name I do not
+perfectly recall.  The Emperor deigned to give me a most cordial welcome;
+and as the Empress seemed to pay no attention to me, said to her in a
+manner whose kindness I shall never forget, "Louise, do you not recognize
+Constant?"
+
+"I perceived him." [Elsewhere Constant has stated her reply was, "I had
+not perceived him."] This was the only reply of her Majesty the
+Empress; but such was not the case with Queen Hortense, who welcomed me
+as kindly as her adorable mother had always done.
+
+The Emperor was very gay, and seemed to have forgotten all his fatigue.
+I was about to retire respectfully; but his Majesty said to me, "No,
+Constant, remain a minute longer, and tell me what you saw on your road."
+Even if I had any intention to conceal from the Emperor a part of the
+truth, taken thus unawares I should have lacked the time to prepare an
+agreeable falsehood; so I said to him that everywhere, even in Silesia,
+my eyes had been struck by the same frightful spectacle, for everywhere I
+had seen the dead and the dying, and poor unfortunates struggling
+hopelessly against cold and hunger.  "That is true, that is true," he
+said; "go and rest, my poor boy, you must be in need of it.  To-morrow
+you will resume your service."
+
+The next day, in fact, I resumed my duties near the Emperor, and I found
+him exactly the same as he had been before entering on the campaign; the
+same placidity was evident on his countenance.  It would have been said
+that the past was no longer anything to him; and living ever in the
+future, he already saw victory perched again on our banner, and his
+enemies humiliated and vanquished.  It is true that the numerous
+addresses he received, and discourses which were pronounced in his
+presence by the presidents of the senate and the council of state, were
+no less flattering than formerly; but it was very evident in his replies
+that if he pretended to forget this disastrous experience in Russia, he
+was more deeply concerned about the affair of General Malet than anything
+else.
+
+     [In the reply of the Emperor to the council of state occurred the
+     following remarkable passage, which it may not be amiss to repeat at
+     this period as very singular:
+
+     "It is to idealism and that gloomy species of metaphysics which,
+     seeking subtilely for first causes, wishes to place on such
+     foundations the legislation of a people, instead of adapting the
+     laws to their knowledge of the human heart, and to the lessons of
+     history, that it is necessary to attribute all the misfortunes our
+     beautiful France has experienced.  These errors have necessarily led
+     to the rule of the men of blood.  In fact, who has proclaimed the
+     principle of insurrection as a duty?  Who has paid adulation to the
+     nation while claiming for it a sovereignty which it was incapable of
+     exercising?  Who has destroyed the sanctity and respect for the
+     laws, in making them depend, not on the sacred principles of
+     justice, or the nature of things and on civil justice, but simply on
+     the will of an assembly of men strangers to the knowledge of civil,
+     criminal, administrative, political, and military law?  When one is
+     called on to regenerate a state, there are directly opposite
+     principles by which one must necessarily be guided."--NOTE BY THE
+     EDITOR of FRENCH EDITION.
+
+     Claude Francois de Malet, born at Dole, 1754.  In 1806 was a general
+     officer, and was dismissed the service.  Plotting against the
+     Emperor, he was imprisoned from 1808 to 1812.  On October 24 he
+     issued a proclamation that the Emperor had died in Russia, and that
+     he (Malet) had been appointed Governor of Paris by the senate.  He
+     made Savary prisoner, and shot General Hullin.  He was made prisoner
+     in turn by General Laborde, and summarily shot.-TRANS. (See "The
+     Memoirs" by Bourrienne for the detail of this plot.  D.W.)]
+
+As for myself I cannot deny the painful feelings I experienced the first
+time I went out in Paris, and passed through the public promenades during
+my hours of leisure; for I was struck with the large number of persons in
+mourning whom I met,--the wives and sisters of our brave soldiers mowed
+down on the fields of Russia; but I kept these disagreeable impressions
+to myself.
+
+A few days after my return to Paris their Majesties were present at the
+opera where 'Jerusalem Delivered' was presented.  I occupied a box which
+Count de Remusat had the kindness to lend me for that evening (he was
+first chamberlain of the Emperor, and superintendent of theaters), and
+witnessed the reception given the Emperor and Empress.  Never have I seen
+more enthusiasm displayed, and I must avow that the transition seemed to
+me most sudden from the recent passage of the Beresina to those truly
+magical scenes.  It was on Sunday, and I left the theater a little before
+the close in order to reach the palace before the Emperor's return.  I
+was there in time to undress him, and I well remember that his Majesty
+spoke to me that evening of the quarrel between Talma and Geoffroy which
+had occurred a few days before his arrival.  The Emperor, although he had
+a high opinion of Talma, thought him completely in the wrong, and
+repeated several times, "A man of his age!  A man of his age!  that is
+inexcusable.  Zounds !" added he, smiling, "do not people speak evil of
+me also?  Have I not also critics who do not spare me?  He should not be
+more sensitive than I" This affair, however, had no disagreeable result
+for Talma; for the Emperor was much attached to him, and overwhelmed him
+with pensions and presents.
+
+Talma in this respect was among the very privileged few; for giving
+presents was not in his Majesty's role, especially to those in his
+private service.  It was then near the 1st of January; but we built no
+air castles at this period, for the Emperor never made gifts.  We knew
+that we could not expect any emoluments; though I, especially, could
+exercise no economy, for the Emperor required that my toilet should
+always be extremely elegant.  It was something really extraordinary to
+see the master of half of Europe not disdaining to occupy himself with
+the toilet of his valet de chambre; even going so far that when he saw me
+in a new coat which pleased him he never failed to compliment me on it,
+adding, "You are very handsome, Monsieur Constant."
+
+Even on the occasion of the marriage of the Emperor and Marie Louise, and
+that of the birth of the King of Rome, those composing the private
+service of his Majesty received no present, and the Emperor thought the
+expenses of these ceremonies too great.  On one occasion, however, but
+not in consequence of any unusual circumstance, the Emperor said to me
+one morning as I finished dressing him, "Constant, go to M. Meneval; I
+have given him orders to allow you eighteen hundred livres of income."
+Now, it happened that the funds had gone up in the interval between the
+order and its execution; and instead of receiving eighteen hundred livres
+of rent, I received only seventeen, which I sold a short time after, and
+with the product of this sale bought a modest piece of property in the
+forest of Fontainebleau.
+
+Sometimes the Emperor made presents to the princes and princesses of his
+family, of which I was nearly always the bearer; and I can assert that
+with two or three rare exceptions this duty was perfectly gratuitous, a
+circumstance which I recall here simply as a recollection.  Queen
+Hortense and Prince Eugene were never included, according to my
+recollection, in the distribution of Imperial gifts, and the Princess
+Pauline was most often favored.
+
+In spite of the numerous occupations of the Emperor, who after his return
+from the army spent much time during the day, and most of the nights,
+working in his cabinet, he showed himself more frequently in public than
+heretofore, going out almost without escort.  On the 2d of January, 1813,
+for instance, I remember he went, accompanied only by Marshal Duroc, to
+visit the basilica of Notre Dame, the works of the archbishopric, those
+of the central depot of wines, and then, crossing the bridge of
+Austerlitz, the granaries, the fountain of the elephant, and finally the
+palace of the Bourse, which his Majesty often said was the handsomest
+building then existing in Europe.  Next to his passion for war, that for
+monuments was strongest in the Emperor's heart.  The cold was quite
+severe while his Majesty was taking these solitary excursions; but in
+fact the cold weather in Paris seemed a very mild temperature to all who
+had just returned from Russia.
+
+I remarked at this time, that is to say at the end of 1812 and the
+beginning of 1813, that the Emperor had never hunted so frequently.  Two
+or three times a week I assisted him to don his hunting-costume, which
+he, like all persons of his suite, wore in accordance with the recently
+revived usage of the ancient monarchy.
+
+The Empress often accompanied him in a coach, although the cold was
+intense; but when he gave an order there was nothing to be said.  Knowing
+how distasteful the pleasures of the chase ordinarily were to his
+Majesty, I was surprised at this recent fondness he manifested, but soon
+learned that he was acting purely from political motives.  One day
+Marshal Duroc was in his room, while he was putting on his green coat
+with gold lace; and I heard the Emperor say to the marshal, "It is very
+necessary that I should be in motion, and have the journals speak of it;
+for the imbeciles who write for the English journals repeat every day
+that I am sick, that I cannot move, and am no longer good for anything.
+Have patience!  I will soon show them that I have as much strength of
+body as of mind."  Besides all this, I think that the exercise of hunting
+in moderation was very good for the Emperor's health; for I never saw him
+in better condition than during the very time the English journals took
+pleasure in describing him as ill, and perhaps by these false statements
+were contributing to still further improve his health.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+On the 19th of January the Emperor sent to inform the Empress that he was
+to hunt in the wood of Grosbois, and would breakfast with the Princess de
+Neuchatel, and requested that her Majesty would accompany him.  The
+Emperor ordered me also to be at Grosbois in order to assist him in
+changing his linen after the hunt.  This hunting-party took place
+according to announcement; but to the unbounded amazement of the entire
+suite of the Emperor, just as we were on the point of re-entering our
+carriages, instead of taking the road to Paris, his Majesty gave orders
+to proceed to Fontainebleau.  The Empress and the ladies who accompanied
+her had nothing except their hunting costumes, and the Emperor was much
+diverted by the tribulations their vanity underwent in being unexpectedly
+engaged in a campaign without toilet equipments.  Before leaving Paris
+the Emperor had given orders that there should be sent in all haste to
+Fontainebleau all that the "Empress could need; but her ladies found
+themselves totally unprovided for, and it was very amusing to see them
+immediately on their arrival expedite express after express for objects
+of prime necessity which they ordered should be sent posthaste.
+Nevertheless, it was soon evident that the hunting-party and breakfast at
+Grosbois had been simply a pretext, and that the Emperor's object had
+been to put an end to the differences which had for some time existed
+between his Holiness and his Majesty.  Everything having been settled and
+prearranged, the Emperor and the Pope signed on the 25th an agreement
+under the name of Concordat, of which this is the purport:
+
+     "His Majesty, the Emperor and King, and his Holiness, wishing
+     to settle the differences which had arisen between them, and provide
+     for difficulties which have unexpectedly arisen in regard to various
+     affairs of the church, have agreed on the following articles as
+     forming a basis for a definite arrangement:
+
+     ART.  1.  His Holiness will exercise the pontificate in France, and
+     in the Kingdom of Italy, in the same manner and under the same
+     regulations as his predecessors.
+
+     2.  The ambassadors, ministers, and charges d'affaires to the Holy
+     Father, and the ambassadors, ministers, and charges d'affaires from
+     him to foreign powers, will enjoy the immunities and privileges of
+     members of the diplomatic corps.
+
+     3.  The domains possessed by the Holy Father, and which have not
+     been alienated, shall be exempt from all kinds of impost; they shall
+     be administered by his agents or representatives.  Those which have
+     been alienated shall be replaced to the value of two million francs
+     of revenue.
+
+     4.  During the six months which usually follow the notification of
+     appointments made by the Emperor to the archbishoprics and
+     bishoprics of the Empire and the Kingdom of Italy the Pope shall
+     perform the canonical institution in conformity with the Concordat,
+     and by virtue of the present agreement; previous information
+     concerning which shall be given by the archbishop.  If six months
+     shall expire without the Pope having performed this institution, the
+     archbishop, and in his absence, where his duties are concerned, the
+     senior bishop of the province, shall proceed to the institution of
+     the aforementioned bishop, to the end that a see shall never be
+     vacant more than one year.
+
+     5.  The Pope shall appoint in France and in the Kingdom of Italy to
+     ten bishoprics, which shall later be designated by mutual agreement.
+
+     6.  The six suburban bishoprics shall be re-established, and shall
+     be appointed to by the Pope.  The property now held shall be
+     restored, and similar measures taken in regard to that already sold.
+     On the death of the bishops of Anagni and Rieti, their dioceses
+     shall be united with that of the six bishops aforesaid, in
+     conformity with the agreement between his Majesty and the Holy
+     Father.
+
+     7.  In respect to the bishops of the Roman States, unavoidably
+     absent from their dioceses, the Holy Father shall exercise his right
+     of bestowing bishoprics 'in partibus'.  He shall give them a pension
+     equal to the revenue they formerly enjoyed, and their places in the
+     sees thus vacated shall be supplied, both in the Empire and the
+     Kingdom of Italy.
+
+     8.  His Majesty and His Holiness will agree on some opportune
+     occasion as to the reduction to be made in the bishoprics of
+     Tuscany, and the province of Genoa, as well as those to be
+     established in Holland, and the Hanseatic departments.
+
+     9.  The propaganda, the penitential court, and the court of
+     archives shall be established in the place of residence of the Holy
+     Father.
+
+     10.  His Majesty pardons freely the cardinals, bishops, priests, and
+     laity who have incurred his disgrace in consequence of certain
+     events.
+
+     11.  The Holy Father agrees to the above resolutions in
+     consideration of the existing condition of the church, and his
+     confidence that his Majesty will grant his powerful assistance to
+     the needs of the church, which are so numerous in the times in which
+     we live.
+
+                                   "NAPOLEON."     "PIUS VII."
+
+     "Fontainebleau, 25 January, 1813."
+
+
+It has been attempted by every possible means to throw odium on the
+conduct of the Emperor in this affair.  He has been accused of having
+insulted the Pope, and even of having threatened him, all of which is
+most signally false.  Everything was arranged in the most agreeable
+manner.  M. Devoisin, bishop of Nantes, an ecclesiastic who was highly
+esteemed by the Emperor, and was his favorite mediator, in the frequent
+points of difference which arose between the Pope and his Majesty, had
+come to the Tuileries on the 19th of January, and after being closeted
+with the Emperor for two hours, had left for Fontainebleau.  And it was
+immediately after this interview that the Emperor entered his carriage
+with the Empress in hunting costume, followed by the whole suite,
+similarly attired.
+
+The Pope, forewarned by the Bishop of Nantes, awaited his Majesty; and as
+the most important points had been discussed and arranged in advance, and
+only a few clauses accessory to the main body of the Concordat remained
+to be decided, it was impossible that the interview should have been
+otherwise than amicable, a truth which is still more evident when we
+reflect on the kind feelings of the Holy Father towards the Emperor,
+their friendship for each other, and the admiration inspired in the Pope
+by the great genius of Napoleon.  I affirm then, and I think with good
+reason, that the affair was conducted in a most honorable manner, and
+that the Concordat was signed freely and without compulsion by his
+Holiness, in presence of the cardinals assembled at Fontainebleau.  It is
+an atrocious calumny which some one has dared to make that, on the
+reiterated refusal of the Pope, the Emperor placed in his hand a pen
+dipped in ink, and seizing him by the arm and hair, forced him to sign,
+saying that he ordered it, and that his disobedience would be punished by
+perpetual imprisonment.  The one who invented this absurd fabrication
+must have known little of the Emperor's character.  A person who was
+present at this interview, the circumstances of which have been so
+falsified, related them to me, and is my authority on the subject.
+Immediately on his arrival at Fontainebleau, the Emperor paid a visit to
+the Holy Father, who returned it next day, remaining two hours at least;
+and during this time his Majesty's manner was calm and firm, it is true,
+but full of respect and kind feeling for the person of the venerable
+Pope.  A few stipulations of the proposed treaty alarmed the conscience
+of the Holy Father, which the Emperor perceived; and without waiting for
+any arguments declared that he would renounce them, and every scruple
+remaining in the mind of the Holy Father being thus satisfied, a
+secretary was called, who drew up the articles, which the Pope approved
+one by one, with most paternal benignity.
+
+On the 25th of January, after the Concordat was definitely settled, the
+Holy Father repaired to the apartments of her Majesty the Empress; and
+both of the contracting parties appeared equally well satisfied, which is
+a sufficient proof that neither treachery nor violence had been used.
+The Concordat was signed by the august parties in the midst of a
+magnificent assemblage of cardinals, bishops, soldiers, etc.  Cardinal
+Doria performed the duties of grand master of ceremonies, and it was he
+who received the signatures.
+
+A countless number of congratulations were given and received, pardons
+asked and obtained, and relics, decorations, chaplets, and tobacco-boxes
+distributed by both parties.  Cardinal Doria received from his Majesty
+the gold eagle of the Legion of Honor.  The great eagle was also given to
+Cardinal Fabricio Ruffo; Cardinal Maury,  the Bishop of Nantes, and the
+Archbishop of Tours received the grand cross of the order of the Reunion;
+the Bishops of Evreux and Treves, the cross of officers of the Legion of
+Honor; and finally the Cardinal of Bayonne and the Bishop of Evreux were
+made senators by his Majesty.  Doctor Porta, the Pope's physician, was
+presented with a pension of twelve thousand francs, and the
+ecclesiastical secretary who entered the cabinet to copy the articles of
+the Concordat received a present of a magnificent ring set with
+brilliants.
+
+His Holiness had hardly signed the Concordat before he repented of it.
+The following was related to Marshal Kellerman by the Emperor at Mayence
+the last of April:
+
+"The day after the signing of the famous Concordat of Fontainebleau, the
+Pope dined in public with me; but in the night he was ill, or pretended
+to be.  He was a lamblike, honest, and truly good man, whom I highly
+esteemed and loved, and who had some regard for me I am sure.  Would you
+believe it, he wrote me a week after signing the Concordat that he much
+regretted having done so, that his conscience reproached him for it, and
+urged me earnestly to consider it as of no effect.  This was owing to the
+fact that immediately after leaving me he had fallen into the hands of
+his usual advisers, who made a scarecrow out of what had just occurred.
+If we had been together I could easily have reassured him.  I replied
+that what he demanded was contrary to the interests of France; and
+moreover, being infallible, he could not have made a mistake, and his
+conscience was too quick to take the alarm for him to have done wrong.
+
+"In fact, compare the condition of Rome formerly with what it is to-day.
+Paralyzed by the necessary consequences of the Revolution, could she have
+risen again and maintained her position?  A vicious government as to
+political matters has taken the place of the former Roman legislation,
+which, without being perfect, nevertheless contributed to form great men
+of every kind.  Modern Rome has applied to its political government
+principles better suited to a religious order, and has carried them out
+in a manner fatal to the happiness of the people.
+
+"Thus charity is the most perfect of Christian virtues; it is necessary
+to give charity to all who ask it.  This form of reasoning has rendered
+Rome the receptacle of the dregs of all nations.  One sees collected
+there (so I am told, for I have never visited it) all the idlers of the
+earth, who come thither to take refuge, assured of finding an abundant
+support with much to spare.  And thus the papal territory, which nature
+has destined to produce immense wealth from its situation under a
+favorable sky, from the multiplicity of streams with which it is watered,
+and above all from the fertility of the soil, languishes for want of
+cultivation.  Berthier has often told me that large tracts of country may
+be traversed without perceiving the impress of the hand of man.  The
+women even, who are regarded as the most beautiful of Italy, are
+indolent, and their minds evince no activity even in the ordinary duties
+of life.  The inhabitants have all the languor of Asiatic manners.
+
+"Modern Rome limits itself to preserving a certain pre-eminence by virtue
+of the marvelous works of art which it contains; but we have greatly
+weakened this claim.  Our museum is enriched by all the masterpieces
+which were a source of so much pride, and soon the magnificent edifice of
+the Bourse which is to be erected at Paris will eclipse all those of
+Europe, either ancient or modern.
+
+"France before all.
+
+"Viewed from a political standpoint, how would the papal government in
+these days appear compared with the great kingdoms of Europe?  Formerly
+mediocre men succeeded to the pontifical throne at an age in which one
+breathes well only after resting.  At this period of life routine and
+habit are everything; and nothing is considered but the elevated
+position, and how to make it redound to the advantage of his family.
+A pope now arrives at sovereign power with a mind sharpened by being
+accustomed to intrigue, and with a fear of making powerful enemies who
+may hereafter revenge themselves on his family, since his successor is
+always unknown.  In fine, he cares for nothing but to live and die in
+peace.  In the seat of Sixtus V.
+
+     [Sixtus V., originally Felix Peretti, born at Montalto, 1525, and
+     in 1585 succeeded Gregory XIII. as pope.  He was distinguished by
+     his energy and munificence.  He constructed the Vatican Library, the
+     great aqueduct, and other public works, and placed the obelisk
+     before St. Peter's.  Died 1589.]
+
+how many popes have there been who have occupied themselves only with
+frivolous subjects, as little advantageous to the best interests of
+religion as fruitful in inspiring scorn for such a government!  But that
+would lead us too far."
+
+From the time of his return from Moscow, his Majesty occupied himself
+with unequaled activity in seeking means to arrest the invasion of the
+Russians, who, having united with the Prussians since General Yorck's
+defection, constituted a most formidable mass.  New levies had been
+ordered.  For two months he had received and utilized the innumerable
+offers of horses and cavalry made by all the towns of the Empire, by
+official bodies, and by rich individuals holding positions near the
+court, etc.  The Imperial Guard was reorganized under the brave Duke de
+Frioul, who was alas! a few months later to be torn from his numerous
+friends.
+
+In the midst of these grave occupations his Majesty did not for a moment
+lose sight of his cherished plan of making Paris the most beautiful city
+of the world; and not a week passed without interviews with architects
+and engineers, who presented estimates, made reports, etc.
+
+"It is a shame," said the Emperor one day, while inspecting the barracks
+of the guard, a species of black and smoke-begrimed shed, "it is a
+shame," said he to M. Fontaine, "to make buildings as frightful as those
+of Moscow.  I should never have allowed such a building to be erected.
+Are you not my chief architect?"
+
+M. Fontaine excused himself by pointing out to his Majesty that he was
+not responsible for the buildings of Paris, as although he had the honor
+of being chief architect of the Emperor, it was for the Tuileries and the
+Louvre alone.
+
+"That is true," replied his Majesty; "but could there not be built here,"
+pointing to the quay, "in place of this wooden dockyard, which produces
+such a bad effect, a residence for the Italian minister?"
+
+M. Fontaine replied that the plan was very feasible, but that it would
+require three or four millions.
+
+The Emperor then seemed to abandon this idea, and turning his attention
+to the garden of the Tuileries, perhaps in consequence of the conspiracy
+of General Malet,gave orders to arrange all the entrances to the palace
+so that the same key might serve for all the locks; "and this key," his
+Majesty added, "should be put in charge of the grand marshal after the
+doors were closed for the night."
+
+A few days after this conversation with M. Fontaine, the Emperor sent to
+him and M. Costaz the following note, a copy of which fell into my hands.
+His Majesty had that morning visited the buildings of Chaillot.
+
+     "There is yet ample time to discuss the construction of the palace
+     for the King of Rome.
+
+     I do not wish to be led into foolish expenditures; I should like a
+     palace not so large as Saint-Cloud, but larger than the Luxemburg.
+
+     I wish to be able to occupy it after the sixteenth million has been
+     expended; then it will be a practicable affair.  But if a more
+     expensive building is attempted, it will result like the Louvre,
+     which has never been finished.
+
+     The parks are first to be considered, their boundaries determined
+     and inclosed.
+
+     I wish this new palace to be somewhat handsomer than the Elysee; and
+     although that cost less than eight millions, it is one of the most
+     beautiful palaces of Paris.
+
+     That of the King of Rome will rank next to the Louvre, which is
+     itself a magnificent palace.  It will be, so to speak, only a
+     country seat for one residing in Paris, for of course the winters
+     would be passed at the Louvre or the Tuileries.
+
+     I can with difficulty believe that Saint-Cloud cost sixteen
+     millions. Before inspecting the plan, I wish it to be carefully
+     examined and discussed by the committee on buildings, so that I may
+     have the assurance that the sum of sixteen millions will not be
+     exceeded.  I do not wish an ideal residence, but one constructed for
+     my own enjoyment, and not for the pleasure of the architect alone.
+     Finishing the Louvre will suffice for his glory; and when the plan
+     is once adopted, I will see that it is executed.
+
+     The Elysee does not suit me, and the Tuileries is barely
+     inhabitable.  Nothing will please me unless it is perfectly simple,
+     and constructed according to my tastes and manner of living, for
+     then the palace will be useful to me.  I wish it constructed in such
+     a manner that it may be a complete 'Sans Souci'; [Frederick the
+     Great's palace in the country near Berlin.] and I especially
+     desire that it may be an agreeable palace rather than a handsome
+     garden,--two conditions which are incompatible.  Let there be
+     something between a court and a garden, like the Tuileries, that
+     from my apartments I may promenade in the garden and the park, as at
+     Saint-Cloud, though Saint-Cloud has the inconvenience of having no
+     park for the household.
+
+     It is necessary also to study the location, so that my apartments
+     may face north and south, in order that I may change my residence
+     according to the season.
+
+     I wish the apartments I occupy to be as handsomely furnished as my
+     small apartments at Fontainebleau.
+
+     I wish my apartments to be very near those of the Empress, and on
+     the same floor.
+
+     Finally, I wish a palace that would be comfortable for a
+     convalescent, or for a man as age approaches.  I wish a small
+     theater, a small chapel, etc.; and above all great care should be
+     taken that there be no stagnant water around the palace."
+
+
+The Emperor carried his passion for building to excess, and seemed more
+active, more eager in the execution of his plans, and more tenacious of
+his ideas, than any architect I have ever known.  Nevertheless, the idea
+of putting the palace of the King of Rome on the heights of Chaillot was
+not entirely his own, and M. Fontaine might well claim to have originated
+it.
+
+It was mentioned the first time while discussing the palace of Lyons,
+which in order to present a handsome appearance M. Fontaine remarked
+should be situated on an elevation overlooking the city, as, for example,
+the heights of Chaillot overlooked Paris.  The Emperor did not appear to
+notice M. Fontaine's remark, and had two or three days previously given
+orders that the chateau of Meudon should be put in a condition to receive
+his son, when one morning he summoned the architect, and ordered him to
+present a plan for embellishing the Bois de Boulogne, by adding a country
+house on the summit of Chaillot.  "What do you think of it?" added he,
+smiling; "does the site appear well chosen?"
+
+One morning in the month of March, the Emperor brought his son to a
+review on the Champ-de-Mars; he was received with indescribable
+enthusiasm, the sincerity of which was undoubted; and it could easily be
+seen that these acclamations came from the heart.
+
+The Emperor was deeply moved by this reception, and returned to the
+Tuileries in a most charming frame of mind, caressed the King of Rome,
+covered him with kisses, and dilated to M. Fontaine and myself on the
+precocious intelligence displayed by this beloved child.  "He was not at
+all frightened; he seemed to know that all those brave men were my
+friends."  On that day he held a long conversation with M. Fontaine,
+while amusing himself with his son, whom he held in his arms; and when
+the conversation turned on Rome and its monuments, M. Fontaine spoke of
+the Pantheon with the most profound admiration.  The Emperor asked if he
+had ever lived at Rome; and M. Fontaine having replied that he remained
+there three years on his first visit, his Majesty remarked, "It is a city
+I have not seen; I shall certainly go there some day.  It is the city
+whose people formerly were the sovereigns of the world."  And his eyes
+were fixed on the King of Rome with paternal pride.
+
+When M. Fontaine had left, the Emperor made me a sign to approach, and
+began by pulling my ears, according to custom when in good humor.  After
+a few personal questions, he asked me what was my salary.  "Sire, six
+thousand francs."--"And Monsieur Colin, how much has he?"--"Twelve
+thousand francs."--"Twelve thousand francs! that is not right; you should
+not have less than M. Colin.  I will attend to that."  And his Majesty
+was kind enough to make immediate inquiries, but was told that the
+accounts for the year were made out; whereupon the Emperor informed me
+that till the end of the year, M. le Baron Fain
+
+     [Born in Paris, 1778; attended Napoleon in his campaigns as
+     Secretary of the Records; wrote memoirs of the last three years of
+     Napoleon's reign; died 1837.]
+
+would give me each month out of his privy purse five hundred francs, as
+he wished that my salary should equal that of M. Colin.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+After the Emperor left the army and committed, as we have seen, the
+command to the King of Naples, his Sicilian Majesty also abandoned the
+command intrusted to him, and set out for his states, leaving Prince
+Eugene at the head of the forces.  The Emperor was deeply interested in
+the news he received from Posen, where the general headquarters were in
+the latter part of February and beginning of March, and where the prince
+vice-king had under his orders only the remains of different corps, some
+of which were represented by a very small number of men.
+
+Moreover, each time that the Russians appeared in force, there was
+nothing to be done but to fall back; and each day during the month of
+March the news became more and more depressing.  The Emperor consequently
+decided at the end of March to set out at an early day for the army.
+
+For some time previous the Emperor, much impressed by Malet's conspiracy
+during his last absence, had expressed the opinion that it was dangerous
+to leave his government without a head; and the journals had been filled
+with information relative to the ceremonies required when the regency of
+the kingdom had been left in the hands of queens in times past.  As the
+public well knew the means frequently adopted by his Majesty to foster in
+advance opinions favorable to any course of conduct he intended to
+pursue, no one was surprised to see him before leaving confide the
+regency to the Empress Marie Louise, circumstances not having yet
+furnished him the opportunity of having her crowned, as he had long
+desired.  The Empress took the solemn oath at the palace of the Elysee,
+in presence of the princes, great dignitaries, and ministers.  The Duke
+of Cadore was made secretary of the regency, as counselor to her Majesty
+the Empress, together with the arch-chancellor; and the command of the
+guard was confided to General Caffarelli.
+
+The Emperor left Saint-Cloud on the 15th of April, at four o'clock in the
+morning, and at midnight of the 16th entered Mayence.  On his arrival his
+Majesty learned that Erfurt and the whole of Westphalia were in a state
+of the deepest alarm.  This news added incredible speed to his march, and
+in eight hours he was at Erfurt.  His Majesty remained but a short while
+in that town, as the information that he there received set his mind at
+rest as to the result of the campaign.  On leaving Erfurt the Emperor
+wished to pass through Weimar in order to salute the grand duchess, and
+made his visit on the same day and at the same hour that the Emperor
+Alexander went from Dresden to Toeplitz in order to visit another Duchess
+of Weimar (the hereditary princess, her sister).
+
+The grand duchess received the Emperor with a grace which enchanted him,
+and their conversation lasted nearly half an hour.  On leaving, his
+Majesty said to the Prince de Neuchatel, "That is an astonishing woman;
+she has the intellect of a great man."  The Duke accompanied the Emperor
+as far as the borough of Eckhartsberg, where his Majesty detained him to
+dine.
+
+NOTE BY CONSTANT.--His Majesty's household, reorganized in part for this
+campaign of 1813, was composed of the following persons:
+
+Grand marshal of the palace, the Duke of Frioul.
+
+Grand equerry, the Duke of Vicenza.
+
+Aides-de-camp: Generals Mouton, Count de Lobau; Lebrun, Duke de
+Plaisance; Generals Drouot, Flahaut, Dejean, Corbineau, Bernard,
+Durosnel, and Aogendorp.
+
+First ordinance officer, Colonel Gourgaud.
+
+Ordinance officers: Baron de Mortemart, Baron Athalin, M. Beranger, M. de
+Lauriston; Messieurs Barons Desaix, Laplace, and de Caraman; Messieurs de
+Saint Marsan, de Lamezan, Pretet, and Pailhou; there was also M.
+d'Aremberg, but at this time he was a prisoner in the town of Dantzic.
+
+First chamberlain and master of the wardrobe, the Count of Turenne.
+
+Prefect of the palace, Baron de Beausset.
+
+Quartermaster of the palace, Baron de Canouville.
+
+Equerries, Barons Van Lenneps, Montaran, and de Mesgrigny.
+
+Private secretaries, Baron Mounier and Baron Fain.
+
+Clerks, Messieurs Jouanne and Provost.
+
+Secretary interpreters, Messieurs Lelorgue, Dideville, and Vouzowitch.
+
+Director of the topographical bureau, Baron Bacler d'Albe.
+
+Geographical engineers, Messieurs Lameau and Duvivier.
+
+Pages, Messieurs Montarieu, Devienne, Sainte Perne, and Ferreri.
+
+
+The Emperor had his headquarters on the square of Eckhartsberg.  He had
+only two rooms, and his suite slept on the landing and the steps of the
+staircase.  This little town, transformed in a few hours into
+headquarters, presented a most extraordinary spectacle.  On a square
+surrounded by camps, bivouacs, and military parks, in the midst of more
+than a thousand vehicles, which crossed each other from every direction,
+mingled together, became entangled in every way, could be seen slowly
+defiling regiments, convoys, artillery trains, baggage wagons, etc.
+Following them came herds of cattle, preceded or divided by the little
+carts of the canteen women and sutlers,--such light, frail vehicles that
+the least jolt endangered them; with these were marauders returning with
+their booty, peasants pulling vehicles by their own strength, cursing and
+swearing amid the laughter of our soldiers; and couriers, ordinance
+officers, and aides-de-camp, galloping through all this wonderfully
+variegated and diversified multitude of men and beasts.
+
+And when to this is added the neighing of horses, bellowing of cattle,
+rumbling of wheels over the stones, cries of the soldiers, sounds from
+trumpets, drums, fifes, and the complaints of the inhabitants, with
+hundreds of persons all together asking questions at the same time,
+speaking German to the Italians, and French to the Germans, how could it
+be possible that his Majesty should be as tranquil and as much at his
+ease in the midst of this fearful uproar as in his cabinet at Saint-Cloud
+or the Tuileries?  This was nevertheless the case; and the Emperor,
+seated before a miserable table covered with a kind of cloth, a map
+spread before him, compass and pen in hand, entirely given up to
+meditation, showed not the least impatience; and it would have been said
+that no exterior noise reached his ears.  But let a cry of pain be heard
+in any direction, the Emperor instantly raised his head, and gave orders
+to go and ascertain what had happened.
+
+The power of thus isolating one's self completely from all the
+surrounding world is very difficult to acquire, and no one possessed it
+to the same degree as his Majesty.
+
+On the 1st of May the Emperor was at Lutzen, though the battle did not
+occur till next day.  On that day, at six o'clock in the evening, the
+brave Marshal Bessieres, Duke of Istria, was killed by a cannon-ball,
+just at the moment when, mounted on a height, wrapped in a long cloak
+which he had put on in order not to be remarked, he had just given orders
+for the burial of a sergeant of his escort, whom a ball had just slain a
+few steps in front of him.
+
+From the first campaigns in Italy the Duke of Istria had hardly left the
+Emperor at all; had followed him in all his campaigns; had taken part in
+all his battles, and was always distinguished for his well-proved
+bravery, and a frankness and candor very rare among the high personages
+by whom his Majesty was surrounded.  He had passed through almost all
+grades up to the command of the Imperial Guard; and his great experience,
+excellent character, good heart, and unalterable attachment to the
+Emperor, had rendered him very dear to his Majesty.
+
+The Emperor was much moved on learning of the death of the marshal, and
+remained some time silent with bent head, and eyes fastened on the
+ground.  At last he said, "He has died like Turenne; his fate is to be
+envied."  He then passed his hand over his eyes and withdrew.
+
+The body of the marshal was embalmed and carried to Paris, and the
+Emperor wrote the following letter to the Duchess of Istria:
+
+     "MY COUSIN,--
+
+     Your husband has died on the field of honor.  The loss sustained by
+     you and your children is doubtless great, but mine is greater still.
+     The Duke of Istria has died a most glorious death, and without
+     suffering.  He leaves a stainless reputation, the richest heritage
+     he could have left his children.  My protection is assured, and they
+     will also inherit the affection I bore their father.  Find in all
+     these considerations some source of consolation in your distress,
+     and never doubt my sentiments towards you.
+
+     This letter having no other object, I pray that God, my cousin, may
+     have you in his holy keeping.
+
+                                             "NAPOLEON."
+
+
+The King of Saxony reared a monument to the Duke of Istria on the exact
+spot where he fell.  The victory so long disputed in this battle of
+Lutzen was on that account only the more glorious for the Emperor, and
+was gained principally by the young conscripts, who fought like lions.
+Marshal Ney expected this of them; for before the battle he said to his
+Majesty, "Sire, give me a good many of those young men, I will lead them
+wherever I wish.  The old bearded fellows know as much as we, they
+reflect, they are too cold blooded; but these intrepid children know no
+difficulties, they look straight before them, and neither to the right
+nor left."
+
+In fact, in the midst of the battle, the Prussians, commanded by the king
+in person, attacked the corps of Marshal Ney with such fury that it fell
+back, but the conscripts did not take flight.  They withstood the fire,
+rallied by platoons, and flanked the enemy, crying with all their might,
+"Vive l'Empereur."  The Emperor appeared; and recovering from the
+terrible shock they had sustained, and electrified by the presence of
+their hero, they attacked in their turn with incredible violence.  His
+Majesty was astonished.  "In the twenty years," said he, "I have
+commanded French armies I have never witnessed such remarkable bravery
+and devotion."
+
+It was indeed a touching sight to see those youthful soldiers, although
+grievously wounded, some without an arm, some without a leg, with but a
+few moments of life remaining, making a last effort, as the Emperor
+approached, to rise from the ground, and shout with their latest breath,
+"Vive l'Empereur."  Tears fill my eyes as I think of those youths, so
+brilliant, so strong, and so courageous.
+
+The enemy displayed the same bravery and enthusiasm.  The light infantry
+of the Prussian guard were almost all young men who saw fire for the
+first time; they exposed themselves to every hazard, and fell by hundreds
+before they would recoil a step.
+
+In no other battle, I think, was the Emperor so visibly protected by his
+destiny.  Balls whistled around his ears, carrying away as they passed
+pieces of the trappings of his horse, shells and grenades rolled at his
+feet, but nothing touched him.  The soldiers observed this, and their
+enthusiasm rose to the highest pitch.
+
+At the beginning of the battle, the Emperor saw a battalion advancing
+whose chief had been suspended from his office two or three days before
+for some slight breach of discipline.  The disgraced officer marched in
+the second rank with his soldiers, by whom he was adored.  The Emperor
+saw him, and halting the battalion, took the officer by the hand, and
+placed him again at the head of his troop.  The effect produced by this
+scene was indescribable.
+
+On the 8th of May, at seven o'clock in the evening, the Emperor entered
+Dresden, and took possession of the palace, which the Emperor of Russia
+and King of Prussia had quitted that very evening.  A short distance from
+the barriers the Emperor was saluted by a deputation from the
+municipality of that town.
+
+     "You deserve," said he to these deputies, "that I should treat you
+     as a conquered country.  I know all that you have done while the
+     allies occupied your town; I have a statement of the number of
+     volunteers whom you have clothed, equipped, and armed against me,
+     with a generosity which has astonished even the enemy.  I know the
+     insults you have heaped on France, and how many shameless libels you
+     have to suppress or to burn today.  I am fully aware with what
+     transports of joy you received the Emperor of Russia and the King of
+     Prussia within your walls.  Your houses are still decorated with the
+     garlands, and we still see lying on the earth the flowers which the
+     young girls scattered in their path.  Nevertheless, I am willing to
+     pardon everything.  Thank your king for this; it is he who saves
+     you, and I pardon you only from love of him.  Send a deputation to
+     entreat him to return to you.  My aide-de-camp, General Durosnel,
+     will be your governor.  Your good king himself could not make a
+     better selection."
+
+As soon as he entered the city the Emperor was informed that a part of
+the Russian rear-guard sought to hold its ground in the new town,
+separated from the old by the river Elbe, and had fallen into the power
+of our army.
+
+His Majesty immediately ordered that everything should be done in order
+to drive out this remnant of the enemy; and during an entire day there
+was a continued cannonading and shooting in the town from one bank to the
+other.  Bullets and shell fell like hail on the spot occupied by the
+Emperor.  A shell struck the walls of a powder-magazine not far from him,
+and scattered the pieces around his head, but fortunately the powder did
+not ignite.  A few moments after another shell fell between his Majesty
+and several Italians; they bent to avoid the explosion.  The Emperor saw
+this movement, and laughingly said to them, "Ah, coglioni! non fa male."
+["Ah, scamps! don't behave badly."]
+
+On the 11th of May, in the morning, the Russians were put to flight and
+pursued, the French army entering the city from all sides.  The Emperor
+remained on the bridge the whole day, watching his troops as they filed
+in.  The next day at ten o'clock the Imperial Guard under arms were
+placed in line of battle on the road from Pirna to Gross Garten.  The
+Emperor reviewed it, and ordered General Flahaut to advance.
+
+The King of Saxony arrived about noon.  On meeting again, the two
+sovereigns alighted from their horses and embraced each other, and then
+entered Dresden amid general acclamations.
+
+General Flahaut, who had gone to meet the King of Saxony with a part of
+the imperial Guard, received from this good king the most flattering
+testimonials of appreciation and gratitude.  It is impossible to show
+more cordiality and friendliness than the King of Saxony displayed.  The
+Emperor said of him and his family that they were a patriarchal family,
+and that all who comprised it joined to striking virtues an expansive
+kindness of manner which made them adored by their subjects.  His Majesty
+paid this royal personage the most affectionate attentions, and as long
+as the war lasted sent couriers each day to keep the king informed of the
+least circumstance:  He came himself as often as possible, and, in fact,
+constantly treated him with that cordiality he so well knew how to
+display and to render irresistible when he chose.
+
+A few days after his arrival at Dresden his Majesty held a long
+conversation with the King of Saxony, in which the Emperor Alexander was
+the principal subject of conversation.
+
+The characteristics and faults of this prince were fully analyzed; and
+the conclusion drawn from this conversation was that the Emperor
+Alexander had been sincere in the interview at Erfurt, and that it must
+have been very complicated intrigues which had thus led to the rupture of
+all their treaties of friendship.  "Sovereigns are most unfortunate,"
+said his Majesty; "always deceived, always surrounded by flatterers or
+treacherous counselors, whose greatest desire is to prevent the truth
+from reaching the ears of their masters, who have so much interest in
+knowing it."
+
+The two sovereigns next spoke of the Emperor of Austria.  His Majesty
+appeared profoundly grieved that his union with the Archduchess Marie
+Louise, whom he did all in his power to render the happiest of women,
+should have failed in producing the result he had anticipated, of
+obtaining for him the confidence and friendship of her father.  "It is
+perhaps because I was not born a sovereign," said the Emperor; "and
+nevertheless, I should think that this would be an additional inducement
+to the friendship of my father-in-law.  I shall never be convinced that
+such ties are not strong enough to obtain the alliance of the Emperor of
+Austria; for, in fact, I am his son-in-law, my son is his grandson, he
+loves his daughter, and she is happy; how, then, can he be my enemy?"
+
+On learning of the victory of Lutzen, and the entrance of the Emperor into
+Dresden, the Emperor of Austria hastened to send M. de Bubna to his son-
+in-law.  He arrived on the evening of the 16th; and the interview, which
+his Majesty immediately granted, lasted until two hours after midnight.
+This led us to hope that peace was about to be concluded, and we
+consequently formed a thousand conjectures, each more encouraging than
+the other; but when two or three days had passed away, and we still
+witnessed only preparations for war, we saw that our hopes were cruelly
+deceived.  Then it was I heard the unfortunate Marshal Duroc exclaim,
+"This is lasting too long!  We will none of us outlive it!"  He had a
+presentiment of his own death.
+
+During the whole of this campaign the Emperor had not a moment of repose.
+The days passed away in combats or marches, always on horseback; the
+nights in labors in the cabinet.  I never comprehended how his body could
+endure such fatigue, and yet he enjoyed almost continuously the most
+perfect health.  The evening before the battle of Bautzen he retired very
+late, after visiting all the military posts, and, having given all
+necessary orders, slept profoundly.  Early next morning, the 20th of May,
+movements began, and we awaited at headquarters with eager impatience the
+results of this day.  But the battle was not over even then; and after a
+succession of encounters, always ending in our favor, although hotly
+contested, the Emperor, at nine o'clock in the evening, returned to
+headquarters, took a light repast, and remained with Prince Berthier
+until midnight.  The remainder of the night was passed in work, and at
+five o'clock in the morning he was on his feet and ready to return to the
+combat.  Three or four hours after his arrival on the battlefield the
+Emperor was overcome by an irresistible desire for sleep, and, foreseeing
+the issue of the day, slept on the side of a ravine, in the midst of the
+batteries of the Duke of Ragusa, until he was awaked with the information
+that the battle was gained.
+
+This fact, which was related to me in the evening, did not astonish me in
+the least; for I have already remarked that when he was compelled to
+yield to the necessity of sleep, that imperious want of nature, the
+Emperor took the repose which was so necessary to him when and where he
+could, like a true soldier.
+
+Although the result was decided, the battle was continued until five
+o'clock in the evening.  At six o'clock the Emperor had his tent erected
+near a solitary inn, which had served as headquarters for the Emperor
+Alexander during the two preceding days.  I received orders to attend him
+there, and did so with all speed; but his Majesty, nevertheless, passed
+the whole night receiving and congratulating the chief generals, and
+working with his secretaries.
+
+All the wounded who were able to march were already on the road to
+Dresden, where all necessary help awaited them.  But on the field of
+battle were stretched more than ten thousand men, Frenchmen, Russians,
+Prussians, etc.,--hardly able to breathe, mutilated, and in a most
+pitiable condition.  The unremitting labors of the kind and indefatigable
+Baron Larrey and the multitude of surgeons encouraged by his heroic
+example did not suffice even to dress their wounds.  And what means could
+be found to remove the wounded in this desolate country, where all the
+villages had been sacked and burned, and where it was no longer possible
+to find either horses or conveyances?  Must they then let all these men
+perish after most horrible sufferings, for lack of means to convey them
+to Dresden?
+
+It was then that this population of Saxon villagers, who it might have
+been thought must be embittered by the horrors of war,--in seeing their
+dwellings burned, their fields ravaged,--furnished to the army an example
+of the sublime sentiments which pity can inspire in the heart of man.
+They perceived the cruel anxiety which M. Larrey and his companions
+suffered concerning the fate of so many unfortunate wounded, and
+immediately men, women, children, and even old men, hastily brought
+wheelbarrows.  The wounded were lifted, and placed on these frail
+conveyances.  Two or three persons accompanied each wheelbarrow all the
+way to Dresden, halting if by a cry or gesture even, the wounded
+indicated a desire to rest, stopping to replace the bandages which the
+motion had displaced, or near a spring to give them water to allay the
+fever which devoured them.  I have never seen a more touching sight.
+
+Baron Larrey had an animated discussion with the Emperor.  Among the
+wounded, there were found a large number of young soldiers with two
+fingers of their right hand torn off; and his Majesty thought that these
+poor young fellows had done it purposely to keep from serving.  Having
+said this to M. Larrey, the latter vehemently exclaimed that it was an
+impossibility, and that such baseness was not in keeping with the
+character of these brave young conscripts.  As the Emperor still
+maintained his position, Larrey at length became so angry that he went so
+far as to tax the Emperor with injustice.  Things were in this condition
+when it was positively proved that these uniform wounds came from the
+haste with which these young soldiers loaded and discharged their guns,
+not being accustomed to handling them.  Whereupon his Majesty saw that M.
+de Larrey was right, and praised him for his firmness in maintaining what
+he, knew to be the truth.  "You are a thoroughly good man, M. de Larrey,"
+said the Emperor.  "I wish I could be surrounded only with men like you;
+but such men are very rare."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+We had now reached the eve of the day on which the Emperor, still deeply
+affected by the loss he had sustained in the death of the Duke of Istria,
+was to receive a blow which he felt perhaps most keenly of all those
+which struck deep into his heart as he saw his old companions in arms
+fall around him.  The day following that on which the Emperor had, with
+Baron Larrey, the discussion which I related at the end of the preceding
+chapter was made memorable by the irreparable loss of Marshal Duroc.  The
+Emperor's heart was crushed; and indeed not one of us failed to shed
+sincere tears--so just and good was he, although grave and severe in his
+manner towards persons whom the nature of their duties brought into
+contact with him.  It was a loss not only to the Emperor, who possessed
+in him a true friend, but, I dare to assert, also to the whole of France.
+He loved the Emperor with a passionate devotion, and never failed to
+bestow on him his faithful admonitions, although they were not always
+heeded.  The death of Marshal Duroc was an event so grievous and so
+totally unexpected, that we remained for some time uncertain whether to
+believe it, even when the only too evident reality no longer permitted us
+to remain under any delusion.
+
+These are the circumstances under which this fatal event occurred which
+spread consternation throughout the army: The Emperor was pursuing the
+rear guard of the Russians, who continually eluded him, and had just
+escaped for the tenth time since the morning, after having killed and
+taken prisoners large numbers of our brave soldiers, when two or three
+shells dug up the ground at the Emperor's feet, and caused him to
+exclaim, "What! after such butchery no result! no prisoners! those men
+there will not leave me a nail."  Hardly had he finished speaking when a
+shell passed, and threw a chasseur of the cavalry escort almost under the
+legs of his Majesty's horse.  "Ah, Duroc," added he, turning towards the
+grand marshal, "fortune protects us to-day."--"Sire," said an aide-
+decamp, rushing, up at a gallop, "General Bruyeres has just been killed."
+"My poor comrade of Italy!  Is it possible?  Ah! it is necessary to push
+on, nevertheless."  And noticing on the left an elevation from which he
+could better observe what was passing, the Emperor started in that
+direction amidst a cloud of dust.  The Duke of Vicenza, the Duke of
+Treviso, Marshal Duroc, and general of engineers Kirgener followed his
+Majesty closely; but the wind raised such a cloud of dust and smoke that
+they could hardly see each other.  Suddenly a tree near which the Emperor
+passed was struck by a shell and cut in half.  His Majesty, on reaching
+the plateau, turned to ask for his field-glass, and saw no one near him
+except the Duke of Vicenza.  Duke Charles de Plaisance came up, his face
+showing a mortal pallor, leaned towards the grand equerry, and said a few
+words in his ear.  "What is it?"  vehemently inquired the Emperor; "what
+has happened?"--"Sire," said the Duke of Plaisance, weeping, "the grand
+marshal is dead!"--"Duroc?  But you must be mistaken.  He was here a
+moment ago by my side."  Several aides-de-camp arrived, and a page with
+his Majesty's field-glass.  The fatal news was confirmed, in part at
+least.  The Grand Duke of Frioul was not yet dead; but the shell had
+wounded him in the stomach, and all surgical aid would be useless.  The
+shell after breaking the tree had glanced, first striking General
+Kirgener, who was instantly killed, and then the Duke of Frioul.
+Monsieurs Yvan and Larrey were with the wounded marshal, who had been
+carried into a house at Markersdorf.  There was no hope of saving him.
+
+The consternation of the army and his Majesty's grief on this deplorable
+event were indescribable.  He mechanically gave a few orders and returned
+to camp, and when he had reached the encampment of the guard, seated
+himself on a bench in front of his tent, with lowered head and clasped
+hands, and remained thus for nearly an hour without uttering a word.
+Since it was nevertheless essential that orders should be given for the
+next day, General Drouot approached,
+
+     [Count Antoine Drouot, chief of artillery of the guard, born at
+     Nancy, 1774; fought as captain at Hohenlinden,1800; distinguished
+     himself at Wagram (1809) and Borodino (1812); made general of
+     division at Bautzen, 1813; went to Elba as commander of the guard,
+     and was by the Emperor's side at Waterloo; died in 1847.  He was a
+     Protestant, and was often seen during heavy firing reading his
+     Testament calmly.]
+
+and in a voice interrupted by sobs asked what should be done.  "To-
+morrow, everything," replied the Emperor, and said not a word more.
+"Poor man!" exclaimed the old watchdogs of the guard; "he has lost one of
+his children."  Night closed in.  The enemy was in full retreat; and the
+army having taken its position, the Emperor left the camp, and,
+accompanied by the Prince de Neuchatel, M. Yvan, and the Duke of Vicenza,
+repaired to the house where the grand marshal had been conveyed.  The
+scene was terrible.  The Emperor, distracted with grief, repeatedly
+embraced this faithful friend, endeavoring to cheer him; but the duke,
+who was perfectly conscious of his condition, replied only by entreaties
+to have opium given him.  At these words the Emperor left the room; he
+could no longer control his emotions.
+
+The Duke de Frioul died next morning; and the Emperor ordered that his
+body should be conveyed to Paris, and paced under the dome of the
+Invalides.
+
+     [On either side of the entrance to the sarcophagus of porphyry
+     which holds the mortal remains of the great Emperor, rest Duroc and
+     Bertrand, who in life watched over him as marshals of his Palace.-
+     TRANS.]
+
+He bought the house in which the grand marshal died, and charged the
+pastor of the village to have a stone placed in the spot where his bed
+had stood, and these words engraved thereon:
+
+                  "HERE GENERAL DUROC, DUKE OF FRIOUL,
+          GRAND MARSHAL OF THE PALACE OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON,
+                      MORTALLY WOUNDED BY A SHELL,
+             DIED IN THE ARMS OF HIS FRIEND, THE EMPEROR."
+
+The preservation of this monument was imposed as an obligation on the
+occupant of the house, who received it as a gift with this condition
+annexed.  The pastor, the magistrate of the village, and the one who
+accepted this gift, were summoned to his Majesty's presence; and he made
+known to them his wishes, which they solemnly engaged to fulfill.  His
+Majesty then drew from his privy purse the necessary funds, and handed
+them to these gentlemen.
+
+It is well that the reader should know how this agreement so solemnly
+made was executed.  This order of the Russian staff will inform him.
+
+     "A copy of a receipt dated the 16th (28th) of March states that the
+     Emperor Napoleon handed to Hermann, pastor of the church at
+     Markersdorf, the sum of two hundred gold napoleons for the purpose
+     of erecting a monument to the memory of Marshal Duroc, who died on
+     the field of battle.  His Excellency Prince Repnin, Governor-General
+     of Saxony, having ordered that a deputy from my office be sent to
+     Markersdorf in order to bring the said sum and deposit it with me
+     until it is finally disposed of, my secretary, Meyerheim, is charged
+     with this mission, and consequently will go at once to Dlarkersdorf,
+     and, as an evidence of his authority, will present to Minister
+     Hermann the accompanying order, and take possession of the above
+     mentioned sum of two hundred gold napoleons.  The secretary
+     Meyerheim will account to me alone for the execution of this order.
+     At Dresden this 20th of March (1st of April), 1814.
+
+                                   "(Signed) BARON DE ROSEN."
+
+
+This order needs no comment.  After the battles of Bautzen and Wurschen,
+the Emperor entered Silesia.  He saw on every occasion combined armies of
+the allies put to flight before his own in every encounter; and this
+sight, while flattering his vanity exceedingly, also greatly strengthened
+him in the belief that he would soon find himself master of a rich and
+fertile country, where the abundant means of subsistence would be of much
+advantage in all his undertakings.  Many times a day he exclaimed, "How
+far are we from such a town?  When do we arrive at Breslau?  "His
+impatience did not prevent him meanwhile from" occupying his mind with
+every object which struck his attention, as if he were free from all
+care.  He examined the houses, one by one, as he passed through each
+village, remarked the direction of rivers and mountain ranges, and
+collected the most minute information which the inhabitants could or
+would give him.  On the 27th of May, his Majesty, when not more than
+three days march from Breslau, met in front of a little town called
+Michelsdorf several regiments of Russian cavalry who held the road.  They
+were quite near the Emperor and his staff before his Majesty had even
+perceived them.  The Prince de Neuchatel, seeing the enemy so near,
+hastened to the Emperor, and said, "Sire, they are still advancing."--
+"Well, we will advance also," replied his Majesty, smiling.  "Look behind
+you-" And he showed the prince the French infantry approaching in close
+columns.  A few discharges soon drove the Russians from this position;
+but half a league or a league farther we found them again, and this
+maneuver was again and again repeated.  The Emperor, perceiving this,
+maneuvered accordingly, and in person directed with the greatest
+precision the troops as they advanced.  He went from one height to
+another, and thoroughly inspected the towns and villages on the route in
+order to reconnoiter their position, and ascertain what resources he
+could obtain from the country; and, as a result of his attentive care and
+indefatigable oversight, the scene changed ten times a day.  If a column
+emerged from a deep ravine, a wood, or a village, it could take immediate
+possession of a height, since a battery was found already in position to
+defend it.  The Emperor indicated every movement with admirable tact, and
+in such a manner that it was impossible to be taken at a disadvantage.
+He commanded only the troops as a whole, transmitting either personally,
+or through his staff officers, his orders to the commander of the corps
+and divisions, who in their turn transmitted or had them transmitted to
+the chiefs of battalions.  All orders given by his Majesty were short,
+precise, and so clear that it was never necessary to ask explanations.
+
+On the 29th of May, not knowing how far on the road to Breslau it was
+prudent to advance, his Majesty established himself on a little farm
+called Rosnig, which had been pillaged, and presented a most miserable
+aspect.  As there could be found in the house only a small apartment with
+a closet suitable for the Emperor's use, the Prince de Neuchatel and his
+suite established themselves as well as they could in the surrounding
+cottages, barns, and even in the gardens, since there was not sufficient
+shelter for all.  The next day a fire broke out in a stable near the
+lodging of the Emperor.  There were fourteen or fifteen wagons in this
+barn, which were all burned.  One of these wagons contained the traveling
+treasury chest; in another were the clothes and linen belonging to the
+Emperor, as well as jewelry, rings, tobacco boxes, and other valuable
+objects.  We saved very few things from this fire; and if the reserve
+corps had not arrived promptly, his Majesty would have been obliged to
+change his customary toilet rules for want of stockings and shirts.  The
+Saxon Major d'Odeleben, who has written some interesting articles on this
+campaign, states that everything belonging to his Majesty was burned; and
+that it was necessary to have him some pantaloons made in the greatest
+haste at Breslau.  This is a mistake.  I do not think that the baggage-
+wagon was burned; but even if it had been, the Emperor would not on that
+account have needed clothing, since there were always four or five
+complete suits either in advance or in the rear of the headquarters.
+In Russia, when the order was given to burn all carriages which lacked
+horses, this order was rigorously executed in regard to the persons of
+the household, and they were consequently left with almost nothing; but
+everything was reserved which might be considered indispensable to his
+Majesty.
+
+At length on the 1st of June, at six o'clock in the morning, the advance
+guard entered Breslau, having at its head General Lauriston, and General
+Hogendorp, whom his Majesty had invested in advance with the functions of
+governor of this town, which was the capital of Silesia.  Thus was
+fulfilled in part the promise the Emperor had made in passing through
+Warsaw on his return from Russia: "I go to seek three hundred thousand
+men.  Success will render the Russians bold.  I will deliver two battles
+between the Elbe and the Oder, and in six months I will be again on the
+Niemen."
+
+These two battles fought and gained by conscripts, and without cavalry,
+had re-established the reputation of the French army.  The King of Saxony
+had been brought back in triumph to his capital.  The headquarters of the
+Emperor were at Breslau; one of the corps of the grand army was at the
+gates of Berlin, and the enemy driven from Hamburg.  Russia was about to
+be forced to withdraw into its own boundaries, when the Emperor of
+Austria, acting as mediator in the affairs of the two allied sovereigns,
+advised them to propose an armistice.  They followed this advice; and as
+the Emperor had the weakness to consent to their demands, the armistice
+was granted and signed on the fourth of June, and his Majesty at once set
+out on his return to Dresden.  An hour after his departure he said, "If
+the allies do not in good faith desire peace, this armistice may become
+very fatal to us."
+
+On the evening of the 8th of June, his Majesty reached Gorlitz.  On that
+night fire broke out in the faubourg where the guard had established its
+quarters; and at one o'clock one of the officials of the town came to the
+headquarters of the Emperor to give the alarm, saying that all was lost.
+The troops extinguished the fire, and an account was rendered the Emperor
+of what had occurred.  I dressed him in all haste, as he wished to set
+out at break of day.  "To how much does the loss amount?" demanded the
+Emperor.  "Sire, to seven or eight thousand francs at least for the cases
+of greatest need."--"Let ten thousand be given, and let it be distributed
+immediately."  The inhabitants were immediately informed of the
+generosity of the Emperor; and as he left the village an hour or two
+after, he was saluted with unanimous acclamations.
+
+On the morning of the 10th we returned from Dresden.  The Emperor's
+arrival put an end to most singular rumors which had been circulated
+there since the remains of Grand Marshal Duroc had passed through the
+city.  It was asserted that the coffin contained the body of the Emperor;
+that he had been killed in the last battle, and his body mysteriously
+concealed in a room of the chateau, through the windows of which lights
+could be seen burning all night.  When he arrived, some persons perfectly
+infatuated with this idea went so far as to repeat what had already been
+reported, with the added circumstance that it was not the Emperor who was
+seen in his carriage, but a figure made of wax.  Nevertheless, when next
+day he appeared before the eyes of all on horseback in a meadow in front
+of the gates of the city, they were compelled to admit that he still
+lived.
+
+The Emperor alighted at the Marcolini palace, a charming summer residence
+situated in the faubourg of Friedrichstadt.  An immense garden, the
+beautiful meadows of Osterwise on the banks of the Elbe, in addition to
+an extremely fine landscape, rendered this sojourn much more attractive
+than that of the winter palace; and consequently the Emperor was most
+grateful to the King of Saxony for having prepared it for him.  There he
+led the same life as at Schoenbrunn; reviews every morning, much work
+during the day, and few distractions in the evening; in fact, more
+simplicity than display.  The middle of the day was spent in cabinet
+labors; and during that time such perfect tranquillity reigned in the
+palace, that except for the presence of two sentinels on horseback and
+videttes, which showed that it was the dwelling of a sovereign, it would
+have been difficult to imagine that this beautiful residence was
+inhabited even by the simplest private citizen.
+
+The Emperor had chosen for his apartments the right wing of the palace;
+the left was occupied by the Prince de Neuchatel.  In the center of the
+building were a large saloon and two smaller ones which served as
+reception rooms.
+
+Two days after his return, his Majesty sent orders to Paris that the
+actors of the "Comedy" Theater from Paris should spend the time of the
+armistice at Dresden.  The Duke of Vicenza, charged in the interim with
+the duties of grand marshal of the palace, was ordered to make all
+necessary preparations to receive them.  He committed this duty to the
+care of Messieurs de Beausset and de Turenne, to whom the Emperor gave
+the superintendence of the theater; and a hall to be used for this
+purpose was erected in the orangery of the Marcolini palace.  This hall
+communicated with the apartments, and could seat about two hundred
+persons.  It was erected as if by magic, and was opened, while awaiting
+the arrival of the French troupe, with two or three representations given
+by the Italian comedians of the King of Saxony.
+
+The actors from Paris were: For tragedy, Messieurs Saint-Prix and Talma
+and Mademoiselle Georges.
+
+For comedy: Messieurs Fleury, Saint-Fal, Baptiste the younger, Armand,
+Thenard, Michot, Devigny, Michelot and Barbier; Mesdames Mars, Bourgoin,
+Thenard, Emilie Contat, and Mezeray.
+
+The management of the theater was given to M. Despres.
+
+All these actors arrived on the 19th of June, and found every arrangement
+made for their comfort,--tastefully furnished lodgings, carriages,
+servants, everything which could enable them to agreeably endure the
+ennui of a residence in a foreign land, and prove to them at the same
+time how highly his Majesty appreciated their talents; an appreciation
+which most of them richly merited, both on account of their excellent
+social qualities, and the nobility and refinement of their manners.
+
+The debut of the French troupe at the theater of the Orangery took place
+on the 22d of June, in the 'Gageure Imprevue', and another piece, then
+much in vogue at Paris, and which has often since been witnessed with
+much pleasure, 'La Suite d'un Bal Masque'.
+
+As the theater of the Orangery would have been too small for the
+representation of tragedy, that was reserved for the grand theater of the
+city; and persons were admitted on those occasions only by cards from the
+Count of Turenne, no admission fee being charged.
+
+At the grand theater on the days of the French play, and also in the
+theater at the Marcolini palace, the footmen of his Majesty attended upon
+the boxes, and served refreshments while the piece was being played.
+
+This is how the days were spent after the arrival of the actors of the
+French theater.
+
+Everything was quiet until eight o'clock in the morning, unless a courier
+arrived, or some aide-de-camp was unexpectedly summoned.  At eight
+o'clock I dressed the Emperor; at nine he held his levee, which all could
+attend who held as high a rank as colonel.  The civil and military
+authorities of the country were also admitted; the Dukes of Weimar and
+d'Anhalt, the brothers and nephews of the King of Saxony, sometimes
+attended.  Next came breakfast; then the parade in the meadows of
+Osterwise, about one hundred paces distant from the palace, to which the
+Emperor always went on horseback, and dismounted on arriving; the troops
+filed before him, and cheered him three times with their customary
+enthusiasm.  The evolutions were commanded sometimes by the Emperor,
+sometimes by the Count of Lobau.  As soon as the cavalry began to defile,
+his majesty re-entered the palace and began to work.  Then began that
+perfect stillness of which I have spoken; and dinner was not served until
+late,--seven or eight o'clock.  The Emperor often dined alone with the
+Prince de Neuchatel, unless there were guests from the royal family of
+Saxony.  After dinner they attended the theater, when there was a play;
+and afterwards the Emperor returned to his cabinet to work again, either
+alone or with his secretaries.
+
+Each day it was the same thing, unless, which was very rarely the case,
+fatigued beyond measure by the labors of the day, the Emperor took a
+fancy to send for Madame Georges after the tragedy.  Then she passed two
+or three hours in his apartment, but never more.
+
+Sometimes the Emperor invited Talma or Mademoiselle Mars to breakfast.
+One day, in a conversation with this admirable actress, the Emperor spoke
+to her concerning her debut.  "Sire," said she, in that graceful manner
+which every one remembers, "I began very young.  I slipped in without
+being perceived."--"Without being perceived!" replied his Majesty
+quickly; "you are mistaken.  Be assured moreover, Mademoiselle, that I
+have always, in common with all France, highly appreciated your wonderful
+talents."
+
+The Emperor's stay at Dresden brought wealth and abundance.  More than
+six million francs of foreign money were spent in this city between the
+8th of May and 16th of November, if one can believe the statements
+published on Saxon authority of the number of lodgings distributed.  This
+sojourn was a harvest of gold, which keepers of boarding-houses, hotels,
+and merchants carefully reaped.  Those in charge of military lodgings
+furnished by the inhabitants also made large profits.  At Dresden could
+be seen Parisian tailors and bootmakers, teaching the natives to work in
+the French style.  Even bootblacks were found on the bridges over the
+Elbe, crying, as they had cried on the bridges of the Seine, "Shine your
+boots!"
+
+Around the city numerous camps had been established for the wounded,
+convalescents, etc.  One of these, called the Westphalian camp, presented
+a most beautiful scene.  It was a succession of beautiful small gardens;
+there a fortress made of turf, its bastions crowned with hortensias; here
+a plot had been converted into a terrace, its walks ornamented with
+flowers, like the most carefully tended parterre; on a third was seen a
+statue of Pallas.  The whole barrack was decked with moss, and decorated
+with boughs and garlands which were renewed each day.
+
+As the armistice would end on the 15th of August, the fete of his Majesty
+was advanced five days.  The army, the town, and the court had made
+extensive preparations in order that the ceremony might be worthy of him
+in whose honor it was given.  All the richest and most distinguished
+inhabitants of Dresden vied with each other in balls, concerts,
+festivities, and rejoicings of all sorts.  The morning before the day of
+the review, the King of Saxony came to the residence of the Emperor with
+all his family, and the two sovereigns manifested the warmest friendship
+for each other.  They breakfasted together, after which his Majesty,
+accompanied by the King of Saxony, his brothers and nephews, repaired to
+the meadow behind the palace, where fifteen thousand men of the guard
+awaited him in as fine condition as on the most brilliant parades on the
+Champ-de-Mars.
+
+After the review, the French and Saxon troops dispersed through the
+various churches to hear the Te Deum; and at the close of the religious
+ceremony, all these brave soldiers seated themselves at banqueting tables
+already prepared, and their joyous shouts with music and dancing were
+prolonged far into the night.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+The entire duration of the armistice was employed in negotiations tending
+to a treaty of peace, which the Emperor ardently desired, especially
+since he had seen the honor of his army restored on the fields of Lutzen
+and Bautzen; but unfortunately he desired it only on conditions to which
+the enemy would not consent, and soon the second series of our disasters
+recommenced, and rendered peace more and more impossible.  Besides, from
+the beginning of negotiations relative to the armistice, whose limit we
+had now nearly reached, the emperor Alexander, notwithstanding the three
+battles won by Napoleon, would listen to no direct proposals from France,
+except on the sole condition that Austria should act as mediator.  This
+distrust, as might be expected, did not tend to produce a final.
+reconciliation, and, being the conquering party, the Emperor was
+naturally irritated by it; nevertheless, under these grave circumstances
+he conquered the just resentment caused by the conduct of the Emperor of
+Russia towards himself.  The result of the time lost at Dresden, like the
+prolongation of our sojourn at Moscow, was a great advantage to the
+enemy.
+
+All hopes of a peaceful adjustment of affairs now having vanished, on the
+15th of August the Emperor ordered his carriage; we left Dresden, and the
+war recommenced.  The French army was still magnificent and imposing,
+with a force of two hundred thousand infantry, but only forty thousand
+cavalry, as it had been entirely impossible to repair completely the
+immense loss of horses that had been sustained.  The most serious danger
+at that time arose from the fact that England was the soul of the
+coalition of Russia, Prussia, and Sweden against France.  Her subsidies
+having obtained her the supreme control, nothing could be decided without
+consulting her; and I have since learned that even during the pretended
+negotiations the British government had declared to the Emperor of Russia
+that under the circumstances the conditions of the treaty of Luneville
+would be far too favorable to France.  All these complications might be
+expressed in these words: "We desire war!"  War was then waged, or rather
+the scourge continued to desolate Germany, and soon threatened and
+invaded France.  I should, moreover, call attention to the fact that what
+contributed to render our position extremely critical in case of reverses
+was that Prussia waged on us not simply a war of regular armies, but that
+it had now assumed the character of a national war, by the calling out of
+the Zandwehr and Zandsturm which made the situation far more dangerous
+than against the tactics of the best disciplined army.  To so many other
+complications was added the fear, soon only too well justified, of seeing
+Austria from an inoffensive and unbiased mediator become a declared
+enemy.
+
+Before going farther, I deem it best to refer again to two or three
+occurrences I have inadvertently omitted which took place during our stay
+at Dresden previous to what might be called the second campaign of 1813.
+The first of these was the appearance at Dresden of the Duke of Otranto,
+whom his Majesty had summoned.
+
+He had been very rarely seen at the Tuileries since the Duke of Rovigo
+had replaced him as minister of general police; and I noticed that his
+presence at headquarters was a great surprise to every one, as he was
+thought to be in complete disgrace.  Those who seek to explain the causes
+of the smallest events think that his Majesty's idea was to oppose the
+subtle expedients of the police under M. Fouche to the then all-powerful
+police of the Baron de Stein, the armed head of all the secret parties
+which were forming in every direction, and which were regarded, not
+without reason, as the rulers of popular opinion in Prussia and Germany,
+and, above all, in the numerous schools, where the students were only
+awaiting the moment for taking up arms.  These conjectures as to M.
+Fouche's presence at Dresden were without foundation.  The Emperor in
+recalling him had a real motive, which he, however, disguised under a
+specious pretext.  Having been deeply impressed by the conspiracy of
+Malet, his Majesty thought that it would not be prudent to leave at Paris
+during his absence a person so discontented and at the same time so
+influential as the Duke of Otranto; and I heard him many times express
+himself on this subject in a manner which left no room for doubt.  But in
+order to disguise this real motive, the Emperor appointed M. Fouche
+governor of the Illyrian provinces in place of Count Bertrand, who was
+given the command of an army-corps, and was soon after appointed to
+succeed the adorable General Duroc in the functions of grand marshal of
+the palace.  Whatever the justice of this distrust of Fouche, it is very
+certain that few persons were so well convinced of the superiority of his
+talents as a police officer as his Majesty himself.  Several times when
+anything extraordinary occurred at Paris, and especially when he learned
+of the conspiracy of Malet, the Emperor, recalling in the evening what
+had impressed him most deeply during the day, ended by saying, "This
+would not have happened if Fouche had been minister of police!"  Perhaps
+this was undue partiality; for the Emperor assuredly never had a more
+faithful and devoted servant than the Duke of Rovigo, although many jests
+were made in Paris over his custom of punishing by a few hours
+imprisonment.
+
+Prince Eugene having returned to Italy at the beginning of the campaign
+in order to organize a new army in that country, we did not see him at
+Dresden; the King of Naples, who had arrived on the night of the 13th or
+14th August presented himself there almost alone; and his contribution to
+the grand army consisted of only the small number of Neapolitan troops he
+had left there on his departure for Naples.
+
+I was in the Emperor's apartment when the King of Naples entered, and saw
+him for the first time.  I did not know to what cause to attribute it,
+but I noticed that the Emperor did not give his brother-in-law as cordial
+a welcome as in the past.  Prince Murat said that he could no longer
+remain idle at Naples, knowing that the French army to which he still
+belonged was in the field, and he asked only to be allowed to fight in
+its ranks.  The Emperor took him with him to the parade, and gave him the
+command of the Imperial Guard; and a more intrepid commander would have
+been difficult to find.  Later he was given the general command of the
+cavalry.
+
+During the whole time of the armistice, spun out rather than filled with
+the slow and useless conferences of the Congress of Prague, it would be
+impossible to describe the various labors in which the Emperor occupied
+himself from morning till evening, and often far into the night.  He
+could frequently be seen bending over his maps, making, so to speak, a
+rehearsal of the battles he meditated.  Nevertheless, greatly exasperated
+by the slowness of the negotiations as to the issue of which he could no
+longer delude himself, he ordered, shortly before the end of July, that
+everything should be prepared and in readiness for a journey he intended
+making as far as Mayence.  He made an appointment to meet the Empress
+there; and as she was to arrive on the 25th, the Emperor consequently
+arranged his departure so as to arrive only a short time after.  I recall
+this journey only as a fact, since it was signalized by nothing
+remarkable, except the information the Emperor received at this time of
+the death of the Duke of Abrantes, who had just succumbed at Dijon to a
+violent attack of his former malady.  Although the Emperor was already
+aware that he was in a deplorable state of mental alienation, and must
+consequently have expected this loss, he felt it none the less sensibly,
+and sincerely mourned his former aide-decamp.
+
+The Emperor remained only a few days with the Empress, whom he met again
+with extreme pleasure.  But as important political considerations
+recalled him, he returned to Dresden, visiting several places on his
+route, and the 4th of August we returned to the capital of Saxony.
+Travelers who had seen this beautiful country only in a time of peace
+would have recognized it with difficulty.  Immense fortifications had
+metamorphosed it into a warlike town; numerous batteries had been placed
+in the suburbs overlooking the opposite bank of the Elbe.  Everything
+assumed a warlike attitude, and the Emperor's time became so completely
+and entirely absorbed that he remained nearly three days without leaving
+his cabinet.
+
+Nevertheless, in the midst of the preparations for war all arrangements
+were made to celebrate on the 10th of August the Emperor's fete, which
+had been advanced five days, because, as I have previously observed, the
+armistice expired precisely on the anniversary of Saint-Napoleon; and, as
+may be readily inferred from his natural passion for war, the resumption
+of hostilities was not an addition to his fete which he would be likely
+to disdain.
+
+There was at Dresden, as had been customary at Paris, a special
+representation at the theater on the evening before the Emperor's fete.
+The actors of the French theater played two comedies on the 9th at five
+o'clock in the evening; which representation was the last, as the actors
+of the French Comedy received orders immediately afterwards to return to
+Paris.  The next day the King of Saxony, accompanied by all the princes
+of the royal family, repaired at nine o'clock in the morning to the
+Marcolini palace, in order to pay his respects to the Emperor; after
+which a grand morning reception was held as was the custom at the
+Tuileries, and a review, at which the Emperor inspected a part of his
+guard, several regiments, and the Saxon troops, who were invited to dine
+by the French troops.  On that day the city of Dresden without much
+exaggeration might have been compared to a great dining-hall.  In fact,
+while his Majesty was dining in state at the palace of the King of
+Saxony, where the whole family of this prince was assembled, the entire
+diplomatic corps was seated at the table of the Duke of Bassano; Baron
+Bignon,  envoy from France to Warsaw, feasted all the distinguished Poles
+present in Dresden; Count Darn gave a grand dinner to the French
+authorities; General Friant to the French and Saxon generals; and Baron
+de Serra, minister from France to Dresden, to the chiefs of the Saxon
+colleges.  This day of dinings was concluded by a supper for nearly two
+hundred guests, which General Henri Durosnel, Governor of Dresden, gave
+that evening at the close of a magnificent ball at the residence of M. de
+Serra.
+
+On our return from Mayence to Dresden I learned that the residence of
+General Durosnel was the rendezvous of all the highest circles of
+society, both Saxon and French.  During the absence of his Majesty, the
+general, taking advantage of this leisure, gave numerous fetes, among
+others one to the actors and actresses of French Comedy.  I recall in
+this connection an amusing anecdote which was related to me at the time.
+Baptiste junior, with no lack either of decorum or refinement,
+contributed greatly to the amusement of the evening, being presented
+under the name of my Lord Bristol, English diplomat, en route to the
+Council of Prague.  His disguise was so perfect, his accent so natural,
+and his phlegm so imperturbable, that many persons of the Saxon court
+were completely deceived, which did not in the least astonish me; and I
+thereby saw that Baptiste junior's talent for mystification had lost
+nothing since the time when I had been so highly diverted at the
+breakfasts of Colonel Beauharnais.  How many events had occurred since
+that time.
+
+The Emperor, seeing that nothing could longer delay the resumption of
+hostilities, had consequently divided the two hundred thousand men of his
+infantry into fourteen army corps, the command of which was given to
+Marshals Victor, Ney, Marmont, Augereau, Macdonald, Oudinot, Davoust, and
+Gouvion Saint-Cyr, Prince Poniatowski, and Generals Reynier, Rapp,
+Lauriston, Vandamme, and Bertrand.  The forty thousand cavalry formed
+six grand divisions under the command of Generals Nansouty, Latour-
+Maubourg, Sebastiani, Arrighi, Milhaud, and Kellermann; and, as I have
+already said, the King of Naples had the command of the Imperial Guard.
+Moreover, in this campaign appeared for the first time on our fields of
+battle the guard of honor, a select troop recruited from the richest and
+most distinguished families, and which had been increased to more than
+ten thousand men, divided into two divisions under the simple title of
+regiments; one of which was commanded by General Count of Pully, and the
+other, if I am not mistaken, by General Segur.  These youths, but lately
+idlers given up to repose and pleasure, became in a short time most
+excellent cavalry, which signalized itself on various occasions, notably
+at the battle of Dresden, of which I shall soon have occasion to speak.
+
+The strength of the French army has been previously stated.  The combined
+army of the allies amounted to four hundred and twenty thousand infantry,
+and its cavalry to hardly less than one hundred thousand, without
+counting a reserve army corps of eighty thousand Russians, in readiness
+to leave Poland under the command of General Beningsen.  Thus the enemy's
+army outnumbered ours in the proportion of two to one.
+
+At the time we entered into this campaign, Austria had just declared war
+openly against us.  This blow, although not unexpected, struck the
+Emperor deeply, and he expressed himself freely in regard to it before
+all persons who had the honor to approach him.  M. de Metternich, I have
+heard it stated, had almost certainly forewarned him of this in the last
+interviews this minister had at Dresden with his Majesty; but the Emperor
+had been entirely unable to bring himself to the belief that the Emperor
+of Austria would make common cause with the coalition of the north
+against his own daughter and grandson.  Finally all doubts were solved by
+the arrival of Count Louis de Narbonne, who was returning from Prague to
+Dresden, as bearer of a declaration of war from Austria.  Every one
+foresaw that France must soon count among its enemies all the countries
+no longer occupied by its troops, and results justified this prediction
+only too well.  Nevertheless, everything was not lost, for we had not yet
+been compelled to take the defensive.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+War recommenced before negotiations were finally broken, for the Duke of
+Vicenza was still in communication with M. de Metternich.  The Emperor,
+as he mounted his horse, said to the numerous generals surrounding him
+that he now marched to conquer a peace.  But what hope could remain after
+the declaration of war by Austria, and above all, when it was known that
+the allied sovereigns had incessantly increased their pretensions in
+proportion as the Emperor granted the concessions demanded?  The Emperor
+left Dresden at five o'clock in the afternoon, advancing on the road to
+Koenigstein, and passed the next day at Bautzen, where he revisited the
+battlefield, the scene of his last victory.  There the king of Naples,
+who did not wish royal honors to be rendered himself, came to rejoin the
+Emperor at the head of the Imperial Guard, who presented as imposing an
+appearance as in its pristine days.
+
+We arrived at Gorlitz on the 18th, where the Emperor found the Duke of
+Vicenza, who was returning from Bohemia.  He confirmed the truth of the
+report his Majesty had already received at Dresden, that the Emperor of
+Austria had already decided to make common cause with the Emperor of
+Russia and the Kings of Prussia and Sweden against the husband of his
+daughter, the princess whom he had given to the Emperor as a pledge of
+peace.  It was also through the Duke of Vicenza that the Emperor learned
+that General Blucher had just entered Silesia at the head of an army of
+one hundred thousand men, and, in violation of most sacred promises, had
+seized on Breslau the evening before the day fixed for the rupture of the
+armistice.  This same day General Jomini,  Swiss by birth, but until
+recently in the service of France, chief of staff to Marshal Ney, and
+loaded with favors by the Emperor, had deserted his post, and reported at
+the headquarters of the Emperor Alexander, who had welcomed him with
+demonstrations of most intense satisfaction.
+
+     [Baron Henri Jomini, author of the celebrated treatise on the art
+     of war, was born in the Canton de Vaud, 1779; aide-de-camp to Ney,
+     1804; distinguished himself in several battles, and on his desertion
+     was made lieutenant-general and aide to Emperor Alexander; died
+     1869.]
+
+The Duke of Vicenza gave the particulars of this desertion, which seemed
+to affect his Majesty more than all the other news.  He told him, among
+other things, that when General Jomini had entered the presence of
+Alexander, he found this monarch surrounded by his chiefs, among whom
+Moreau was pointed out to him.  This was the first information the
+Emperor had received of General Moreau's presence at the enemy's
+headquarters.  The Duke of Vicenza added, that when the Emperor Alexander
+presented General Jomini to Moreau the latter saluted him coolly, and
+Jomini replied only by a slight inclination of his head, and retired
+without uttering a word, and the remainder of the evening remained in
+gloomy silence in a corner of the saloon opposite to that occupied by
+General Moreau.  This constraint had not escaped the Emperor Alexander's
+observation; and the next morning, as he was making his toilet, he
+addressed Marshal Ney's ex-chief of staff: "General Jomini," said he,
+"what is the cause of your conduct yesterday?  It seems to me that it
+would have been agreeable to you to meet General Moreau."--"Anywhere
+else, Sire."--"What!"--"If I had been born a Frenchman, like the general,
+I should not be to-day in the camp of your Majesty."  When the Duke of
+Vicenza had finished his report to the Emperor, his Majesty remarked with
+a bitter smile, "I am sure that wretch Jomini thinks he has performed a
+fine action!  Ah, Caulaincourt, these desertions will destroy me!"
+Perhaps Moreau, in welcoming General Jomini so coldly, was actuated by
+the thought that were he still serving in the French army he would not
+have betrayed it with arms in his hand; and after all it is not an
+unusual thing to see two traitors each blush for the other, deluding
+themselves at the same time in regard to their own treachery, not
+comprehending that the sentiments they feel are the same as those they
+inspire.
+
+However that may be, the news which M. de Caulaincourt brought caused the
+Emperor to make some changes in his plans for the campaign.  His Majesty
+entirely abandoned the idea of repairing in person to Berlin, as he had
+expressed his intention of doing, and, realizing the necessity of
+ascertaining first of all the contemplated operations of the grand army
+of Austria, commanded by the Prince of Schwarzenberg, penetrated into
+Bohemia; but learning through the couriers of the army and his spies that
+eighty thousand Russians still remained on the opposite side with a
+considerable body of the Austrian army, he retraced his steps after a few
+engagements in which his presence decided the victory, and on the 24th we
+found ourselves again at Bautzen.  His Majesty from this place sent the
+King of Naples to Dresden, in order to restore the courage of the King of
+Saxony and the inhabitants when they should find the enemy at the gates
+of their city.  The Emperor sent them the assurance that the enemy's
+forces would not enter, since he had returned to defend its approaches,
+and urged them at the same time not to allow themselves to be dismayed by
+any sudden or unexpected attack made by isolated detachments.  Murat
+arrived at a most opportune moment, for we learned later that
+consternation had become general in the city; but such was the prestige
+attached to the Emperor's assurances that all took courage again on
+learning of his presence.
+
+After the King of Naples had gone to fulfill this mission, Colonel
+Gourgaud was called during the morning into the Emperor's tent, where I
+then was.  "I will be tomorrow on the road to Pirna," said his Majesty;
+"but I shall halt at Stolpen.  As for you, hasten to Dresden; go with the
+utmost speed; reach it this night.  Interview on your arrival the King of
+Naples, Durosnel, the Duke of Bassano, and Marshal Gouvion Saint-Cyr;
+reassure them all.  See also the Saxon minister Gersdorf.  Say to him
+that you could not see the king because you set out in such haste; but
+that I can to-morrow bring forty thousand men into Dresden, and that I am
+preparing to enter with all the army.  Next day you will see the
+commandant of the engineering corps; you will visit the redoubts and the
+fortifications of the town; and when you have inspected everything, you
+will return quickly and meet me at Stolpen.  Report to me exactly the
+real state of affairs, as well as the opinion of Marshal Saint-Cyr and
+the Duke of Bassano.  Set out."  The colonel left immediately at a
+gallop, though he had eaten nothing as yet that day.
+
+The next evening at eleven o'clock, Colonel Gourgaud returned to the
+Emperor, after performing all the requirements of his mission.  Meanwhile
+the allied army had descended into the plain of Dresden, and had already
+made some attacks upon the advance posts.  It resulted from information
+given by the colonel that when the King of Naples arrived, the city,
+which had been in a state of complete demoralization, now felt that its
+only hope was in the Emperor's arrival.
+
+In truth, hordes of Cossacks were already in sight of the faubourgs,
+which they threatened to attack; and their appearance had compelled the
+inhabitants of these faubourgs to take refuge in the interior of the
+city.  "As I left," said Colonel Gourgaud, "I saw a village in flames
+half a league from the great gardens, and Marshal Gouvion Saint-Cyr was
+preparing to evacuate that position."--"But after all," said the Emperor
+eagerly, "what is the opinion of the Duke of Bassano?"--"Sire, the Duke
+of Bassano does not think that we can hold out twenty-four hours."--"And
+you?"--"I, Sire?  I think that Dresden will be taken to-morrow if your
+Majesty is not there."--"I can then rely upon what you tell me?"--
+"Sire, I will answer for it with my head."
+
+Then his Majesty summoned General Haxo, and said to him, his finger on
+the map, "Vandamme is advancing by way of Pirna beyond the Elbe.  The
+eagerness of the enemy in penetrating as far as Dresden has been extreme.
+Vandamme will find himself in his rear.  I intend to sustain his movement
+with my whole army; but I am uneasy as to the fate of Dresden, and am not
+willing to sacrifice that city.  I can reach it in a few hours, and I
+shall do so, although it grieves me much to abandon a plan which if well
+executed might furnish the means of routing all the allies at one blow.
+Happily Vandamme is still in sufficient strength to supplement the
+general movement by attacks at special points which will annoy the enemy.
+Order him, then, to go from Pirna to Ghiesubel, to gain the defiles of
+Peterswalde, and when intrenched in this impregnable position, to await
+the result of operations under the walls of Dresden.  I reserve for him
+the duty of receiving the swords of the vanquished.  But in order to do
+this it is necessary that he should keep his wits about him, and pay no
+attention to the tumult made by the terrified inhabitants.  Explain to
+General Vandamme exactly what I expect of him.  Never will he have a
+finer opportunity to gain the marshal's baton."
+
+General Haxo set out instantly; and the Emperor made Colonel Gourgaud
+reenter his apartment, and ordered him to take a fresh horse, and return
+to Dresden more quickly than he had come, in order to announce his
+arrival.  "The old guard will precede me," said his Majesty.  "I hope
+that they will have no more fear when they see that."
+
+On the morning of the 26th the Emperor was seated on his horse on the
+bridge of Dresden, and began, amid cries of joy from both the young and
+old guard, to make dispositions for the terrible battle which lasted
+three days.
+
+It was ten o'clock in the morning when the inhabitants of Dresden, now
+reduced to despair, and speaking freely of capitulation, witnessed his
+Majesty's arrival.  The scene changed suddenly; and to the most complete
+discouragement succeeded most entire confidence, especially when the
+haughty cuirassiers of Latour-Maubourg defiled over the bridge, holding
+their heads high, and their eyes fixed on the neighboring hillsides
+covered by the enemy's lines.  The Emperor immediately alighted at the
+palace of the king, who was preparing to seek an asylumn in the new town,
+but whose intentions were changed by the arrival of this great man.  The
+interview was extremely touching.
+
+I cannot undertake to describe all the occurrences of those memorable
+days, in which the Emperor covered himself with glory, and was more
+exposed to danger than he had ever been at any time.  Pages, equerries,
+and aides-decamp fell dead around him, balls pierced the stomach of his
+horse, but nothing could touch him.  The soldiers saw this and redoubled
+their ardor, and also their confidence and admiration.  I shall simply
+state that the Emperor did not re-enter the chateau until midnight, and
+then spent the hours until daylight dictating orders, while promenading
+up and down the room with great strides, until at break of day he
+remounted his horse.  The weather was horrible, and the rain lasted the
+whole day.  In the evening, the enemy being completely routed, the
+Emperor returned to the palace in a frightful condition.  From the time
+he mounted his horse, at six o'clock in the morning, the rain had not
+ceased a single instant, and he was so wet that it could be said without
+any figure of speech that the water ran down into his boots from the
+collar of his coat, for they were entirely filled with it.  His hat of
+very fine beaver was so ruined that it fell down over his shoulders, his
+buff belt was perfectly soaked with water; in fact a man just drawn out
+of the river would not be wetter than the Emperor.  The King of Saxony,
+who awaited him, met him in this condition, and embraced him as a
+cherished son who had just escaped a great danger; and this excellent
+prince's eyes were full of tears as he pressed the saviour of his capital
+to his heart.  After a few reassuring and tender words from the Emperor,
+his Majesty entered his apartments, leaving everywhere traces of the
+water which dripped from every part of his clothing, and I had much
+difficulty in undressing him.  Knowing that the Emperor greatly enjoyed a
+bath after a fatiguing day, I had it prepared; but as he felt unusually
+fatigued, and in addition to this began to shiver considerably, his
+Majesty preferred retiring to his bed, which I hurriedly warmed.  Hardly
+had the Emperor retired, however, than he had Baron Fain, one of his
+secretaries, summoned to read his accumulated correspondence, which was
+very voluminous.  After this he took his bath, but had remained in it
+only a few moments when he was seized with a sudden sickness accompanied
+by vomiting, which obliged him to retire to bed.
+
+His Majesty said to me, "My dear Constant, a little rest is absolutely
+indispensable to me; see that I am not awaked except for matters of the
+gravest importance; say this to Fain."  I obeyed the Emperor's orders,
+after which I took my position in the room in front of his Majesty's
+chamber, watching with the attention of a sentinel on duty lest he should
+be awakened, or any one should even approach his apartment.
+
+The next morning the Emperor rang very early, and I entered his room
+immediately, anxious to know how he had passed the night.  I found him
+almost entirely restored, and in fine spirits.  He told me, however, that
+he had had a short attack of fever.  I must here remark that it was the
+only time the Emperor had fever, and during the whole time I was with him
+I never saw him ill enough to keep his bed for twenty-four hours.  He
+rose at his usual hour, and when he descended was intensely gratified by
+the fine appearance made by the battalion on duty.  Those brave
+grenadiers, who the evening before had served as his escort, and
+reentered Dresden with him in a most pitiable condition, this morning he
+saw ranged in the court of the palace in splendid condition, and bearing
+arms as brilliant as if it were a day of parade on the Place du
+Carrousel.  These brave fellows had spent the night polishing their arms,
+and drying themselves around great fires which they had kindled for the
+purpose, having thus preferred the satisfaction of presenting themselves
+in faultless condition before their Emperor's eyes to the sleep and rest
+which they must so greatly have needed.
+
+One word of approbation repaid them for their fatigue, and it may be
+truly said never was a military chief so much beloved by his soldiers as
+his Majesty.
+
+The last courier who had returned from Paris to Dresden, and whose
+dispatches were read, as I have said, to the Emperor, bore several
+letters for me written by my family and two or three of my friends; and
+all who have accompanied his Majesty on his campaigns, in whatever rank
+or employment, well know how we valued news received from home.  These
+letters informed me, I remember, of a famous lawsuit going on in the
+court of assizes between the banker Michel and Reynier, which scandalous
+affair caused much comment in the capital, and almost divided with the
+news from the army the interest and attention of the public; and also of
+the journey the Empress was about to make to Cherbourg, to be present at
+the opening of the dikes, and filling the harbor with water from the
+ocean.  This journey, as may well be imagined, had been suggested by the
+Emperor, who sought every opportunity of putting the Empress forward, and
+making her perform the duties of a sovereign, as regent of the Empire.
+She summoned and presided over the council of ministers, and more than
+once I heard the Emperor congratulate himself after the declaration of
+war with Austria that his Louise, as he called her, acted solely for the
+interests of France, and had nothing Austrian but her birth.  He also
+allowed her the satisfaction of herself publishing and in her own name
+all the official news of the army.  The bulletins were no longer issued;
+but the news was transmitted to her all ready for publication, which was
+doubtless an attention on the part of his Majesty in order to render the
+Empress Regent more popular, by making her the medium of communication
+between the government and the public.  Moreover, it is a fact, that we
+who were on the spot, although we knew at once whether the battle was
+gained or lost, often did not know the entire operations of the different
+corps maneuvering on an immense line of battle, except through the
+journals of Paris; and our eagerness to read them may well be imagined.
+
+
+
+
+ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:
+
+Age in which one breathes well only after resting
+All orders given by his Majesty were short, precise
+Living ever in the future
+Necessity is ever ready with inventions
+Power of thus isolating one's self completely from all the world
+
+
+
+
+End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Private Life of Napoleon, V10
+by Constant.
+