Onthe19thofDecembertheLegislativeBodywasconvoked.ItwasonaWednesday.M.LainewasVice—PresidentunderM.Regnier.AcommitteewasappointedtoexamineandreportonthecommunicationsoftheEmperor.
Thereportandconclusionsofthecommitteewerenotsatisfactory;itwasallegedthattheybetrayedarevolutionarytendency，ofwhichM.Lainewasabsurdlyaccusedofhavingbeenoneofthepromoters;butallwhoknewhimmusthavebeenconvincedofthefalsehoodofthecharge.TheEmperororderedthereporttobeseized，andthenadjournedtheLegislativeBody.ThosewhoattentivelyobservedtheeventsofthetimewillrecollectthestuporwhichprevailedinParisontheintelligenceofthisseizureandoftheadjournmentoftheLegislativeBody.Athousandconjectureswerestartedastowhatnewoccurrenceshadtakenplaceabroad，butnothingsatisfactorywaslearned.
Iconsideredthisagreatmistake.WhocandoubtthatiftheLegislativeBodyhadtakenthefrankandnoblestepofdeclaringthatFranceacceptedtheconditionsofFrankforttheywouldnothavebeenlistenedtobytheAllies？Butthewords，"Youaredishonouredifyoucedeasinglevillageacquiredbya’Senatus—consulte’，"always，resoundedinNapoleon’sears：
theyflatteredhissecretthoughts，andeverypacificproposalwasrejected.
ThemembersoftheadjournedLegislativeBodywentasusualtotakeleaveoftheEmperor，whoreceivedthemonaSunday，andafterdeliveringtothemthespeech，whichisverywellknown，dismissedtherebelswithgreatill—humour，refusingtohearanyexplanation."Ihavesuppressedyouraddress，"hebeganabruptly："itwasincendiary.Icalledyouroundmetodogood——youhavedoneill.Eleven—twelfthsofyouarewell—
intentioned，theothers，andaboveallM.Laine，arefactiousintriguers，devotedtoEngland，toallmyenemies，andcorrespondingthroughthechanneloftheadvocateDesezewiththeBourbons.ReturntoyourDepartments，andfeelthatmyeyewillfollowyou;youhaveendeavouredtohumbleme，youmaykillme，butyoushallnotdishonourme.Youmakeremonstrances;isthisatime，whenthestrangerinvadesourprovinces，and200，000Cossacksarereadytooverflowourcountry？Theremayhavebeenpettyabuses;Ineverconnivedatthem.You，M.Raynouard，yousaidthat.PrinceMassenarobbedamanatMarseillesofhishouse.Youlie！
TheGeneraltookpossessionofavacanthouse，andmyMinistershallindemnifytheproprietor.IsitthusthatyoudareaffrontaMarshalofFrancewhohasbledforhiscountry，andgrowngrayinvictory？Whydidyounotmakeyourcomplaintsinprivatetome？Iwouldhavedoneyoujustice.Weshouldwashourdirtylinenathome，andnotdragitoutbeforetheworld.You，callyourselvesRepresentativesoftheNation.
Itisnottrue;youareonlyDeputiesoftheDepartments;asmallportionoftheState，inferiortotheSenate，inferioreventotheCouncilofState.TheRepresentativesofthePeople！IamalonetheRepresentativeofthePeople.Twicehave24，000，000ofFrenchcalledmetothethrone：
whichofyoudurstundertakesuchaburden？Ithadalreadyoverwhelmed（ecrase），yourAssemblies，andyourConventions，yourVergniaudsandyourGuadets，yourJacobinsandyourGirondins.Theyarealldead！What，whoareyou？nothing——allauthorityisintheThrone;andwhatistheThrone？thiswoodenframecoveredwithvelvet？——no，IamtheThrone！
Youhaveaddedwrongtoreproaches.Youhavetalkedofconcessions——
concessionsthatevenmyenemiesdarednotask！IsupposeiftheyaskedChampaigneyouwouldhavehadmegivethemLaBriebesides;butinfourmonthsIwillconquerpeace，orIshallbedead！Youadvise！howdareyoudebateofsuchhighmatters（desigravesinterets）！Youhaveputmeinthefrontofthebattleasthecauseofwar——itisinfamous（c’estuneatrocite）.InallyourcommitteesyouhaveexcludedthefriendsofGovernment——extraordinarycommission——committeeoffinance——committeeoftheaddress，all，allmyenemies.M.Laine，Irepeatit，isatraitor;
heisawickedman，theothersaremereintriguers.Idojusticetotheeleven—twelfths;butthefactionsIknow，andwillpursue.Isit，Iaskagain，isitwhiletheenemyisinFrancethatyoushouldhavedonethis？
Butnaturehasgiftedmewithadeterminedcourage——nothingcanovercomeme.Itcostmypridemuchtoo——Imadethatsacrifice;I——butIamaboveyourmiserabledeclamations——Iwasinneedofconsolation，andyouwouldmortifyme——but，no，myvictoriesshallcrushyourclamours！Inthreemonthsweshallhavepeace，andyoushallrepentyourfolly.Iamoneofthosewhotriumphordie.
"GobacktoyourDepartmentsifanyoneofyoudaretoprintyouraddressIshallpublishitintheMoniteurwithnotesofmyown.Go;FrancestandsinmoreneedofmethanIdoofFrance.Ibeartheeleven—
twelfthsofyouinmyheart——IshallnominatetheDeputiestothetwoserieswhicharevacant，andIshallreducetheLegislativeBodytothedischargeofitsproperduties.TheinhabitantsofAlsaceandFrancheComtehavemorespiritthanyou;theyaskmeforarms，Isendthem，andoneofmyaidesdecampwillleadthemagainsttheenemy."
InafterconversationshesaidoftheLegislativeBodythat"itsmembersnevercametoParisbuttoobtainsomefavours.TheyimportunedtheMinistersfrommorningtillnight，andcomplainediftheywerenotimmediatelysatisfied.Wheninvitedtodinnertheyburnwithenvyatthesplendourtheyseebeforethem."IheardthisfromCambaceres，whowaspresentwhentheEmperormadetheseremarks.
CHAPTERXXXI.
1813.
TheflagofthearmyofItalyandtheeaglesof1813——EntranceoftheAlliesintoSwitzerland——SummonstotheMinisterofPolice——
MyrefusaltoacceptamissiontoSwitzerland——InterviewswithM.deTalleyrandandtheDuedePicence——OfferofaDukedomandtheGrandCordonoftheLegionofHonour——Definitiverefusal——TheDucdeVicence’smessagetomein1815——CommencementofthesiegeofHamburg——Abridgetwoleagueslong——ExecutionsatLubeck——ScarcityofprovisionsinHamburg——Banishmentoftheinhabitants——Menbastinadoedandwomenwhipped——HospitalityoftheinhabitantsofAltona.
IamnowarrivedatthemostcriticalperiodinNapoleon’scareer.Whatreflectionsmusthehavemade，ifhehadhadleisuretoreflect，incomparingtherecollectionsofhisrisingglorywiththesadpictureofhisfallingfortune？WhatacontrastpresentsitselfwhenwecomparethefamousflagofthearmyofItaly，whichtheyouthfulconqueror，Bonaparte，carriedtotheDirectory，withthosedroopingeagleswhohadnowtodefendtheaeriewhencetheyhadsooftentakenflighttospreadtheirtriumphantwingsoverEurope！Hereweseethedifferencebetweenlibertyandabsolutepower！Napoleon，thesonofliberty，towhomheowedeverything，haddisownedhismother，andwasnowabouttofall.
ThoseglorioustriumphswerenowoverwhenthepeopleofItalyconsoledthemselvesfordefeatandsubmittedtothemagicalpowerofthatlibertywhichprecededtheRepublicanarmies.Now，onthecontrary，itwastofreethemselvesfromadespoticyokethatthenationsofEuropehadintheirturntakenuparmsandwerepreparingtoinvadeFrance.
WiththeviolationoftheSwissterritorybytheAlliedarmies，aftertheconsentoftheCantons，isconnectedafactofgreatimportanceinmylife，andwhich，ifIhadchosen，mighthavemadeagreatdifferenceinmydestiny.OnTuesday，the28thofDecember，Idinedwithmyoldfriend，M.Pierlot，andonleavinghomeIwasinthehabitofsayingwhereImightbefoundincaseIshouldbewanted.Atnineo’clockatnightanexpressarrivedfromtheMinisterofPolicedesiringmetocomeimmediatelytohisoffice.Iconfess，consideringthecircumstancesofthetimes，andknowingtheEmperor’sprejudicesagainstme，sucharequestcomingatsuchanhourmademefeelsomeuneasiness，andI
expectednothinglessthenajourneytoVincennes.TheDuedeRovigo，bybecomingresponsibleforme，hadasyetwardedofftheblow，andthesupervisiontowhichtheEmperorhadsubjectedme——thankstothegoodofficesofDavoust——consistedingoingthreetimesaweektoshowmyselftoSavory.
Iaccordingly，havingfirstborrowedanight—cap，repairedtothehoteloftheMinisterofPolice.Iwasusheredintoawell—lightedroom，andwhenIenteredIfoundSavarywaitingforme.Hewasinfullcostume，fromwhichIconcludedhehadjustcomefromtheEmperor.Advancingtowardsmewithanairwhichshowedhehadnobadnewstocommunicate，hethusaddressedme：
"Bourrienne，IhavejustcomefromtheEmperor，whoaskedmewhereyouwere？ItoldhimyouwereinParis，andthatIsawyouoften.’Well，’
continuedtheEmperor，’bidhimcometome，Iwanttoemployhim.Itisthreeyearssincehehashadanythingtodo.IwishtosendhimasMinistertoSwitzerland，buthemustsetoffdirectly.HemustgototheAllies.HeunderstandsGermanwell.TheKingofPrussiaexpressedbylettersatisfactionathisconducttowardsthePrussianswhomthewarforcedtoretiretoHamburg.HeknowsPrinceWitgenstein，whoisthefriendoftheKingofPrussia，andprobablyisatLorrach.HewillseealltheGermanswhoarethere.Iconfidentlyrelyonhim，andbelievehisjourneywillhaveagoodresult.Caulaincourtwillgivehimhisinstructions."
NotwithstandingmyextremesurpriseatthiscommunicationIrepliedwithouthesitationthatIcouldnotacceptthemission;thatitwasofferedtoolate."Itperhapsishoped;"saidI，"thatthebridgeofBalewillbedestroyed，andthatSwitzerlandwillpreserveherneutrality.ButIdonotbelieveanysuchthing;nay，more，Iknowpositivelytothecontrary.Icanonlyrepeattheoffercomesmuchtoolate."——"Iamverysorryforthisresolution，"observedSavory，"butCaulaincourtwillperhapspersuadeyou.TheEmperorwishesyoutogotheDuodeVicenceto—morrowatoneo’clock;hewillacquaintyouwithalltheparticulars，andgiveyouyourinstructions."——"Hemayacquaintmewithwhateverbechooses，butIwillnotgotoLohraah."——"YouknowtheEmperorbetterthanIdo，hewishesyoutogo，andhewillnotpardonyourrefusal."Hemaydoashepleases，butnoconsiderationshallinducemetogotoSwitzerland."——"Youarewrong：butyouwillreflectonthematterbetweenthisandtomorrowmorning.Nightwillbringgoodcounsel，Atanyrate，donotfailtogoto—morrowatoneo’clocktoCaulaincourt，heexpectsyou，anddirectionswillbegiventoadmityouimmediately."
NextmorningthefirstthingIdidwastocallonM.deTalleyrand.
Itoldhimwhathadtakenplace，andashewasintimatelyacquaintedwithCaulaincourt，IbeggedhimtospeaktothatMinisterinfavourofmy，resolution.M.deTalleyrandapprovedofmydeterminationnottogotoSwitzerland，andatoneo’clockpreciselyIproceededtoM.deCaulaincourt’s.Hetoldmeallhehadbeeninstructedtosay.FromthemannerinwhichhemadethecommunicationIconcludedthathehimselfconsideredtheproposedmissionadisagreeableone，andunlikelytobeattendedbyanyusefulresult.IobservedthathemusthaveheardfromSavorythatIhadalreadyexpressedmydeterminationtodeclinethemissionwhichtheEmperorhadbeenpleasedtoofferme.TheDucdeVicencethen，inaveryfriendlyway，detailedthereasonswhichoughttoinducemetoaccepttheoffer，anddidnotdisguisefrommethatbypersistinginmydeterminationIrantheriskofraisingNapoleon’sdoubtsastomyopinionsandfutureintentions.Irepliedthat，havinglivedforthreeyearsasaprivateindividual，unconnectedwithpublicaffairs，IshouldhavenoinfluenceattheheadquartersoftheAllies，andthatwhateverlittleabilityImightbesupposedtopossess，thatwouldnotcounterbalancethedifficultiesofmysituation，andtheopinionthatIwasoutoffavour.IaddedthatIshouldappearattheheadquarterswithoutanydecoration，withouteventhatoftheCordonoftheLegionofHonourtowhichtheEmperorattachedsomuchimportance，andthewantofwhichwouldalmosthavetheappearanceofdisgrace;andI
saidthatthesetrifles，howeverslightlyvaluedbyreasonablemen，werenot，ashewellknew，withouttheirinfluenceonthemenwithwhomI
shouldhavetotreat."Ifthatbeall，"replied.Caulaincourt，"theobstaclewillspeedilyberemoved.IamauthorisedbytheEmperortotellyouthathewillcreateyouaDuke，andgiveyoutheGrandCordonoftheLegionofHonour."
AfterthesewordsIthoughtIwasdreaming，andIwasalmostinclinedtobelievethatCaulaincourtwasjestingwithme.However，theofferwasserious，andIwillnotdenythatitwastempting;yetIneverthelesspersistedintherefusalIhadgiven.Atlength，aftersomefurtherconversation，andrenewed，butuseless，entreatiesonthepartofM.deCaulaincourt，hearose，whichwasasignalthatourinterviewwasterminated.IacknowledgeIremainedforamomentindoubthowtoact，forIfeltwehadcometonounderstanding.M.de’Caulaincourtadvancedslowlytowardsthedoorofhiscabinet：IfIwentawaywithoutknowinghisopinionIhaddonenothing;addressinghim，therefore，byhissurname，"Caulaincourt;"saidI，"youhavefrequentlyassuredmethatyouwouldneverforgettheservicesIrenderedtoyouandyourfamilyatatimewhenIpossessedsomeinfluence.Iknowyou，andthereforespeaktoyouwithoutdisguise.IdonotnowaddressmyselftotheEmperor’sMinister，buttoCaulaincourt.Youareamanofhonour，andIcanopenmyhearttoyoufrankly.ConsidertheembarrassingsituationofFrance，whichyouknowbetterthanIdo.Idonotaskyouforyoursecrets，butImyselfknowenough.IwilltellyoucandidlythatIamconvincedtheenemywillpasstheRhineinafewdays.TheEmperorhasbeendeceived：
Ishouldnothavetimetoreachmydestination，andIshouldbelaughedat.MycorrespondentsinGermanyhavemademeacquaintedwitheveryparticular.Now，Caulaincourt，tellmehonestly，ifyouwereinmyplace，andIinyours，andIshouldmakethispropositiontoyou，whatdeterminationwouldyouadopt？"
IobservedfromtheexpressionofCaulaincourt’scountenancethatmyquestionhadmadeanimpressiononhim，andaffectionatelypressingmyhandhesaid，Iwoulddoasyoudo：Enough.IwillarrangethebusinesswiththeEmperor."Thisreplyseemedtoremoveaweightfrommymind，andIleftCaulaincourtwithfeelingsofgratitude.Ifeltfullyassuredthathewouldsettlethebusinesssatisfactorily，andinthisconjectureIwasnotdeceived，forIheardnomoreofthematter.
ImustheregoforwardayeartorelateanotheroccurrenceinwhichtheDuedeVicenceandIwereconcerned.When，inMarch1815，theKingappointedmePrefectofPolice，M.deCaulaincourtsenttomeaconfidentialpersontoinquirewhetherherananyriskinremaininginParis，orwhetherhehadbetterremove.HehadbeentoldthathisnamewasinscribedinalistofindividualswhomIhadreceivedorderstoarrest.Delightedatthisproofofconfidence，IreturnedthefollowinganswerbytheDuedeVicence’smessenger："TellM.deCaulaincourtthatI
donotknowwherehelives.Heneedbeundernoapprehension：Iwillanswerforhim."
Duringthecampaignof1813theAllies，afterdrivingtheFrenchoutofSaxonyandobligingthemtoretreattowardstheRhine，besiegedHamburg，whereDavoustwasshutupwithagarrisonof30，000men，resolutelydeterminedtomakeitasecondSaragossa.FromthemonthofSeptembereverydayaugmentedthenumberoftheAlliedtroops，whowerealreadymakingrapidprogressontheleftbankoftheElbe.DavoustendeavouredtofortifyHamburgansoextendedascalethat，intheopinionofthemostexperiencedmilitarymen，itwouldhaverequiredagarrisonof60，000mentodefenditinaregularandprotractedsiege.AtthecommencementofthesiegeDavoustlostVandamme，whowaskilledinasortieattheheadofanumerouscorpswhichwasinconsideratelysacrificed.
ItisbutjusticetoadmitthatDavoustdisplayedgreatactivityinthedefence，andbeganbylayinginlargesupplies.
——[VandammefoughtunderGrouchyin1815，anddiedseveralyearsafterwards.ThiskillinghimatHamburgisoneofthecuriousmistakesseizedonbytheBonapartiststodenytheauthenticityoftheseMemoirs.]——
GeneralBertrandwasdirectedtoconstructabridgetoformacommunicationbetweenHamburgandHaarburgbyjoiningtheislandsoftheElbetotheContinentalongatotaldistanceofabouttwoleagues.Thisbridgewastobebuiltofwood，andDavoustseizeduponallthetimber—
yardstosupplymaterialsforitsconstruction.Inthespaceofeighty—
threedaysthebridgewasfinished.Itwasaverymagnificentstructure，itslengthbeing2529toises，exclusiveofthelinesofjunction，formedonthetwoislands.
Theinhabitantsweredreadfullyoppressed，butallthecruelmeasuresandprecautionsoftheFrenchwereineffectual，fortheAlliesadvancedingreatforceandoccupiedWestphalia，whichmovementobligedtheGovernorofHamburgtorecalltothetownthedifferentdetachmentsscatteredroundHamburg.
AtLubeckthedepartureoftheFrenchtroopswasmarkedbyblood.Beforetheyevacuatedthetown，anoldman，andabutchernamedPrahl，werecondemnedtobeshot.Thebutcher’scrimeconsistedinhavingsaid，inspeakingoftheFrench，"Derteufelhohlesie"（thedeviltakethem）.
Theoldmanfortunatelyescapedhisthreatenedfate，but，notwithstandingtheentreatiesandtearsoftheinhabitants，thesentenceuponPrahlwascarriedintoexecution.
ThegarrisonofHamburgwascomposedofFrench，Italian，andDutchtroops.Theirnumberatfirstamountedto30，000，butsicknessmadegreat—havocamongthem.Fromsixtytoeightyperisheddailyinthehospitals.WhenthegarrisonevacuatedHamburginMay1814itwasreducedtoabout15，000men.InthemonthofDecemberprovisionsbegantodiminish，andtherewasnopossibilityofrenewingthesupply.Thepoorwerefirstofallmadetoleavethetown，andafterwardsallpersonswhowerenotusefullyemployed.Itisnoexaggerationtoestimateat50，000thenumberofpersonswhowerethusexiled.ThecolonelcommandingthegendarmerieatHamburgnotifiedtotheexiledinhabitantsthatthosewhodidnotleavethetownwithintheprescribedtimewouldreceivefiftyblowswithacaneandafterwardsbedrivenout.Butifpenancemaybecommutedwithpriestssoitmaywithgendarmes.
Delinquentscontrivedtopurchasetheirescapefromthebastinadobyasumofmoney，andFrenchgallantrysubstitutedwithrespecttofemalesthebirchforthecane.Isawanorderdirectingallfemaleservantstobeexaminedastotheirhealthunlesstheycouldproducecertificatesfromtheirmasters.Onthe25thofDecembertheGovernmentgrantedtwenty—fourhourslongertopersonswhowereorderedtoquitthetown;
andtwodaysafterthisindulgenceanordinancewaspublisheddeclaringthatthosewhoshouldreturntothetownafteronceleavingitweretobeconsideredasrebelsandaccomplicesoftheenemy，andassuchcondemnedtodeathbyaprevotalcourt.Butthiswasnotenough.AttheendofDecemberpeople，withoutdistinctionofsexorage，weredraggedfromtheirbedsandconveyedoutofthetownonacoldnight，whenthethermometerwasbetweensixteenoreighteendegrees;anditwasaffirmedthatseveraloldmenperishedinthisremoval.ThosewhosurvivedwereleftontheoutsideoftheAltonagates.AtAltonatheyallfoundrefugeandassistance.OnChristmas—day7000oftheseunfortunatepersonswerereceivedinthehouseofM.Rainville，formerlyaidedecamptoDumouriez，andwholeftFrancetogetherwiththatgeneral.Hishouse，whichwasatHolstein，wasusuallythesceneofbrilliantentertainments，butitwasconvertedintotheabodeofmisery，mourning，anddeath.Allpossibleattentionwasbestowedontheunfortunateoutlaws;butfewprofitedbyit，andwhatisworse，theinhabitantsofAltonasufferedfortheirgenerosity.ManyoftheunfortunatepersonswereaffectedwiththeepidemicdiseasewhichwasraginginHamburg，andwhichinconsequencebrokeoutatAltona.
AllmeansofraisingmoneyinHamburgbeingexhausted，aseizurewasmadeofthefundsoftheBankofthatcity，whichyetcontainedfromseventoeightmillionsofmarks.WerethosewhoorderedthismeasurenotawarethattoseizeonthefundsofsomeofthecitizensofHamburgwasaninjurytoallforeignerswhohadfundsintheBank？Suchisabriefstatementofthevexationsandcrueltieswhichlongoppressedthisunfortunatecity.NapoleonaccusedHamburgofAnglomania，andbyruiningherhethoughttoruinEngland.Hamburg，feebleandbereftofhersources，couldonlycomplain，likeJerusalemwhenbesiegedbyTitus：
"Plorans，plorcatritinnocte."
CHAPTERXXXII.
1813—1814.
PrinceEugeneandtheaffairsofItaly——ThearmyofItalyonthefrontiersofAustria——Eugene’sregretatthedefectionoftheBavarians——Murat’sdissimulationandperfidy——HistreatywithAustria——Hostilitiesfollowedbyadeclarationofwar——MuratabandonedbytheFrenchgenerals——ProclamationfromParis——Murat’ssuccess——GiganticschemeofNapoleon——NapoleonadvisedtojointheJacobins——Hisrefusal——ArmamentoftheNationalGuard——TheEmperor’sfarewelltotheofficers——TheCongressofChatillon——Refusalofanarmistice——Napoleon’scharacterdisplayedinhisnegotiations——
OpeningoftheCongress——Discussions——RuptureoftheConferences.
IwarsnowproceedtonoticetheaffairsofItalyandtheprincipaleventsoftheViceroyaltyofEugene.InordertothrowtogetherallthatIhavetosayabouttheViceroyImustanticipatetheorderoftime.
Afterthecampaignof1812，whenEugenerevisitedItaly，hewaspromptlyinformedofthemorethandoubtfuldispositionsofAustriatowardsFrance.HethenmadepreparationsforraisinganarmycapableofdefendingthecountrywhichtheEmperorhadcommittedtohissafeguard.
NapoleonwasfullyawarehowmuchadvantagehewouldderivefromthepresenceonthenorthernfrontiersofItalyofanarmysufficientlystrongtoharassAustria，incasesheshoulddrawasidethetransparentveilwhichstillcoveredherpolicy.EugenedidallthatdependedonhimtomeettheEmperor’swishes;butinspiteofhiseffortsthearmyofItalywas，afterall;onlyanimaginaryarmytothosewhocouldcomparethenumberofmenactuallyenrolledwiththenumbersstatedinthelists.
When，inJuly1813，theViceroywasinformedoftheturntakenbythenegotiationsattheshadowofaCongressassembledatPrague，hehadnolongeranydoubtoftherenewalofhostilities;andforeseeinganattackonItalyheresolvedasspeedilyaspossibletoapproachthefrontiersofAustria.HehadsucceededinassemblinganarmycomposedofFrenchandItalians，andamountingto45，000infantryand5000cavalry.OntherenewalofhostilitiestheViceroy’sheadquarterswereatUdine.DowntothemonthofApril1814hesucceededinmaintainingaformidableattitude，andindefendingtheentranceofhiskingdombydintofthatmilitarytalentwhichwastobeexpectedinamanbredinthegreatschoolofNapoleon，andwhomthearmylookeduptoasoneofitsmostskillfulgenerals.
Duringthegreatandunfortunateeventsof1813alleyeshadbeenfixedonGermanyandtheRhine;butthedefectionofMuratforatimedivertedattentiontoItaly.Thateventdidnotsoverymuchsurpriseme，forI
hadnotforgottenmyconversationwiththeKingofNaplesintheChampsElysees，withwhichIhavemadethereaderacquainted.AtfirstMurat’sdefectionwasthoughtincrediblebyeveryone，andithighlyexcitedBonaparte’sindignation.AnotherdefectionwhichoccurredaboutthesameperioddeeplydistressedEugene，foralthoughraisedtotherankofaprince，andalmostasovereign，hewasstillaman，andanexcellentman.
HewasunitedtothePrincessAmeliaofBavaria，whowasasamiableandasmuchbelovedashe，andhehadthedeepmortificationtocountthesubjectsofhisfather—in—lawamongtheenemieswhomhewouldprobablyhavetocombat.FearinglestheshouldbeharassedbytheBavariansonthesideoftheTyrol，Eugenecommencedhisretrogrademovementintheautumnof1813.HeatfirstfellbackontheTagliamento，andsuccessivelyontheAdige.OnreachingthatriverthearmyofItalywasconsiderablydiminished，inspiteofallEugene’scareofhistroops.
AbouttheendofNovemberEugenelearnedthataNeapolitancorpswasadvancinguponUpperItaly，parttakingthedirectionofRome，andpartthatofAncona.TheobjectoftheKingofNapleswastotakeadvantageofthesituationofEurope，andhewasdupedbythepromisesheldouttohimastherewardofhistreason.MuratseemedtohaveadoptedtheartfulpolicyofAustria;fornotonlyhadhedeterminedtojointhecoalition，buthewasevenmaintainingcommunicationswithEnglandandAustria，whileatthesametimehewasmakingprotestationsoffidelitytohisengagementswithNapoleon.
WhenfirstinformedofMurat’streasonbytheViceroytheEmperorrefusedtobelieveit."No，"heexclaimedtothoseabouthim，"itcannotbe！
Murat，towhomIhavegivenmysister！Murat，towhomIhavegivenathrone！Eugenemustbemisinformed.ItisimpossiblethatMurathasdeclaredhimselfagainstme！"Itwas，however，notonlypossiblebuttrue.Graduallythrowingasidethedissimulationbeneathwhichhehadconcealedhisdesigns，MuratseemedinclinedtorenewthepolicyofItalyduringthefifteenthandsixteenthcenturies，whentheartofdeceivingwasdeemedbytheItalianGovernmentsthemostsublimeeffortofgenius.
Withoutanydeclarationofwar，MuratorderedtheNeapolitanGeneralwhooccupiedRometoassumethesupremecommandintheRomanStates，andtotakepossessionofthecountry.GeneralMiollis，whocommandedtheFrenchtroopsinRome，couldonlythrowhimself，withhishandfulofmen，intotheCastleofSt.Angelo，thefamousmoleofAdrian，inwhichwaslongpreservedthetreasuryofSixtusV.TheFrenchGeneralsoonfoundhimselfblockadedbytheNeapolitantroops，whoalsoblockadedCivitaVecchiaandAncona.
ThetreatyconcludedbetweenMuratandAustriawasdefinitivelysignedonthe11thofJanuary1814.AssoonashewasinformedofittheViceroy，certainthatheshouldsoonhavetoengagewiththeNeapolitans，wasobligedtorenouncethepreservationofthelineoftheAdige，theNeapolitanarmybeingintherearofhisrightwing.HeaccordinglyorderedaretrogrademovementtotheothersideoftheMincio，wherehisarmywascantoned.InthispositionPrinceEugene，onthe8thofFebruary，hadtoengagewiththeAustrians，whohadcomeupwithhim，andthevictoryoftheMincioarrested，forsometime，theinvasionoftheAustrianarmyanditsjunctionwiththeNeapolitantroops.
ItwasnotuntileightdaysafterthatMuratofficiallydeclaredwaragainsttheEmperor;andimmediatelyseveralgeneralandsuperiorofficers，andmanyFrenchtroops，whowereinhisservice，abandonedhim，andrepairedtotheheadquartersoftheViceroy.Muratmadeendeavourstodetainthem;theyreplied，thatashehaddeclaredwaragainstFrance，noFrenchmanwholovedhiscountrycouldremaininhisservice."Doyouthink，"returnedhe，"thatmyheartisleesFrenchthanyours？Onthecontrary，Iammuchtobepitied.IhearofnothingbutthedisastersoftheGrandArmy.IhavebeenobligedtoenterintoatreatywiththeAustrians，andanarrangementwiththeEnglish，commandedbyLordBentinck，inordertosavemyKingdomfromathreatenedlandingoftheEnglishandtheSicilians，whichwouldinfalliblyhaveexcitedaninsurrection."
TherecouldnotbeamoreingenuousconfessionoftheantipathywhichJoachimknewtheNeapolitanstoentertaintowardshispersonandgovernment.HisaddresstotheFrenchwasineffectual.Itwaseasytoforeseewhatwouldensue.TheViceroysoonreceivedanofficialcommunicationfromNapoleon’sWarMinister，accompaniedbyanImperialdecree，recallingalltheFrenchwhowereintheserviceofJoachim，anddeclaringthatallwhoweretakenwitharmsintheirhandsshouldbetriedbyacourtmartialastraitorstotheircountry.Muratcommencedbygainingadvantageswhichcouldnotbedisputed.HistroopsalmostimmediatelytookpossessionofLeghornandthecitadelofAncona，andtheFrenchwereobligedtoevacuateTuscany.
ThedefectionofMuratoverthrewoneofBonaparte’sgiganticconceptions.
HehadplannedthatMuratandEugenewiththeircombinedforcesshouldmarchontherearoftheAllies，whilehe，disputingthesoilofFrancewiththeinvaders，shouldmultiplyobstaclestotheiradvance;theKingofNaplesandtheViceroyofItalyweretomarchuponViennaandmakeAustriatrembleintheheartofhercapitalbeforethetimidmillionofherAllies，whomeasuredtheirstepsastheyapproachedParis，shoulddesecratebytheirpresencethecapitalofFrance.Wheninformedofthevastproject，which，however，wasbutthedreamofamoment，I
immediatelyrecognisedthateagleglance，thatpowerofdiscoveringgreatresourcesingreatcalamities，sopeculiartoBonaparte.
NapoleonwasyetEmperorofFrance;buthewhohadimposedonallEuropetreatiesofpeacenolessdisastrousthanthewarswhichhadprecededthem，couldnotnowobtainanarmistice;andCaulaincourt，whowassenttotreatforoneatthecampoftheAllies，spenttwentydaysatLunevillebeforehecouldevenobtainpermissiontopasstheadvancedpostsoftheinvadingarmy.InvaindidCaulaincourtentreatNapoleontosacrifice，oratleastresigntemporarily，aportionofthatgloryacquiredinsomanybattles，andwhichnothingcouldeffaceinhistory.
Napoleonreplied，"Iwillsignwhateveryouwish.ToobtainpeaceIwillexactnocondition;butIwillnotdictatemyownhumiliation."Thisconcession，ofcourse，amountedtoadeterminationnottosignortograntanything.
InthefirstfortnightofJanuary1814one—thirdofFrancewasinvaded，anditwasproposedtoformanewCongress，tobeheldatChatillon—sur—
Seine.ThesituationofNapoleongrewdailyworseandworse.HewasadvisedtoseekextraordinaryresourcesintheinterioroftheEmpire，andwasremindedofthefourteenarmieswhichrose，asifbyenchantment，todefendFranceatthecommencementoftheRevolution.Finally，areconciliationwiththeJacobins，apartywhohadpowertocallupmassestoaidhim，wasrecommended.Foramomenthewasinclinedtoadoptthisadvice.HerodeonhorsebackthroughthesurburbsofSt.AntoineandSt.
Marceau，courtedthepopulace，affectionatelyrepliedtotheiracclamations，andhethoughthesawthepossibilityofturningtoaccounttheattachmentwhichthepeopleevincedforhim.OnhisreturntothePalacesomeprudentpersonsventuredtorepresenttohimthat，insteadofcourtingthisabsurdsortofpopularityitwouldbemoreadvisabletorelyonthenobilityandthehigherclassesofsociety."Gentlemen，"
repliedhe，"youmaysaywhatyouplease，butinthesituationinwhichI
standmyonlynobilityistherabbleofthefaubourgs，andIknowofnorabblebutthenobilitywhomIhavecreated."Thiswasastrangecomplimenttoallranks，foritwasonlysayingthattheywereallrabbletogether.
AtthistimetheJacobinsweredisposedtoexerteveryefforttoservehim;buttheyrequiredtohavetheirownway，andtobeallowedfreelytoexciteandfosterrevolutionarysentiments.Thepress，whichgroanedunderthemostodiousandintolerablecensorship，wastobewhollyresignedtothem.Idonotstatethesefactsfromhearsay.Ihappenedbychancetobepresentattwoconferencesinwhichweresetforwardprojectsinfectedwiththeodouroftheclubs，andtheseprojectsweresupportedwiththemoreassurancebecausetheirsuccesswasregardedascertain.ThoughIhadnotseenNapoleonsincemydepartureforHamburg，yetIwassufficientlyassuredofhisfeelingtowardstheJacobinstobeconvincedthathewouldhavenothingtodowiththem.Iwasnotwrong.
Onhearingofthepricetheysetontheirserviceshesaid，"Thisis—toomuch;Ishallhaveachanceofdeliveranceinbattle，butIshallhavenonewiththesefuriousblockheads.Therecanbenothingincommonbetweenthedemagogicprinciplesof’93andthemonarchy，betweenclubsofmadmenandaregularMinistry，betweenaCommitteeofPublicSafetyandanEmperor，betweenrevolutionarytribunalsandestablishedlaws.
IffallImust，IwillnotbequeathFrancetotheRevolutionfromwhichI
havedeliveredher."
Theseweregoldenwords，andNapoleonthoughtofamorenobleandtrulynationalmodeofparryingthedangerwhichthreatenedhim.HeorderedtheenrolmentoftheNationalGuardofParis，whichwasplacedunderthecommandofMarshalMoncey.Abetterchoicecouldnothavebeenmade，butthestaffoftheNationalGuardwasafocusofhiddenintrigues，inwhichthedefenceofPariswaslessthoughtaboutthanthemeansoftakingadvantageofNapoleon’soverthrow.IwasmadeacaptaininthisGuard，and，liketherestoftheofficers，IwassummonedtotheTuileries，onthe23dofJanuary，whentheEmperortookleaveoftheNationalGuardpreviouslytohisdeparturefromParistojointhearmy.
NapoleonenteredwiththeEmpress.Headvancedwithadignifiedstep，leadingbythehandhisson，whowasnotyetthreeyearsold.ItwaslongsinceIhadseenhim.Hehadgrownverycorpulent，andIremarkedonhispalecountenanceanexpressionofmelancholyandirritability.
Thehabitualmovementofthemusclesofhisneckwasmoredecidedandmorefrequentthanformerly.Ishallnotattempttodescribewhatweremyfeelingsduringthisceremony，whenIagainsaw，afteralongseparation，thefriendofmyyouth，whohadbecomemasterofEurope，andwasnowonthepointofsinkingbeneaththeeffortsofhisenemies.
Therewassomethingmelancholyinthissolemnandimpressiveceremony.
Ihaverarelywitnessedsuchprofoundsilenceinsonumerousanassembly.
AtlengthNapoleon，inavoiceasfirmandsonorousaswhenheusedtoharanguehistroopsinItalyorinEgypt，butwithoutthatairofconfidencewhichthenbeamedonhiscountenance，deliveredtotheassembledofficersanaddresswhichwaspublishedinallthejournalsofthetime.Atthecommencementofthisaddresshesaid，"Isetoutthisnighttotakethecommandofthearmy.OnquittingthecapitalI
confidentlyleavebehindmemywifeandmyson，inwhomsomanyhopesarecentred."IlistenedattentivelytoNapoleon’saddress，and，thoughhedelivereditfirmly，heeitherfeltorfeignedemotion.Whetherornottheemotionwassincereonhispart，itwassharedbymanypresent;andformyownpartIconfessthatmyfeelingsweredeeplymovedwhenheutteredthewords，"Ileaveyoumywifeandmyson."AtthatmomentmyeyeswerefixedontheyoungPrince，andtheinterestwithwhichheinspiredmewasequallyunconnectedwiththesplendourwhichsurroundedandthemisfortuneswhichthreatenedhim.IbeheldintheinterestingchildnottheKingofRomebutthesonofmyoldfriend.AlldaylongafterwardsIcouldnothelpfeelingdepressedwhilecomparingthefarewellsceneofthemorningwiththedayonwhichwetookpossessionoftheTuileries.Howmanycenturiesseemedthefourteenyearswhichseparatedthetwoevents.
ItmaybeworthwhiletoremindthosewhoarecuriousincomparingdatesthatNapoleon，thesuccessorofLouisXVI.，andwhohadbecomethenephewofthatmonarchbyhismarriagewiththenieceofMarieAntoinette，tookleaveoftheNationalGuardofParisontheanniversaryofthefatal21stofJanuary，aftertwenty—fiveyearsofsuccessiveterror，fear，hope，glory，andmisfortune.
Meanwhile，aCongresswasopenedatChatillon—sur—Seine，atwhichwereassembledtheDukeofVicenzaonthepartofFrance，LordsAderdeenandCathcartandSirCharlesStewartastherepresentativesofEngland，CountRazumowskyonthepartofRussia，CountStadionforAustria，andCountHumboldtforPrussia.BeforetheopeningoftheCongress，theDukeofVicenza，inconformitywiththeEmperor’sorders，demandedanarmistice，whichisalmostinvariablygrantedduringnegotiationsforpeace;butitwasnowtoolate：theAllieshadlongsincedeterminednottolistentoanysuchdemand.TheythereforeansweredtheDukeofVicenza’sapplicationbyrequiringthatthepropositionsforpeaceshouldbeimmediatelysigned.ButthesewerenotthepropositionsofFrankfort.
TheAlliesestablishedastheirbasesthelimitsoftheoldFrenchmonarchy.Theyconceivedthemselvesauthorisedinsodoingbytheirsuccessandbytheirsituation.
ToestimaterightlyNapoleon’sconductduringthenegotiationsforpeacewhichtookplaceintheconferencesatChatillonitisnecessarytobearinmindtheorganisationhehadreceivedfromnatureandtheideaswithwhichthatorganisationhadimbuedhimatanearlyperiodoflife.Ifthelastnegotiationsofhisexpiringreignbeexaminedwithdueattentionandimpartialityitwillappearevidentthatthecausesofhisfallaroseoutofhischaracter.Icannotrangemyselfamongthoseadulatorswhohaveaccusedthepersonsabouthimwithhavingdissuadedhimfrompeace.DidhenotsayatSt.Helena，inspeakingofthenegotiationsatChatillon，"Athunderboltalonecouldhavesavedus：totreat，toconclude，wastoyieldfoolishlytotheenemy."ThesewordsforciblyportrayNapoleon’scharacter.Itmustalsobeborneinmindhowmuchhewascaptivatedbytheimmortalityofthegreatnameswhichhistoryhasbequeathedtoouradmiration，andwhichareperpetuatedfromgenerationtogeneration.Napoleonwasresolvedthathisnameshouldre—
echoinagestocome，fromthepalacetothecottage.Tolivewithoutfameappearedtohimananticipateddeath.If，however，inthisthirstforglory，notfornotoriety，heconceivedthewishtosurpassAlexanderandCaesar，heneverdesiredtherenownofErostratus，andIwillsayagainwhatIhavesaidbefore，thatifhecommittedactionstobecondemned，itwasbecauseheconsideredthemasstepswhichhelpedhimtoplacehimselfonthesummitofimmortalityonwhichhewishedtoplacehisname.WitnesswhathewrotetohisbrotherJerome，"Betternever，tohavelivedthantolivewithoutglory;"witnessalsowhathewrotelatertohisbrotherLouis，"ItisbettertodieasaKingthantoliveasaPrince."HowofteninthedaysofmyintimacywithBonapartehashenotsaidtome，"Whoknowsthenamesofthosekingswhohavepassedfromthethronesonwhichchanceorbirthseatedthem？Theylivedanddiedunnoticed.Thelearned，perhaps，mayfindthemmentionedinoldarchives，andamedaloracoindugfromtheearthmayrevealtoantiquarianstheexistenceofasovereignofwhomtheyhadneverbeforeheard.But，onthecontrary，whenwehearthenamesofCyrus，Alexander，Caesar，Mahomet，Charlemagne，HenryIV.，andLouisXIV.，weareimmediatelyamongourintimateacquaintance."Imustadd，thatwhenNapoleonthusspoketomeinthegardensofMalmaisonheonlyrepeatedwhathadoftenfallenfromhiminhisyouth，forhischaracterandhisideasnevervaried;thechangewasintheobjectstowhichtheywereapplied.
FromhisboyhoodNapoleonwasfondofreadingthehistoryofthegreatmenofantiquity;andwhathechieflysoughttodiscoverwasthemeansbywhichthosemenhadbecomegreat.Heremarkedthatmilitaryglorysecuresmoreextendedfamethantheartsofpeaceandthenobleeffortswhichcontributetothehappinessofmankind.Historyinformsusthatgreatmilitarytalentandvictoryoftengivethepower，which，initstern，procuresthemeansofgratifyingambition.Napoleonwasalwayspersuadedthatthatpowerwasessentialtohim，inordertobendmentohiswill，andtostiflealldiscussionsonhisconduct.Itwashisestablishedprinciplenevertosignadisadvantageouspeace.Tohimatarnishedcrownwasnolongeracrown.HesaidonedaytoM.deCaulaincourt，whowaspressinghimtoconsenttosacrifices，"Couragemaydefendacrown，butinfamynever."InallthelastactsofNapoleon’scareerIcanretracetheimpressofhischaracter，asIhadoftenrecognisedinthegreatactionsoftheEmperortheexecutionofathoughtconceivedbytheGeneral—in—ChiefoftheArmyofItaly.
OntheopeningoftheCongresstheDukeofVicenza，convincedthathecouldnolongercountonthenaturallimitsofFrancepromisedatFrankfortbytheAllies，demandednewpowers.Thoselimitsweredoubtlesstheresultofreasonableconcessions，andtheyhadbeengrantedevenafterthebattleofLeipsic;butitwasnownecessarythatNapoleon’sMinistershouldshowhimselfreadytomakefurtherconcessionsifhewishedtobeallowedtonegotiate.TheCongresswasopenedonthe5thofFebruary，andonthe7ththePlenipotentiariesoftheAlliedpowersdeclaredthemselvescategorically.TheyinsertedintheprotocolthatafterthesuccesseswhichhadfavouredtheirarmiestheyinsistedonFrancebeingrestoredtoheroldlimits，suchastheywereduringthemonarchybeforetheRevolution;andthatsheshouldrenouncealldirectinfluencebeyondherfuturelimits.
ThispropositionappearedsoextraordinarytoM.deCaulaincourtthatherequestedthesittingmightbesuspended，sincetheconditionsdepartedtoofarfromhisinstructionstoenablehimtogiveanimmediateanswer.
ThePlenipotentiariesoftheAlliedpowersaccededtohisrequest，andthecontinuationofthesittingwaspostponedtilleightintheevening.
WhenitwasresumedtheDukeofVicenzarenewedhispromisetomakethegreatestsacrificesfortheattainmentofpeace.Headdedthattheamountofthesacrificesnecessarilydependedontheamountofthecompensations，andthathecouldnotdetermineonanyconcessionorcompensationwithoutbeingmadeacquaintedwiththewhole.HewishedtohaveageneralplanoftheviewsoftheAllies，andherequestedthattheirPlenipotentiarieswouldexplainthemselvesdecidedlyrespectingthenumberanddescriptionofthesacrificesandcompensationstobedemanded.ItmustbeacknowledgedthattheDukeofVicenzaperfectlyfulfilledtheviewsoftheEmperorinthusprotractingandgainingtimebysubtlesubterfuges，forallthathesuggestedhadalreadybeendone.
OnthedayafterthissittingsomeadvantagesgainedbytheAllies，whotookChatillon—sur—MarneandTroves，inducedNapoleontodirectCaulaincourttodeclaretotheCongressthatifanarmisticewereimmediatelyagreedonhewasreadytoconsenttoFrancebeingrestoredtoheroldlimits.BysecuringthisarmisticeNapoleonhopedthathappychancesmightarise，andthatintriguesmightbesetonfoot;buttheAllieswouldnotlistentoanysuchproposition.
Atthesittingofthe10thofMarchtheDukeofVicenzainsertedintheprotocolthatthelastcourierhehadreceivedhadbeenarrestedanddetainedaconsiderabletimebyseveralRussiangeneralofficers，whohadobligedhimtodeliveruphisdespatches，whichhadnotbeenreturnedtohimtillthirty—sixhoursafteratChaumont.Caulaincourtjustlycomplainedofthisinfractionofthelawofnationsandestablishedusage，which，hesaid，wasthesolecauseofthedelayinbringingthenegotiationstoaconclusion.AfterthiscomplainthecommunicatedtotheCongresstheostensibleinstructionsofNapoleon，inwhichheauthorisedhisMinistertoaccedetothedemandsoftheAllies.ButinmakingthiscommunicationM.deCaulaincourttookcarenottoexplaintheprivateandsecretinstructionshehadalsoreceived.TheAlliesrejectedthearmisticebecauseitwouldhavecheckedtheirvictoriousadvance;buttheyconsentedtosignthedefinitivepeace，whichofallthingswaswhattheEmperordidnotwish.
Napoleonatlengthdeterminedtomakesacrifices，andtheDukeofVicenzasubmittednewpropositionstotheCongress.TheAlliesreplied，inthesamesitting，thatthesepropositionscontainednodistinctandexplicitdeclarationontheprojectpresentedbythemonthe17thofFebruary;
that，havingonthe28thofthesamemonth，demandedadecisiveanswerwithinthetermoftondays，theywereabouttobreakupthenegotiationsCaulaincourtthendeclaredverbally：
1st.ThattheEmperorNapoleonwasreadytorenounceallpretensionorinfluencewhateverincountriesbeyondtheboundariesofFrance.
2d.TorecognisetheindependenceofSpain，Italy，Switzerland，Germany，andHolland，andthatastoEngland，Francewouldmakesuchconcessionsasmightbedeemednecessaryinconsiderationofareasonableequivalent.
Uponthisthesittingwasimmediatelybrokenupwithoutareply.Itmustberemarkedthatthissingulardeclarationwasverbal，andconsequentlynotbinding，andthatthelimitsofFrancewerementionedwithoutbeingspecified.ItcannotbedoubtedthatNapoleonmeantthelimitsconcededatFrankfort，towhichhewaswellconvincedtheAllieswouldnotconsent，forcircumstanceswerenowchanged.Besides，whatcouldbemeantbythereasonableequivalentfromEngland？IsitastonishingthatthisobscurityandvaguenessshouldhavebanishedallconfidenceonthepartofthePlenipotentiariesoftheAlliedpowers？Threedaysafterthesittingofthe10thofMarchtheydeclaredtheycouldnotevenenterintoadiscussionoftheverbalprotocoloftheFrenchMinister.TheyrequestedthatM.deCaulaincourtwoulddeclarewhetherhewouldacceptorrejecttheprojectofatreatypresentedbytheAlliedSovereigns，orofferacounter—project.
TheDukeofVicenza，whowasstillprohibited，bysecretinstructionsfromcomingtoanyconclusionontheproposedbasis，insertedintheprotocolofthesittingofthe13thofMarchaveryambiguousnote.ThePlenipotentiariesoftheAllies;intheirreply，insisteduponreceivinganotherdeclarationfromtheFrenchPlenipotentiary，whichshouldcontainanacceptanceorrefusaloftheirprojectofatreatypresentedintheconferenceofthe7thofFebruary，oracounter—project.AftermuchdiscussionCaulaincourtagreedtodrawupacounter—project，whichhepresentedonthe15th，underthefollowingtitle："ProjectofadefinitiveTreatybetweenFranceandtheAllies."Inthisextraordinaryproject，presentedaftersomuchdelay，M.deCaulaincourt，tothegreatastonishmentoftheAllies，departedinnorespectfromthedeclarationsofthe10thofMarch.HerepliedagaintotheultimatumoftheAllies，orwhatbewishedtoregardassuch，bydefendingamultitudeofpettyinterests，whichwereofnoimportanceinsogreatacontest;butingeneraltheconditionsseemedratherthoseofaconquerordictatingtohisenemiesthanofamanoverwhelmedbymisfortune：Asmayreadilybeimagined，theywere，forthemostpart，receivedwithderisionbytheAllies.
EverythingtendstoprovethattheFrenchPlenipotentiaryhadreceivednopositiveinstructionsfromthe5thofFebruary，andthat，afterallthedelaywhichNapoleonconstantlycreated，Caulaincourtneverhaditinhispowertoanswer，categorically，thepropositionsoftheAllies.NapoleonneverintendedtomakepeaceatChatillononthetermsproposed.Healwayshopedthatsomefortunateeventwouldenablehimtoobtainmorefavourableconditions.
Onthe18thofMarch，thatistosay，threedaysafterthepresentationofthisprojectofatreaty，thePlenipotentiariesoftheAlliesrecordedintheprotocoltheirreasonsforrejectingtheextraordinaryprojectoftheFrenchMinister.Formypart，Iwasconvinced，forthereasonsI
havementioned，thattheEmperorwouldneveragreetosigntheconditionsproposedintheultimatumoftheAllies，datedthe13thofMarch，andI
rememberhavingexpressedthatopiniontoM.deTalleyrand.Isawhimonthe14th，andfoundhimengagedinperusingsomeintelligencehehadjustreceivedfromtheDukeofVicenza，announcing，asbeyondalldoubt，theearlysignatureofpeace.Caulaincourthadreceivedorderstocometoaconclusion.Napoleon，hesaid，hadgivenhimacarteblanchetosavethecapital，andavoidabattle，bywhichthelastresourcesofthenationwouldbeendangered.Thisseemedprettypositive，tobesure;buteventhisassurancedidnot，foramoment，altermyopinion.Thebettertoconvinceme，M.deTalleyrandgavemeCaulaincourt’slettertoread.
AfterreadingitIconfidentlysaid，"Hewillneversigntheconditions."
M.deTalleyrandcouldnothelpthinkingmeveryobstinateinmyopinion，forhejudgedofwhattheEmperorwoulddobyhissituation，whileI
judgedbyhischaracter.ItoldM.deTalleyrandthatCaulaincourtmighthavereceivedwrittenorderstosign;forthesakeofshowingthemtothePlenipotentiariesoftheAllies，butthatIhadnodoubthehadbeeninstructedtopostponecomingtoaconclusion，andtowaitforfinalorders.Iadded，thatIsawnoreasontochangemyopinion，andthatI
continuedtoregardthebreakingupoftheCongressasnearerthanappearancesseemedtoindicate.Accordingly，threedaysafterwards，theAlliesgrewtiredofthedelayandtheconferenceswerebrokenup.ThusNapoleonsacrificedeverythingratherthanhisglory.Hefellfromagreatheight，buthenever，byhissignature，consentedtoanydismembermentofFrance.
ThePlenipotentiariesoftheAllies，convincedthatthesereneweddifficultiesanddemandshadnootherobjectbuttogaintime，statedthattheAlliedpowers，faithfultotheirprinciples，andinconformitywiththeirpreviousdeclarations，regardedthenegotiationsatChatillonasterminatedbytheFrenchGovernment.Thisruptureoftheconferencestookplaceonthe19thofMarch，sixdaysafterthepresentationoftheultimatumoftheAlliedpowers.Theissueoftheselongdiscussionswasthuslefttobedecidedbythechancesofwar，whichwerenotveryfavourabletothemanwhoboldlycontendedagainstarmedEurope.ThesuccessesoftheAlliesduringtheconferencesatChatillonhadopenedtotheirviewtheroadtoParis，whileNapoleonshrunkfromthenecessityofsigninghisowndisgrace.Inthesecircumstanceswastobefoundthesolecauseofhisruin，andhemighthavesaid，"Toutestperdu，forslagloire."Hisgloryisimmortal.
——[TheconvivialityandharmonythatreignedbetweentheMinistersmadethesocietyandIntercourseatChatillonmostagreeable.Thediplomatistsdinedalternatelywitheachother;M.deCaulaincourtliberallypassingforalltheMinisters，throughtheFrenchadvancedposts，convoysofallthegoodcheerinepicureanwises，etc.，thatPariscouldafford;norwasfemalesocietywantingtocompletethecharmandbanishennuifromtheChatillonCongress，whichIamsurewillbelongrecollectedwithsensationsofpleasurebyallthePlenipotentiariesthereengaged（MemoirsofLordBurghersh）.
CHAPTERXXXIII.
1814
CuriousconversationbetweenGeneralReynierandtheEmperorAlexander——NapoleonrepulsesthePrussians——TheRussiansatFontainebleau——BattleofBrienne——SketchofthecampaignofFrance——
SupperafterthebattleofChampAubert——IntelligenceofthearrivalofthoDucd’AngoulemeandtheComted’ArtoisinFrance——Thebattleoftheravensandtheeagle——BattleofCraonne——DepartureofthePopeandtheSpanishPrinces——Captureofaconvoy——MacdonaldattheEmperor’sheadquarters——Theinvertedcipher.
Iwasalwayspersuaded，andeverythingIhavesinceseenhasconfirmedmyopinion，thattheAlliesenteringFrancehadnodesignofrestoringtheHouseofBourbon，orofimposinganyGovernmentwhateverontheFrenchpeople.Theycametodestroyandnottofound.ThatwhichtheywishedtodestroyfromthecommencementoftheirsuccesswasNapoleon’ssupremacy，inordertopreventthefutureinvasionswithwhichtheybelievedEuropewouldstillbeconstantlythreatened.If，indeed，IhadentertainedanydoubtonthissubjectitwouldhavebeenbanishedbytheaccountIheardofGeneralReynier’sconversationwiththeEmperorAlexander.ThatGeneral，whowasmadeprisoneratLeipsic，wasexchanged，andreturnedtoFrance.InthebeginningofFebruary1814hepassedthroughTroves，wheretheEmperorAlexanderthenwas.ReynierexpressedadesiretobeallowedtopayhisrespectstotheEmperor，andtothankhimforhavingrestoredhimtoliberty.HewasreceivedwiththataffabilityofmannerwhichwassometimesaffectedbytheRussianmonarch.
OnhisarrivalatParisGeneralReyniercalledattheDucdeRovigo’s，whereIhaddinedthatday，andwherehestillwaswhenIarrived.HerelatedinmyhearingtheconversationtowhichIhavealluded，andstatedthatithadalltheappearanceofsincerityontheEmperor’spart.
HavingaskedAlexanderwhetherhehadanyinstructionsforNapoleon，asthelatter，onlearningthathehadseenhisMajestywouldnotfailtoaskhimmanyquestions，herepliedthathehadnothingparticulartocommunicatetohim.AlexanderaddedthathewasNapoleon’sfriend，butthathehad，personally，muchreason——tocomplainofhisconduct;thattheAllieswouldhavenothingmoretodowithhim;thattheyhadnointentionofforcinganySovereignuponFrance;butthattheywouldnolongeracknowledgeNapoleonasEmperoroftheFrench."Formypart，"
saidAlexander，"Icannolongerplaceanyconfidenceinhim.Hehasdeceivedmetoooften."InreplytothisReyniermadesomeremarksdictatedbyhisattachmentandfidelitytoBonaparte.HeobservedthatNapoleonwasacknowledgedasSovereignofFrancebyeverytreaty."But，"
addedReynier，"ifyoushouldpersistinforcinghimtoresignthesupremepower，whomwillyouputinhisplace？"——"Didyounotchoosehim;
whythencanyounotchoosesomeoneelsetogovernyou？IrepeatthatwedonotintendtoforceanyoneuponyoubutwewillhavenomoretodowithNapoleon."
SeveralGeneralswerethennamed;andafterReynierhadexplained—thegreatdifficultieswhichwouldopposeanysuchchoice，Alexanderinterruptedhimsaying，"But，General，thereisBernadotte.’HashenotbeenvoluntarilychosenPrinceRoyalofSweden;mayhenotalsoberaisedtothesamerankinFrance？Heisyourcountryman;surelythenyoumaychoosehim，sincetheSwedestookhim，thoughaforeigner."GeneralReynier，whowasamanoffirmcharacter，startedsomeobjections，whichIthoughtatthetimewellfounded;andAlexanderputanendtotheconversationbysaving，ratherinatoneofdissatisfaction，"Well，General，thefateofarmswilldecide."
ThecampaignofFranceforcedNapoleontoadoptakindofoperationsquitenewtohim.Hehadbeenaccustomedtoattack;buthewasnowobligedtostandonhisdefence，sothat，insteadofhavingtoexecuteapreviouslyconceivedplan，aswhen，intheCabinetoftheTuileries，hetracedouttomethefieldofMarengo，hehadnowtodeterminehismovementsaccordingtothoseofhisnumerousenemies.WhentheEmperorarrivedatChalons—sur—MarnethePrussianarmywasadvancingbytheroadofLorraine.HedroveitbackbeyondSt.Dizier.MeanwhiletheGrandAustro—RussianarmypassedtheSeineandtheYonneatMontereau，andevensentforwardacorpswhichadvancedasfarasFontainebleau.NapoleonthenmadeamovementtotherightinordertodrivebackthetroopswhichthreatenedtomarchonParis，andbyacuriouschancehecameupwiththetroopsintheveryplacewherehepassedtheboyishyearsinwhichhecherishedwhatthenseemedwildandfabulousdreamsofhisfuturefate.
WhatthoughtsandrecollectionsmusthavecrowdedonhismindwhenhefoundhimselfanEmperorandaKing，attheheadofayetpowerfularmy，inthechateauoftheComtedeBrienne，towhomhehadsooftenpaidhishomage！ItwasatBriennethathehadsaidtome，thirty—fouryearsbefore，"IwilldotheseFrenchmanalltheharmIcan."Sincethenhehadcertainlychangedhismind;butitmightbesaidthatfatepersistedinforcingthemantorealisethedesignoftheboyinspiteofhimself.
NosoonerhadNapoleonrevisitedBrienneasaconquerorthanhewasrepulsedandhurriedtohisfall，whichbecameeverymomentmorecertain.’
IshallnotenterintoanydetailsofthecampaignofFrance，becausethedescriptionofbattlesformsnopartofmyplan.Still，IthinkitindispensablebrieflytodescribeNapoleon’smiraculousactivityfromthetimeofhisleavingParistotheentranceoftheAlliesintothecapital.
FewsuccessfulcampaignshaveenabledourGeneralsandtheFrencharmytoreapsomuchgloryastheygainedduringthisgreatreverseoffortune.
Foritispossibletotriumphwithouthonour，andtofallwithglory.
Thechancesofthewarwerenotdoubtful，butcertainlythenumeroushostsoftheAlliescouldneverhaveanticipatedsolongandbrilliantaresistance.ThetheatreofthemilitaryoperationssoonapproachedsoneartoParisthatthegeneraleagernessfornewsfromthearmywasspeedilysatisfied，andwhenanyadvantagewasgainedbytheEmperorhispartisanssawtheenemyalreadyrepulsedfromtheFrenchterritory.
Iwasnotforamomentdeceivedbytheseillusions，asIwellknewthedeterminationandtheresourcesoftheAlliedsovereigns.Besides，eventsweresorapidandvariousinthiswarofexterminationthatthegunsoftheInvalidesannouncingavictoryweresometimesimmediatelyfollowedbythedistantrollingofartillery，denotingtheenemy’snearapproachtothecapital.
TheEmperorleftParisonthe25thofJanuary，atwhichtimetheEmperorsofRussiaandAustriaandtheKingofPrussiawereassembledatLangres.
NapoleonrejoinedhisGuardatVitry—le—Francais.OntheseconddayafterhisdeparturehedrovebeforehimthePrussianarmy，whichhehadforcedtoevacuateSt.Dizier.TwodaysafterthisthebattleofBriennewasfought，andonthe1stofFebruarybetween70，000and80，000FrenchandAlliedtroopsstoodfacetoface.Onthisoccasionthecommandersonbothsideswereexposedtopersonaldanger，forNapoleonhadahorsekilledunderhim，andaCossackfelldeadbythesideofMarshalBlucher.
AfewdaysafterthisbattleNapoleonenteredTroves，wherehestayedbutashorttime，andthenadvancedtoChampaubert.Atthelatterplacewasfoughtthebattlewhichbearsitsname.TheRussiansweredefeated，GeneralAlsufieffwasmadeprisoner，and2000menand30gunsfellintothehandsoftheFrench.AfterthisbattletheEmperorwasundersuchadelusionastohissituationthatwhilesuppingwithBerthier，Marmont，andhisprisoner，GeneralAlsufieff，theEmperorsaid，"Anothersuchvictoryasthis，gentlemen，andIshallbeontheVistula."
Findingthatnoonereplied，andreadinginthecountenancesofhisMarshalsthattheydidnotsharehishopes，"Iseehowitis，"headded，"everyoneisgrowingtiredofwar;thereisnomoreenthusiasm.Thesacredfireisextinct."Thenrisingfromthetable，andsteppinguptoGeneralDrouot，withthemarkedintentionofpayinghimacomplimentwhichshouldatthesametimeconveyacensureontheMarshals，"General，"saidhe，pattinghimontheshoulder，"weonlywantahundredmenlikeyou，andweshouldsucceed."Drouotreplied，withgreatpresenceofmindandmodesty，"Rathersayahundredthousand，Sire."
Thisanecdotewasrelatedtomebythetwoprincipalpersonswhowerepresentontheoccasion.
Napoleonsoonbegantohaveothersubjectsofdisquietudebesidesthefateofbattles.HewasawarethatsincethebeginningofFebruarytheDucd’AngoulemehadarrivedatSt.JeandeLuz，whencehehadaddressedsproclamationtotheFrencharmiesinthenameofhisuncle，LouisXVIII.;
andhespeedilyheardoftheComted’Artois’arrivalatYesoul，onthe21stofFebruary，whichplacehedidnotleaveuntilthe16thofMarchfollowing.
Meanwhilehostilitiesweremaintainedwithincreasedvigoroveravastlineofoperations.Howmuchuselessglorydidnotoursoldiersgainintheseconflicts！Inspiteofprodigiesofvalourtheenemy’smassesadvanced，andgraduallyconcentrated，sothatthiswarmightbecomparedtothebattlesoftheravensandtheeagleintheAlps.Theeagleslayshundredsofhisassailants——everyblowofhisbeakisthedeathofanenemy，butstillthevulturesreturntothecharge，andpressupontheeagleuntiltheydestroyhim.
AsthemonthofFebruarydrewtoitsclosetheAllieswereinretreatonseveralpoints，buttheirretreatwasnotarout.Afterexperiencingreversestheyfellbackwithoutdisorder，andretiredbehindtheAube，wheretheyralliedandobtainednumerousreinforcements，whichdailyarrived，andwhichsoonenabledthemtoresumetheoffensive.
StillNapoleoncontinuedastonishingEurope，leaguedasitwasagainsthim.AtCraonne，onthe7thofMarch，hedestroyedBlucher’scorpsinasevereaction，butthevictorywasattendedbygreatlosstotheconqueror.MarshalVictorwasseriouslywounded，aswellasGeneralsGrouchyandLaFerriere.
WhileNapoleonwasresistingthenumerousenemiesassembledtodestroyhimitmightbesaidthathewasalsohisownenemy，eitherfromfalsecalculationorfromnegligencewithrespecttohisillustriousprisoners，who，onhisdeparturefromParis，hadnotyetbeensenttotheirStates.
ThePopewasthenatFontainebleau，andthePrincesofSpainatValencay.
ThePope，however，wasthefirsttobeallowedtodepart.SurelyBonapartecouldneverhavethoughtoftheservicewhichthePopemighthaverenderedhimatRome，intowhichMurat’stroopswouldneverhavedaredtomarchhadhisHolinessbeenpresentthere.WithregardtotheSpanishPrincesNapoleonmusthavebeengreatlyblindedbyconfidenceinhisfortunetohavesolongbelieveditpossibletoretaininFrancethoseuselesstrophiesofdefeatedpretensions.Itwas，besides，soeasytogetridoftheexilesofValencaybysendingthembacktotheplacefromwhencetheyhadbeenbrought！ItwassonaturaltorecallwithallspeedthetroopsfromthesouthwhenourarmiesinGermanybegantoberepulsedontheRhineandevendrivenintoFrance！WiththeaidoftheseveterantroopsNapoleonandhisgeniusmighthaveagainturnedthescaleoffortune.ButNapoleonreckonedonthenation，andhewaswrong，forthenationwastiredofhim.HiscausehadceasedtobethecauseofFrance.
ThelatterdaysofMarchwerefilledupbyaseriesofcalamitiestoNapoleon.Onthe23dtherear—guardoftheFrencharmysufferedconsiderableloss.Tohearofattacksonhisrear—guardmustindeedhavebeenmortifyingtoNapoleon，whoseadvancedguardshadbeensolongaccustomedtoopenthepathofvictory！PrinceSchwartzenbergsoonpassedtheAubeandmarcheduponVitryandChalons.Napoleon，countingonthepossibilityofdefendingParis，threwhimself，withthevelocityoftheeagle，onSchwartzenberg’srearbypassingbyDoulevantandBar—
sur—Aube.HepushedforwardhisadvancedguardstoChaumont，andtheresawtheAustrianarmymakeamovementwhichhetooktobearetreat;butitwasnosuchthing.ThemovementwasdirectedonParis，whileBlucher，whohadre—occupiedChalons—sur—Maine，marchedtomeetPrinceSchwartzenberg，andNapoleon，thinkingtocutofftheirretreat，washimselfcutofffromthepossibilityofreturningtoParis.EverythingthendependedonthedefenceofParis，or，tospeakmorecorrectly，itseemedpossible，bysacrificingthecapital，toprolongforafewdaystheexistenceofthephantomoftheEmpirewhichwasrapidlyvanishing.
Onthe26thwasfoughtthebattleofFereChampenoise，where，valouryieldingtonumbers，MarshalsMarmontandMortierwereobligedtoretireuponSezanneaftersustainingconsiderableloss.
Itwasonthe26thofMarch，andIbegthereadertobearthisdateinmind，thatNapoleonsufferedalosswhich，inthecircumstancesinwhichhestood，wasirreparable.AtthebattleofFereChampenoisetheAlliescapturedaconvoyconsistingofnearlyalltheremainingammunitionandstoresofthearmy，avastquantityofarms，caissons，andequipageofallkinds.ThewholebecamethepreyoftheAllies，whopublishedabulletinannouncingthisimportantcapture.AcopyofthisorderofthedayfellintothehandsofMarshalMacdonald，whothoughtthatsuchnewsoughtimmediatelytobecommunicatedtotheEmperor.HethereforerepairedhimselftotheheadquartersofNapoleon，whowasthenpreparingtorecoverVitre—le—Francais，whichwasoccupiedbythePrussians.TheMarshal，withtheviewofdissuadingtheEmperorfromwhatheconsideredavainattempt，presentedhimwiththebulletin.
Thiswasonthemorningofthe27th：Napoleonwouldnotbelievethenews.
"No！"saidhetotheMarshal，"youaredeceived，thiscannotbetrue."
Thenperusingthebulletinwithmoreattention."Here，"saidhe，"lookyourself.Thisisthe27th，andthebulletinisdatedthe29th.Youseethethingisimpossible.Thebulletinisforged！"TheMarshal，whohadpaidmoreattentiontothenewsthantoitsdate，wasastounded.ButhavingafterwardsshownthebulletintoDrouot，thatGeneralsaid，"Alas！
Marshal，thenewsisbuttootrue.Theerrorofthedateismerelyamisprint，the9isa6inverted！"Onwhattriflessometimesdependthemostimportantevents.AninvertedciphersufficedtoflatterBonaparte’sillusion，oratleasttheillusionswhichhewishedtomaintainamonghismostdistinguishedlieutenants，andtodelaythemomentwhentheyshoulddiscoverthatthelosstheydeploredwastoocertain.OnthatverydaytheEmpressleftParis.
CHAPTERXXXIV.
1814.
ThemenoftheRevolutionandthemenoftheEmpire——TheCouncilofRegency——DepartureoftheEmpressfromParis——MarmontandMortier——
Joseph’sflight——MeetingatMarmont’shotel——CapitulationofParis——
Marmont’sinterviewwiththeEmperoratFontainebleau——ColonelsFabvierandDenys——TheRoyalistcavalcade——MeetingatthehoteloftheComtedeMorfontaine——M.deChateaubriandandhispamphlet——
DeputationtotheEmperorAlexander——EntranceoftheAlliedsovereignsintoParis——AlexanderlodgedinM.Talleyrand’shotel——
Meetingsheldthere——TheEmperorAlexander’sdeclaration——
MyappointmentasPostmaster—General——CompositionoftheProvisionalGovernment——MistakerespectingtheconductoftheEmperorofAustria——Caulaincourt’smissionfromNapoleon——HisinterviewwiththeEmperorAlexander——Alexander’saddresstothedeputationoftheSenate——M.deCaulaincourtorderedtoquitthecapital.
ThegrandeesoftheEmpireandthefirstsubjectsofNapoleonweredividedintotwoclassestotallydistinctfromeachother.AmongthesepatronisedmenweremanywhohadbeenthefirstpatronsofBonaparteandhadfavouredhisaccessiontoConsularpower.Thisclasswascomposedofhisoldfriendsandformercompanions—in—arms.Theothers，whomaybecalledthechildrenoftheEmpire，didnotcarrybacktheirthoughtstoaperiodwhichtheyhadnotseen.TheyhadneverknownanythingbutNapoleonandtheEmpire，beyondwhichthesphereoftheirideasdidnotextend，whileamongNapoleon’soldbrothers—in—armsitwasstillrememberedthattherewasonceacountry，aFrance，beforetheyhadhelpedtogiveitamaster.TothisclassofmenFrancewasnotconfinedtothenarrowcircleoftheImperialheadquarters，butextendedtotheRhine，theAlps，thePyrenees，andthetwooceans.
Ontheotherhand，numbersofardentandadventurousyoungmen，fullofenthusiasmforBonaparte，hadpassedfromtheschooltothecamp.TheywereentirelyopposedtoNapoleon’sdownfall，becausewithhispowerwouldvanishthosedreamsofgloryandfortunewhichhadcaptivatedtheirimaginations.Theseyoungmen，whobelongedtotheclasswhichIhavedenominatedchildrenoftheEmpire，werepreparedtoriskandcommiteverythingtoprolongthepoliticallifeoftheirEmperor.
ThedistinctionIhavedrawnbetweenwhatmaybecalledthemenofFranceandthemenoftheEmpirewasnotconfinedtothearmy，butwasequallymarkedamongthehighcivilfunctionariesoftheState.TheoldRepublicanscouldnotpossiblyregardNapoleonwiththesameeyesasthosewhoseelevationdatedonlyfromNapoleon;andthemembersofassembliesanteriortothe18thBrumairecouldnotentertainthesameideasasthosewhosenotionsofnationalfranchisesandpublicrightswerederivedfromtheirseatsasauditorsintheCouncilofState.I
knownotwhetherthisdistinctionbetweenthemenoftwodifferentperiodshasbeenbeforepointedout，butitservestoexplaintheconductofmanypersonsofelevatedrankduringtheeventsof1814.Withregardtomyself，convincedasIwasofthecertaintyofNapoleon’sfall，I
conceivedthatthefirstdutyofeverycitizenwasclaimedbyhiscountry;andalthoughImayincurcensure，IcandidlyavowthatNapoleon’streatmentofmeduringthelastfouryearsofhispowerwasnotwithoutsomeinfluenceonmypromptsubmissiontotheGovernmentwhichsucceededhis.I，however，declarethatthisconsiderationwasnotthesolenorthemostpowerfulmotiveofmyconduct.OnlythosewhowereinParisattheperiodofthecapitulationcanformanideaoftheviolenceofpartyfeelingwhichprevailedtherebothforandagainstNapoleon，butwithoutthenameoftheBourbonseverbeingpronounced.