by several witnesses of this really touching scene。
An Inhabitant。〃Is it true； as I am told； that the condition of affairs
is so bad？〃
The Emperor。 〃I cannot say that they are in a very good condition。〃
The Inhabitant。〃But how； then； will all this end？
The Emperor。〃By my faith； God alone knows。〃
The Inhabitant。〃But what！ Is it possible the enemy could really enter
France？〃
The Emperor。〃That might occur； and they might even penetrate as far as
this place； if you do not come to my aid。 I have not a million arms。 I
cannot do everything alone。〃
Numerous Voices。〃We will uphold you； we will uphold you。〃
Still more Voices。〃Yes； yes。 Count on us。〃
The Emperor。〃In that case the enemy will be beaten； and we will
preserve our glory untarnished。〃
Several Voices。〃But what； then； shall we do？〃
The Emperor。〃Be enrolled and fight。〃
A New Voice。〃We would do this gladly； but we would like to make certain
conditions。〃
The Emperor。〃Well； speak out frankly。 Let us know； what are these
conditions？〃
Several Voices。〃That we are not to pass the frontiers。〃
The Emperor。〃You shall not pass them。〃
Several Voices。〃We wish to enter the guard。〃
The Emperor。〃Well； then； you shall enter the guard。〃
His Majesty had hardly pronounced these last words； when the immense
crowd which surrounded him made the air resound with cries of 〃Vive
l'Empereur！〃 and their number continued to increase all the way as the
Emperor slowly returned to the Tuileries； until； by the time he reached
the gates of the Carrousel； he was accompanied by an innumerable cortege。
We heard these noisy acclamations； but they were so badly interpreted by
the commandant of the post at the palace； that he thought it was an
insurrection； and the iron gates of the Tuileries on that side of the
court were closed。
When I saw the Emperor； a few moments after his return； he appeared more
annoyed than pleased； for everything having an appearance of disorder was
excessively distasteful to him； and a popular tumult； whatever its cause；
had always in it something unpleasant to him。
Meanwhile this scene； which his Majesty might well have repeated；
produced a deep impression on the people； and this enthusiasm had
positive and immediate results； since on that day more than two thousand
men were voluntarily enrolled； and formed a new regiment of the guard。
On the anniversary fete of the coronation and of the battle of
Austerlitz； there were as usual free representations in all the theaters
of Paris； but at these the Emperor did not appear； as he had so often
done。 There were also amusements； a free distribution of eatables； and
also illuminations； and twelve young girls； whose marriage dowries were
given by the city of Paris； were married to old soldiers。 I remember
that among everything which marked the ceremonials of the Empire； the
custom of performing these marriages was the one most pleasing to the
Emperor； and he often spoke of it in terms of approbation； for； if I may
be allowed to make the observation； his Majesty had what might be called
a kind of mania on the subject of marriage。 We were now settled at the
Tuileries； which the Emperor had not left since the 20th of November when
he had returned from Saint…Cloud； and which he did not leave again until
his departure for the army。 His Majesty often presided over the
deliberations of the council of state； which were of grave interest。 I
learned at that time； in relation to a certain decree； a circumstance
which appeared to me very singular。 The Commune of Montmorency had long
since lost its ancient name； but it was not until the end of November；
1813； that the Emperor legally took away the name of Emile which it had
received under the republic in honor of J。 J。 Rousseau。 It may well be
believed that it had retained it so long simply because the Emperor's
attention had not been directed to it sooner。
I do not know but I should ask pardon for relating so trivial an event；
when so many great measures were being adopted by his Majesty。 In fact；
each day necessitated new dispositions； since the enemy was making
progress at every point。 The Russians occupied Holland under the command
of General Witzengerode； who had opposed us so bitterly during the
Russian campaign； already； even； the early return to Amsterdam of the
heir of the House of Orange was discussed； in Italy Prince Eugene was
holding out only by dint of superior skill against the far more numerous
army of Bellegarde； who had just passed the Adige； that of the Prince
von Swarzenberg occupied the confines of Switzerland； the Prussians and
the troops of the Confederation were passing the Rhine at several points。
There remained to the Emperor not a single ally； as the King of Denmark；
the only one who had until now remained faithful； had succumbed to the
northern torrent； and concluded an armistice with Russia； and in the
south all the strategy of Marshal Soult barely sufficed to delay the
progress of the Duke of Wellington； who was advancing on our frontiers at
the head of an army far more numerous than that with which we could
oppose him； and which； moreover； was not suffering from the same
privations as our own。 I remember well to have heard several generals
blame the Emperor at that time； because he had not abandoned Spain； and
recalled all his troops to France。 I make a note of this； but； as may
well be believed； am not willing to risk my judgment on such matters。
At all events； it is evident that war surrounded us on every side； and in
this state of affairs； and with our ancient frontiers threatened； it
would have been strange if there had not been a general cry for peace。
The Emperor desired it also； and no one now holds a contrary opinion。
All the works which I have read； written by those persons best situated
to learn the exact truth of these events； agree on this point。 It is
known that his Majesty had dictated to the Duke of Bassano a letter in
which he adhered to the basis of the proposal for a new congress made at
Frankfort by the allies。 It is also known that the city of Mannheim was
designated for the session of this new congress； to which the Duke of
Vicenza was to be sent。 The latter； in a note of the 2d of December；
made known again the adhesion of the Emperor to the original principles
and summary to be submitted to the Congress of Mannheim。 The Count de
Metternich； on the 10th； replied to this communication that the
sovereigns would inform their allies of his Majesty's adhesion。 All
these negotiations were prolonged only on account of the allies； who
finally declared at Frankfort that they would not consent to lay down
their arms。 On the 20th of December they openly announced their
intention to invade France by passing through Switzerland； whose
neutrality had been solemnly recognized by treaty。 At the period of
which I speak； my position kept me； I must admit； in complete ignorance
of these affairs； but； on learning them since； they have awakened in me
other remembrances which have powerfully contributed to prove their
truth。 Every one； I hope； will admit that if the Emperor had really
desired war； it is not before me he would have taken the trouble to
express his desire for the conclusion of peace； as I heard him do several
times； and this by no means falsifies what I have related of a reply
given by his Majesty to the Prince of Neuchatel； since in this reply he
attributes the necessity of war to the bad faith of his enemies。 Neither
the immense renown of the Emperor nor his glory needs any support from
me； and I am not deluding myself on this point； but I ask to be allowed
like any other man to give my mite of the truth。
I have said previously； that when passing through Mayence the Emperor had
convened the Corps Legislatif for the 2d of December； but by a new decree
it was postponed until the 19th of that month； and this annual solemnity
was marked by the introduction of unaccustomed usages。 In the first
place； as I have said； to the Emperor alone was given the right of naming
the president without the presentation of a triple list； as was done in
former times by the senate； moreover； the senate and the council of state
repaired in a body to the hall of the Corps Legislatif to be present at
the opening of the session。 I also remember that this ceremony was
anticipated with more than usual interest； since throughout Paris all
were curious and eager to hear the address of the Emperor； and what he
would say on the situation of France。 Alas； we were far from supposing
that this annual ceremony would be the last。
The senate and the council of state； having taken the places indicated to
them in the hall； the Empress； arrived； and entered the reserved gallery；
surrounded by her ladies and the officers of her household。 At last the
Emperor appeared； a quarter of an hour after the Empress； and was
introduced with the accustomed ceremonials。 When the new president； the
Duke of Massa； had taken the oath at the hands of the Emperor； his
Majesty pronounced the following discourse：
〃Senators； Councilors of State； Deputies from the Departments to the
Corps Legislatif：
Brillia