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preliminary basis which the enemy had proposed to me I have accepted； and
I shall make them without regret； since my life has only one object；the
happiness of the French people。
〃Meanwhile Bearn； Alsace； Franche…Comte； and Brabant have been entered；
and the cries of that part of my family rend my soul。 I call the French
to the aid of the French！ I call the Frenchmen of Paris； Brittany；
Normandy； Champagne； Burgundy； and the other departments to the aid of
their brothers。 Will they abandon them in misfortune？ Peace and the
deliverance of our territory should be our rallying cry。 At the sight of
this whole people in arms the foreigner will flee； or will consent to
peace on the terms I have proposed to him。 The question is no longer the
recovery of the conquests we have made。〃
It was necessary to be in a position to thoroughly know the character of
the Emperor to understand how much it must have cost him to utter these
last words； but from a knowledge of his character also resulted the
certainty that it would have cost him less to do what he promised than to
say them。 It would seem that this was well understood in Paris； for the
day on which the 'Moniteur' published the reply of his Majesty to the
senate； stocks increased in value more than two francs； which the Emperor
did not fail to remark with much satisfaction； for as is well known； the
rise and decline of stocks was with him the real thermometer of public
opinion。
In regard to the conduct of the Corps Legislatif； I heard it condemned by
a man of real merit deeply imbued with republican principles。 He uttered
one day in my presence these words which struck me： 〃The Corps Legislatif
did then what it should have done at all times； except under these
circumstances。〃 From the language used by the spokesman of the
commission； it is only too evident that the speaker believed in the false
promises of the declaration of Frankfort。 According to him； or rather
according to the commission of which he was after all only the organ；
the intention of the foreigners was not to humiliate France； they only
wished to keep us within our proper limits； and annul the effects of an
ambitious activity which had been so fatal for twenty years to all the
nations of Europe。 〃The propositions of the confederated powers；〃 said
the commission； 〃seem to us honorable for the nation； since they prove
that foreigners both fear and respect us。〃 Finally the speaker；
continuing his reading； having reached a passage in which allusion was
made to the Empire of the Lily； added in set phrase that the Rhine； the
Alps； the Pyrenees； and the two seas inclosed a vast territory； several
provinces of which had not belonged to ancient France； and that
nevertheless the crown royal of France shone brilliantly with glory and
majesty among all other diadems。
At these words the Duke of Massa interrupted the speaker； exclaiming；
〃What you say is unconstitutional；〃 to which the speaker vehemently
replied； 〃I see nothing unconstitutional here except your presence；〃 and
continued to read his report。 The Emperor was each day informed of what
took place in the sitting of the Corps Legislatif； and I remember that
the day on which their report was read he； appeared much disturbed； and
before retiring walked up and down the room in much agitation； like one
trying to make some important decision。 At last he decided not to allow
the publication of the address of the Corps Legislatif； which had been
communicated to him according to custom。 Time pressed； the next day
would have been too late； as the address would be circulated in Paris；
where the public mind was already much disturbed。 The order was
consequently given to the minister of general police to have the copy of
the report and the address seized at the printing establishment； and to
break the forms already set up。 Besides this the order was also given to
close the doors of the Corps Legislatif； which was done； and the
legislature thus found itself adjourned。
I heard many persons at this time deeply regret that his Majesty had
taken these measures； and； above all； that having taken them he had not
stopped there。 It was said that since the Corps Legislatif was now
adjourned by force； it was better； whatever might be the result； to
convoke another chamber； and that the Emperor should not recognize the
members of the one he had dismissed。 His Majesty thought otherwise； and
gave the deputies a farewell audience。 They came to the Tuileries； and
there his only too just resentment found vent in these words：
〃I have suppressed your address； as it was incendiary。 Eleven…twelfths
of the Corps Legislatif are composed of good citizens whom I know and for
whom I have much regard； the other twelfth is composed of seditious
persons who are devoted to England。 Your Commission and its chairman；
M。 Laine； are of this number。 He corresponds with the Prince Regent；
through the lawyer Deseze。 I know it； and have proof of it。 The other
four are of the same faction。 If there are abuses to be remedied； is
this a time for remonstrances； when two hundred thousand Cossacks are
crossing our frontiers？ Is this the moment to dispute as to individual
liberty and safety； when the question is the preservation of political
liberty and national independence？ The enemy must be resisted； you must
follow the example of the Alsatians； Vosges； and inhabitants of Franche…
Comte； who wish to march against them； and have applied to me…for arms。
You endeavor in your address to separate the sovereign from the nation。
It is I who here represent the people； who have given me four million of
their suffrages。 If I believed you I should cede to the enemy more than
he demands。 You shall have peace in three months or I shall perish。
Your address was an insult to me and to the Corps Legislatif。〃
Although the journals were forbidden to repeat the details of this scene；
the rumors of it spread through Paris with the rapidity of lightning。
The Emperor's words were repeated and commented on； the dismissed
deputies sounded them through all the departments。 I remember seeing the
prime arch…chancellor next day come to the Emperor and request an
audience； it was in favor of M。 Deseze； whose protector he then was。 In
spite of the threatening words of his Majesty； he found him not disposed
to take severe measures； for his anger had already exhausted itself； as
was always the case with the Emperor when he had abandoned himself to his
first emotions of fury。 However； the fatal misunderstanding between the
Corps Legislatif and the Emperor； caused by the report of the committee
of that body； produced the most grievous effects； and it is easy to
conceive how much the enemy must have rejoiced over this； as they never
failed to be promptly informed by the numerous agents whom they employed
in France。 It was under these sad circumstances that the year 1813
closed。 We will see in future what were the consequences of it； and in
fact the history； until now unwritten； of the Emperor's inner life at
Fontainebleau； that is to say； of the most painful period of my life。
CHAPTER； XXI。
In order to neutra