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Fontainebleau； that is to say； of the most painful period of my life。
CHAPTER； XXI。
In order to neutralize the effects which might be produced in the
provinces by the reports of the members of the Corps Legislatif and the
correspondence of the alarmists； his Majesty appointed from the members
of the conservative senate a certain number of commissioners whom he
charged to visit the departments and restore public confidence。 This was
a most salutary measure； and one which circumstances imperiously
demanded； for discouragement began to be felt among the masses of the
population； and as is well known in such cases the presence of superior
authority restores confidence to those who are only timid。 Nevertheless；
the enemy were advancing at several points； and had already pressed the
soil of Old France。 When this news reached the Emperor； it afflicted him
deeply without overcoming him。 At times； however； his indignation broke
forth； above all； when he learned from the reports that French emigrants
had entered the enemy's ranks； whom he stigmatized by the name of
traitors； infamous and wretched creatures； unworthy of pity。 I remember
that on the occasion of the capture of Huningen he thus characterized a
certain M。 de Montjoie； who was now serving in the Bavarian army after
taking a German name； which I have forgotten。 The Emperor added；
however： 〃At least； he has had the modesty not to keep his French name。〃
In general easy to conciliate on nearly all points； the Emperor was
pitiless towards all those who bore arms against their country； and
innumerable times I have heard him say that there was no greater crime in
his eyes。
In order not to add to the complication of so many conflicting interests
which encountered and ran contrary to each other still more each day； the
Emperor already had the thought of sending Ferdinand VII。 back into
Spain。 I have the certainty that his Majesty had even made some
overtures to him on this subject during his last stay in Paris； but it
was the Spanish prince who objected to this； not ceasing； on the
contrary； to demand the Emperor's protection。 He desired most of all to
become the ally； of his Majesty； and it was well known that in his
letters to his Majesty he urged him incessantly to give him a wife of the
Emperor's selection。 The Emperor had seriously thought of marrying him
to the eldest daughter of King Joseph； which seemed a means of
conciliating at the same time the rights of Prince Joseph and those of
Ferdinand VII。； and King Joseph asked nothing better than to be made a
party to this arrangement； and from the manner in which he had used his
royalty since the commencement of his reign； we may be permitted to think
that his Majesty did not greatly object to this。 Prince Ferdinand had
acquiesced in this alliance； which appeared very agreeable to him； when
suddenly at the end of the year 1813 he demanded time； and the course of
events placed this affair among the number of those which existed only in
intention。 Prince Ferdinand left Valencay at last； but later than the
Emperor had authorized him to do； and for some time his presence had been
only an additional embarrassment。 However； the Emperor had no reason to
complain of his conduct towards him until after the events of
Fontainebleau。
At any rate； in the serious situation of affairs； matters concerning the
Prince of Spain were only an incidental matter； no more important than
the stay of the Pope at Fontainebleau； the great point； the object which
predominated everything； was the defense of the soil of France； which the
first days of January found invaded at many points。 This was the one
thought of his Majesty； which did not prevent him； nevertheless； from
entering according to custom into all the duties of his administration；
and we will soon see the measures he took to re…establish the national
guard of Paris。 I have on this subject certain documents and particulars
which are little known； from a person whose name I am not permitted to
give； but whose position gave him the opportunity of learning all the
intricacies of its formation。 As all these duties still required for
more than a month the presence of his Majesty at Paris； he remained there
until the 25th of January。
But what fatal news he received during those twenty…five days！
First the Emperor learned that the Russians； as unscrupulous as the
Austrians in observing the conditions of a capitulation which are usually
considered sacred； had just trampled under their feet the stipulations
made at Dantzic。 In the name of the Emperor Alexander； the Prince of
Wurtemberg who commanded the siege had acknowledged and guaranteed to
General Rapp and the troops placed under his command the right to return
to France； which agreement was no more respected than had been a few
months before that made with Marshal Saint…Cyr by the Prince of
Schwarzenberg； thus the garrison of Dantzic were made prisoners with the
same bad faith as that of Dresden had been。 This news； which reached him
at almost the same time as that of the surrender of Torgau； distressed
his Majesty so much the more as it contributed to prove to him that these
powerful enemies wished to treat of peace only in name； with a resolution
to retire always before a definite conclusion was reached。
At the same period the news from Lyons was in no wise reassuring。 The
command of this place had been confided to Marshal Augereau； and he was
accused of having lacked the energy necessary to foresee or arrest the
invasion of the south of France。 Further I will not now dwell on this
circumstance； proposing in the following chapter to collect my souvenirs
which relate more especially to the beginning of the campaign in France；
and some circumstances which preceded it。 I limit myself consequently to
recalling； as far as my memory serves； events which occurred during the
last days the Emperor passed in Paris。
From the 4th of January his Majesty； although having lost； as I said a
while since； all hope of inducing the invaders to conclude a peace； which
the whole world so much needed； gave his instructions to the Duke of
Vicenza； and sent him to the headquarters of the allies； but he was
compelled to wait a long time for his passports。 At the same time
special orders were sent to the prefects of departments in the invaded
territory as to the conduct they should pursue under such difficult
circumstances。 Thinking at the same time that it was indispensable to
make an example in order to strengthen the courage of the timid； the
Emperor ordered the creation of a commission of inquiry； charged to
inquire into the conduct of Baron Capelle； prefect of the department of
the Leman at the time of the entrance of the enemy into Geneva。 Finally
a decree mobilized one hundred and twenty battalions of the National
Guard of the Empire； and ordered a levy en masse on all the departments
of the east of all men capable of bearing arms。 Excellent measures
doubtless； but vain！ Destiny was stronger than even the genius of a
great man。
Meanwhile on the 8th of January appeared the decree which called out for
active duty thirty thous