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without difficulty； those who had already paid their debts to their
country on the battlefield also demanded to be allowed to serve her
again； and to shed for her the last drop of their blood。 Invalided
soldiers begged to resume their service。 Hundreds of these brave
soldiers forgot their sufferings； and covered with honorable wounds went
forth again to confront the enemy。 Alas！ very few of those who then
left the Hotel des Invalides were fortunate enough to return。
Meanwhile the moment of the Emperor's departure approached； but before
setting out he bade a touching adieu to the National Guard； as we shall
see in the next chapter； and confided the regency to the Empress as he
had formerly intrusted it to her during the campaign in Dresden。 Alas
this time it was not necessary to make a long journey before the Emperor
was at the head of his army。
CHAPTER XXII。
We are now about to begin the campaign of miracles； but before relating
the events which I witnessed on this campaign； during which I； so to
speak； never left the Emperor； it is necessary that I here inscribe some
souvenirs which may be considered as a necessary introduction。 It is
well known that the Swiss cantons had solemnly declared to the Emperor
that they would not allow their territory to be violated； and that they
would do everything possible to oppose the passage of the allied armies
who were marching on the frontiers of France by way of the Breisgau。 The
Emperor； in order to stop them on their march； relied upon the
destruction of the bridge of Bale； but this bridge was not destroyed；
and Switzerland； instead of maintaining her promised neutrality； entered
into the coalition against France。 The foreign armies passed the Rhine
at Bale； at Schaffhausen； and at Mannheim。 Capitulations made with the
generals of the confederated troops in regard to the French garrisons of
Dantzic； Dresden； and other strong towns had been； as we have seen；
openly violated。 Thus Marshal Gouvion Saint…Cyr and his army corps had
been； contrary to the stipulations contained in the treaties； surrounded
by superior forces； disarmed； and conducted as prisoners to Austria； and
twenty thousand men； the remains of the garrison of Dantzic； were thus
arrested by order of the Emperor Alexander； and conveyed to the Russian
deserts。 Geneva opened its gates to the enemy in the following January。
Vesoul； Epinal； Nancy； Langres； Dijon； Chalons…sur…Saone； and Bar…sur…
Aube were occupied by the allies。
The Emperor； in proportion as the danger became more pressing； displayed
still more his energy and indefatigable activity。 He urged the
organization of new levies； and in order to pay the most urgent expenses
drew thirty millions from his secret treasury in the vaults of the
pavilion Marsan。 The levies of conscripts were； however； made with
difficulty； for in the course of the year 1813 alone； one million forty
thousand soldiers had been summoned to the field； and France could no
longer sustain such enormous drains。 Meanwhile veterans came from all
parts to be enrolled； and General Carnot offered his services to the
Emperor； who was much touched by this proceeding； and confided to him the
defense of Antwerp。 The zeal and courage with which the general
acquitted himself of this important mission is well known。 Movable
columns and corps of partisans placed themselves under arms in the
departments of the east； and a few rich proprietors levied and organized
companies of volunteers； while select cavalry formed themselves into
corps； the cavaliers of which equipped themselves at their own expense。
In the midst of these preparations the Emperor received news which moved
him deeply；the King of Naples had just joined the enemies of the
French。 On a previous occasion； when his Majesty had seen the Prince
Royal of Sweden； after having been marshal and prince of the Empire；
enter into a coalition against his native country； I heard him break
forth into reproaches and exclamations of indignation； although the King
of Sweden had more than one reason to offer in his own defense； being
alone in the north； and shut in by powerful enemies against whom he was
entirely unable to struggle； even had the interests of his new country
been inseparable from those of France。 By refusing to enter into the
coalition he would have drawn on Sweden the anger of her formidable
neighbors； and with the throne he would have sacrificed and fruitlessly
ruined the nation which had adopted him。 It was not to the Emperor he
owed his elevation。 But King Joachim； on the contrary； owed everything
to the Emperor； for it was he who had given him one of his sisters as a
wife； who had given him a throne； and had treated him as well as； and
even better than； if he had been a brother。 It was consequently the duty
of the King of Naples as well as his interest not to separate his cause
from that of France； for if the Emperor fell； how could the kings of his
own family； whom he had made； hope to stand？ Both King Joseph and Jerome
had well understood this； and also the brave and loyal Prince Eugene； who
supported courageously in Italy the cause of his adopted father。 If the
King of Naples had united with him they could together have marched on
Vienna； and this audacious but at the same time perfectly practicable
movement would have infallibly saved France。
These are some of the reflections I heard the Emperor make in speaking of
the treachery of the King of Naples； though in the first moments；
however； he did not reason so calmly。 His anger was extreme； and with it
was mingled grief and emotions near akin to pity： 〃Murat ！〃 cried he；
〃Murat betray me！ Murat sell himself to the English！ The poor creature！
He imagines that if the allies succeed in overthrowing me they would
leave him the throne on which I have seated him。 Poor fool！ The worst
fate that can befall him is that his treachery should succeed； for he
would have less pity to expect from his new allies than from me。〃
The evening before his departure for the army； the Emperor received the
corps of officers of the National Parisian Guard； and the reception was
held in the great hall of the Tuileries。 This ceremony was sad and
imposing。 His Majesty presented himself before the assembly with her
Majesty the Empress； who held by the hand the King of Rome； aged three
years lacking two months。 Although his speech on this occasion is
doubtless already well known； I repeat it here； as I do not wish that
these beautiful and solemn words of my former master should be wanting in
my Memoirs：
〃GENTLEMEN； Officers of the National Guard；It is with much
pleasure I see you assembled around me。 I leave to…night to place
myself at the head of the army。 On leaving the capital I place with
confidence in your care my wife and my son on whom rests so many
hopes。 I owe you this proof of my confidence； in return for all the
innumerable proofs you have repeatedly given me in the important
events of my life。 I shall depart with my mind free from anxiety；
since they will be under your faithful protection。 I leave with you
what is