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since they will be under your faithful protection。 I leave with you
what is dearest to me in the world； next to France； and I freely
commit it to your care。
It may occur that in consequence of the maneuvers I am about to
make； the enemy may find the opportunity of approaching your walls。
If this should take place； remember that it will be an affair of
only a few days； and I will soon come to your assistance。 I
recommend to you to preserve unity among yourselves； and to resist
all the insinuations by which efforts will be made to divide you。
There will not be wanting endeavors to shake your fidelity to duty；
but I rely upon you to repel these perfidious attempts。〃
At the end of this discourse； the Emperor bent his looks on the Empress
and the King of Rome； whom his august mother held in her arms； and
presenting both by his looks and gestures to the assembly this child
whose expressive countenance seemed to reflect the solemnity of the
occasion； he added in an agitated voice； 〃I confide him to you；
Messieurs； I confide him to the love of my faithful city of Paris！〃 At
these words of his Majesty innumerable shouts were heard； and innumerable
arms were raised swearing to defend this priceless trust。 The Empress；
bathed in tears and pale with the emotion by which she was agitated；
would have fallen if the Emperor had not supported her in his arms。 At
this sight the enthusiasm reached its height； tears flowed from all eyes；
and there was not one present who did not seem willing as he retired to
shed his blood for the Imperial family。 On this occasion I again saw for
the first time M。 de Bourrienne at the palace； he wore； if I am not
mistaken； the uniform of captain in the National Guard。
On the 25th of January the Emperor set out for the army； after conferring
the regency on her Majesty the Empress； and that night we reached
Chalons…sur…Marne。 His arrival stopped the progress of the enemy's army
and the retreat of our troops。 Two days after he； in his turn； attacked
the allies at Saint…Dizier。 His Majesty's entrance into this town was
marked by most touching manifestations of enthusiasm and devotion。 The
very moment the Emperor alighted； a former colonel； M。 Bouland； an old
man more than seventy years old； threw himself at his Majesty's feet；
expressing to him the deep grief which the sight of foreign bayonets had
caused him； and his confidence that the Emperor would drive them from the
soil of France。 His Majesty assisted the old veteran to rise； and said
to him cheerfully that he would spare nothing to accomplish such a
favorable prediction。 The allies conducted themselves in the most
inhuman manner at Saint…Dizier： women and old men died or were made ill
under the cruel treatment which they received； and it may be imagined
what a cause of rejoicing his Majesty's arrival was to the country。
The enemy having been repulsed at Saint…Dizier； the Emperor learned that
the army of Silesia was being concentrated on Brienne； and immediately
set out on the march through the forest of Deo； the brave soldiers who
followed him appearing as indefatigable as he。 He halted at the village
of Eclaron； where his Majesty paid a certain sum to the inhabitants to
repair their church； which the enemy had destroyed。 The surgeon of this
town advanced to thank the Emperor； and his Majesty examining him
attentively said to him； 〃You have served in the army； Monsieur？〃〃Yes；
Sire； I was in the army of Egypt。〃〃Why have you no cross？〃〃Sire；
because I have never asked for it。〃〃Monsieur； you are only the more
worthy of it。 I hope you will wear the one I shall give you。〃 And in a
few moments his certificate was signed by the Emperor； and handed to the
new chevalier； whom the Emperor recommended to give the most careful
attention to the sick and wounded of our army who might be committed to
his care。
＇It is known that the Emperor was not lavish in the distribution
of the Cross of Honor。 Of this fact I here give an additional
proof。 He was much pleased with the services of M。 Veyrat；
inspector general of police； and he desired the Cross。 I presented
petitions to this effect to his Majesty； who said to me one day；
〃I am well satisfied with Veyrat。 He serves me well； and I will
give him as much money as he wishes； but the Cross； never！〃
CONSTANT。＇
On entering Mezieres his Majesty was received by the authorities of the
city； the clergy； and the National Guard。 〃Messieurs；〃 said the Emperor
to the National Guard who pressed around him； 〃we fight to day for our
firesides； let us defend them in such a manner that the Cossacks may not
come to warm themselves beside them。 They are bad guests； who will leave
no place for you。 Let us show them that every Frenchman is born a
soldier； and a brave one！〃 His Majesty on receiving the homage of the
curate； perceiving that this ecclesiastic regarded him with extreme
interest and agitation； consequently considered the good priest more
attentively； and soon recognized in him one of the former regents of the
college of Brienne。 〃What！ is it you； my dear master？〃 cried the
Emperor。 〃You have； then； never left your retirement！ So much the
better； since for that reason you will be only the better able to serve
the cause of your native land。 I need not ask if you know the country
around here。〃〃Sire；〃 replied the curate； 〃I could find my way with my
eyes shut。〃〃Come with us； then； you will be our guide； and we will
converse。〃 The worthy priest immediately saddled his well…broken horse；
and placed himself in the center of the Imperial staff。
The same day we arrived before Brienne。 The Emperor's march had been so
secret and so rapid that the Prussians had heard nothing of it until he
suddenly appeared before their eyes。 A few general officers were made
prisoners； and Blucher himself； who was quietly coming out of the
chateau； had only time to turn and fly as quickly as he could； under a
shower of balls from our advance guard。 The Emperor thought for a moment
that the Prussian general had been taken； and exclaimed； 〃We have got
that old swash…buckler。 Now the campaign will not be long。〃 The
Russians who were established in the village set it on fire； and an
engagement took place in the midst of the flames。 Night arrived； but the
combat still continued； and in the space of twelve hours the village was
taken and retaken many times。 The Emperor was furious that Blucher
should have escaped。 As he returned to headquarters； which had been
established at Mezieres； his Majesty narrowly escaped being pierced
through with the lance of a Cossack； but before the Emperor perceived the
movement of the wretch； the brave Colonel Gourgaud； who was marching
behind his Majesty； shot the Cossack dead with his pistol。
The Emperor had with him only fifteen thousand men； and they had waged an
equal struggle with eighty thousand foreign soldiers。 At the close of
the combat the Prussians retreated to Bar…sur…Aube； and his Majesty
established himself in the chateau of Brienne； where he passed two
nights。 I recalled during t