Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte

tion of the Allies wi

in the limits to be o

from Paris-Napoleon in

abdication-Macdonald

t of Napoleon to poi

donald and Napoleon-T

of unconditional abdi

nge of Government-Uk

Post-office-Religious

the Comte d'Artois-Hi

of Austria-Singular a

he Emperor of Austri

mperor Alexander-Her

l parts, and that if the army had formed contrary wishes those should have been sooner made known. "Sire," observed Macdonald, "that-was-impossible, as none of the Marshals were in Paris, and besides, who could foresee the turn which affairs have taken? Could we imagine that an unfounded alarm would have removed from Essonne the corps of the Duke of Ragusa, who has this moment left us to bring his troops back to order?" These words produced no change in the determination of the sovereigns, who would hear of nothing but the unconditional abdication of Napoleon. Before the Marshals took leave of the Emperor Alexander they solicited an armistice of forty-eight hours, which time they said was indispensable to negotiate the act of abdication with Napoleon. This request was granted without hesitation, and the Emperor Alexander, showing Macdonald a map of the environs of Paris, courteously

in my States he shall be well received, though he brought desolation there. I shall always remember the friendship which united us. He shall have the island of Elba, or something else." After taking leave of the Emperor Alexander, on the 5th of April, Napoleon's Commissioners returned to Fontainebleau to render an account of their missi

his officers, and even among the private soldiers, who had evinced such enthusiasm when he inspected them on the 2d of April. He was

but in more gentle terms than those employed by Ney, who was but little versed in the courtesies of speech. When Marshal Macdonald had finished speaking Napoleon said with some emotion, "Marshal, I am sensible of all that you have done for me, and of the warmth with which you have pleaded the cause of my son. They wish for my complete and unconditional abdication. . . . Very well. I again empower you to act on my behalf. You shall go and defend my interests and those of my family." Then, after a moment's pause, he added,

Macdonald, he was one of those generous spirits who may be most confidently relied on by those who have wronged them. Napoleon experienced the truth of this. Macdonald returned alone to Fontainebleau, and when he entered the Emperor's chamber he found him seated in a small armchair before the fireplace. He was dressed in a morning-gown of white dimity, and he wore his slippers without stockings. His elbows rested on his knees and his head was supported by his hands. He was motionless, and seemed absorbed in profound reflection. Only two persons were in the apartment, the Duke of Bassano; who was at a little distance from the Emperor, and C

as I would wish, let a token of remembrance, inconsiderable though it be, assure you that I shall ever bear in mind the services you have rendered me." Then turning to Caulaincourt Napoleon said, "Vicenza, ask for the sabre which was given me by Murad Bey in Egypt, and which I wore at the battle of Mount Thabor." Constant having brought the sabre, the Emperor took it from the hands of Caulaincourt and presented it to the Marshal "Here, my faithful friend," said he, "is a reward which I believe will gratify you." Macdona

oleon signed, on the 11th of April, at Fontainebleau, h

ng proclaimed that the

re-establishment of

hful to his oath, decl

irs the thrones of Fra

acrifice, even that of

for the intere

ct that Marshal Macdonald sent to the Provisional Government his re

y allegiance by the ab

at I conform to the ac

nal Gove

the title of Lieutenant-General of the Kingdom conferred on him by Louis XVIII. The 12th of April was also the day on which the Imperial army fought its last battle before Toulouse, w

discipline maintained by the commanders of the Allied armies, and thanks also to the services of the National Guard of Paris, who every

. On my application to the Emperor Alexander his Majesty immediately issued a ukase, severely prohibiting the seizure of horses or anything belonging to the Post-office department. The ukase was printed by order of the Czar, and filed u

the morning till near twelve the pageant commenced by the arrival of half a dozen Greek priests, with long beards, and as richly dressed as the high priests who figure in the processions of the opera. About three-quarters of an hour after this first scene the infantry, followed by the cavalry, entered the place, which, in a few moments was entirely covered with military. The Allied sovereigns at length appeared, attended by brilliant staffs. They alighted from their horses and advanced to the altar. What appeared to me most remarkable was the profound silence of the vast multitude during the performance of the mass. The whole spec

he Abby de Montesquieu wrote to the Prince a letter, which was carried to him by Viscount Sosthenes de la Rochefoucauld, one of the individuals who, in these difficult circumstances, most zealously served the cause of the Bourbons. On the afternoon of the 11th Monsieur arrived at a country-house belonging to Madame Charles de Dames, where he passed the night. The

he prefect of the Seine, went in procession beyond the barrier to receive Monsieur. M. de Talleyrand, in the name of the Provisional Government, addre

er really uttered by t

llow the manufacture o

yrand was, "Sir, and g

get on; I am too happ

" said Talleyrand; "wh

seemed much moved, and

d say will not suit y

nd I can answer that M

that by the end of a

nd he will have made

ed attempts, rejected

more divisions. Peac

nothing in her is cha

" At last the great cr

hat is really Monsieu

e is the man who made

t in his replies, and

tely realised (Beugno

the order, and who wept for joy at again seeing one of the Bourbons. The procession soon arrived, preceded by a band playing the air, "Vive Henri Quatre!" I had never before seen Monsieur, and his appearance had a most pleasing effect upon me. His open countenance bo

at it was not without painful surprise I saw a squadron of Cossacks close the procession; and my surprise was the greater when I learned from General Sacken that the Emperor Alexander had wished that on that day the one Frenchman more should be surrounded only by Frenchmen, and that to prove that

ria's behaviour to Maria Louisa: they would have wished that, for the honour of Francis II., he had unsuccessfully opposed the downfall of the dynasty, whose alliance he considered as a safeguard in 1809. This was the opinion which the mass of the people instinctively formed, for they judged of the Emperor of Austria in his character of a father and not in his character of a monarch; and as the rights of

onstantly assured the persons about her that she could rely on her father. The following words, which were faithfully reported to me, were addressed by her to an officer who was at Blois during the mission of M. de Champagny. "Even though it should be the intention of the Allied sovereigns to dethrone the Emperor Napoleon, my father wil

d sovereigns of France, and those who had come to resume the sceptre, all crowded together within a circle of fifteen leagues round the capital. There was a Bourbon at the Tuileries, Bona

might have attended such a farewell, or otherwise he would no doubt have made a parting interview with Maria Louisa one of the clauses of the treaty of Paris and Fontainebleau, and of his definitive act of abdication. I was informed at the time that the reason which prevented

went to see his daughter at Rambouillet. I recollect it was thought extraordinary at the time that the Emperor Alexander should accompany him on this v

. 112), then with Mar

of her interview with

s nothing about the Cz

n sure to have remarke

t Alexander visited h

the 22d; but Bourrie

omplained bitterly

ered that she was for

ing of Rome, then onl

the monarchs. He wa

ng that he was not h

Meneval, to have bee

leon (Meneval, tome

8d of April stopped

ather and Berthier, a

ame from Paris for th

for Vienna, and later

treaty of 1814 and 18

bear on her, became e

d her chamberlain, th

an gen

ormed his daughter that the Russian monarch wished to see her. At first Maria Louisa decidedly refused to receive him, and she persisted for some time in this resolution. She said to her father, "Would he too make me a prisoner before your eyes? If he enters here by force I will retire to my chamber. There, I presume, he will not dare to follow me while you are here." But there was no time to be lost; Francis II. heard the equipage of the Emperor of Russia rolling through the courtyard of Rambouillet, and his entreaties to his daughter became more and more urgent

his visit Alexander

e, Josephine. In this

the unfortunate Jos

ccount of the husband

e of the first things

is was to despatch a g

e palace at Malmaison.

th delicacy an

or Alexander knew tha

on he hastened to pay

iable than he was to h

ke of the occupation o

of the Emperor Napol

nguage: he never forg

before one who had

her side the ex-Empre

e lively affection sh

ander had certainly

aracter, which would

f insulting misfortun

o him, and that was

llowed by those of the

a and the Princes,

r court to Josephine;

ison; but the Emperor

Hortense was always wi

ns, and assisted her

ious strangers exceedi

a charming residence.

fine gardens and

ver, Josephine's healt

e Napoleon's return fr

o not know what is the

elancholy enough to ki

retained all her amia

and resources of a dra

death was a bad cold

Malmaison on a damp c

e 26th of May, in the

almed, and on the six

n the church of Ruel,

re magnificent, but a

as to be found in the

, the neighbouring poo

ave. In 1826 a beautif

ugène Beauharnais and

inscr

OSEP

E. HO