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Majesty pronounced the following discourse：
〃Senators； Councilors of State； Deputies from the Departments to the
Corps Legislatif：
Brilliant victories have made the French arms illustrious in this
campaign； but unexampled defections have rendered these victories
useless。 Everything has turned against us。 Even France would be
in danger were it not for the energy and union of the French people。
Under these momentous circumstances my first thought was to summon
you。 My heart felt the need of the presence and affection of my
subjects。
I have never been seduced by prosperity； adversity will find me
above the reach of its attacks。 I have many times given peace to
nations； even when they had lost all。 On a part of my conquests I
have erected thrones for kings who have now abandoned me。
I have conceived and executed great plans for the happiness of the
world。 Both as a monarch and a father I feel that peace adds to the
security of thrones and of families。 Negotiations have been entered
into with the Confederated Powers。 I have adhered to the
fundamental principles which they have presented。 I then hoped
that； before the opening of this session； the Congress of Mannheim
would have assembled； but renewed delays； which cannot be attributed
to France； have deferred this moment； which the whole world so
eagerly desires。
I have ordered that all the original articles contained in the
portfolio of Foreign Affairs should be submitted to you。 You will
be informed of them through a committee。 The spokesmen of my
Council will inform you of my wishes on this subject。
Nothing has been interposed on my part to the re…establishment of
peace； I know and share the sentiments of the French people。 I
repeat； of the French people； since there are none among them who
desire peace at the expense of honor。 It is with regret that I
demand of this generous people new sacrifices； but they are
necessary for their noblest and dearest interests。 I have been
compelled to re…enforce my armies by numerous levies； for nations
treat with security only when they display all their strength。 An
increase of receipts has become indispensable。 The propositions
which my minister of finance will submit to you are in conformity
with the system of finance I have established。 We will meet all
demands without borrowing； which uses up the resources of the
future； and without paper money； which is the greatest enemy of
social order。
I am well satisfied with the sentiments manifested towards me under
these circumstances by my people of Italy。
Denmark； and Naples alone remain faithful to their alliance。 The
Republic of the United States of America successfully continues its
war with England。 I have recognized the neutrality of the nineteen
Swiss cantons。
Senators； Councillors of State； Deputies of the Departments in the
Corps Legislatif：
You are the natural organs of the throne。 It is your province to
display an energy which will hold our country up to the admiration
of all future generations。 Let it not be said of us： 'They
sacrificed the first interests of their country； they submitted to
the control which England has sought in vain for four centuries to
impose on France。'
My people need not fear that the policy of their Emperor will ever
betray the glory of the nation； and on my part I have the conviction
that the French people will ever prove worthy of themselves and of
me。〃
This address was received with unanimous shouts of 〃Vive l'Empereur； 〃
and； when his Majesty returned to the。 Tuileries； he had an air of
intense satisfaction； although he had a slight headache； which
disappeared after half an hour's repose。 In the evening it was entirely
gone； and the Emperor questioned me on what I had heard people say。 I
told； him truthfully that the persons of my acquaintance unanimously
agreed that the desire for peace was universal。 〃Peace； peace！〃 said
the Emperor； 〃who can desire it more than I？ Go； my son； go。〃 I
withdrew； and his Majesty went to the Empress。
It was about this time； I do not remember the exact day； that the Emperor
gave a decision on a matter in which I had interested myself with him；
and I affirm that it will be seen from this decision what a profound
respect his Majesty had for the rights of a legitimate marriage； and his
excessive antipathy to divorced persons。 But； in order to support this
assertion； I will give an anecdote which recurs to my memory at this
moment。
During the Russian campaign General Dupont…Derval was slain on the
battlefield； fighting valiantly。 His widow； after his Majesty's return
to Paris； had often； but always in vain； endeavored to present a petition
to his Majesty describing her unfortunate condition。 At length some one
advised her to secure my services； and； touched by her unhappiness； I
presented her demand to the Emperor。 His Majesty but rarely refused my
solicitations of this kind； as I conducted them with the utmost
discretion； and consequently I was fortunate enough to obtain for Madame
Dupont…Derval a very considerable pension。 I do not remember how the
Emperor discovered that General Dupont…Derval had been divorced； and had
left a daughter by a former marriage； who； as well as her mother； was
still living。 He learned besides that General Dupont…Derval's second
wife was the widow of a general officer by whom she had two daughters。
None of these circumstances； as may be imagined； had been cited in the
petition； but； when they came to the Emperor's knowledge； he did not
withdraw the pension； for which the order had not yet been given； but
simply changed its destination； and gave it to the first wife ofGeneral
Dupont…Derval； making it revertible to her daughter； though she was
sufficiently wealthy not to need it； and the other Madame Dupont…Derval
was in actual need。 Meanwhile； as one is always pleased to be the bearer
of good tidings； I had lost no time in informing my petitioner of the
Emperor's favorable decision。 When she learned what had taken place； of
which I was still in entire ignorance； she returned to me； and from what
she said I imagined she was the victim of some mistake。 In this belief I
took the liberty of again speaking to his Majesty on the subject； and my
astonishment may be imagined when his Majesty himself condescended to
relate to me the whole affair。 Then he added： 〃My poor child； you have
allowed yourself to be taken for a simpleton。 I promised a pension； and
I gave it to the wife of General Derval； that is to say； to his real
wife； the mother of his daughter。〃 The Emperor was not at all angry with
me。 I know very well that the matter would not have been permitted to
continue thus without my interesting myself further in it； but events
followed each other in rapid succession until the abdication of his
Majesty； and the affair finally remained as thus settled。
CHAPTER XX。
It was not only by force of arms that the enemies of France endeavored at
the end of 1813 to overthrow the power of the Emperor。 In spite of our
defeats the Emperor's name still inspired a salutary terror； and it was
apparent that although so numerous； the foreigners still despaired of
victory as long as there existed a common accord between the Emperor and
the French people。 We have seen in the preceding chapter in what
language he expressed himself to the great united bodies of the state；
and events have proved whether his Majesty concealed the truth from the
representatives of the nation as to the real condition of France。 To
this discourse which history has recorded； I may be allowed to oppose
here another made at the same period。 This is the famous declaration of
Frankfort； copies of which the enemies of the Emperor caused to be
circulated in Paris； and I would not dare to wager that persons of his
court； while performing their duties near him； did not have a copy in
their pockets。 If there still remains any doubt as to which party was
acting in good faith； the reading of what follows is sufficient to dispel
these； for there is no question here of political considerations； but
simply the comparison of solemn promises with the actions which
succeeded。
〃The French government has just ordered a new levy of three hundred
thousand men； the proclamations of the senate contain a challenge to
the allied powers。 They find themselves called on again to
promulgate to the world the views by which they are guided in this
present war； the principles which form the basis of their conduct；
their wishes； and their intentions。 The allied powers are not
making war on France； but on the openly admitted preponderance
which； to the great misfortune of Europe and France； the Emperor
Napoleon has too long maintained outside the limits of his Empire。
Victory has brought the allied armies to the Rhine。 The first use