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Victory has brought the allied armies to the Rhine。 The first use
their imperial and royal Majesties have made of victory has been to
offer peace to his Majesty the Emperor of the French。 A position
reenforced by the accession of all the sovereigns and princes of
Germany has had no influence on the conditions of this peace； for
these conditions are founded on the independence of the other states
of Europe。 The objects of these powers are just in their aims；
generous and liberal in their application； reassuring to all； and
honorable to each。
The allied sovereigns desire that France should be great； strong；
and happy； since its greatness and power is one of the foundations
of the social edifice。 They desire that France should be happy；
that French commerce should revive； that the arts； those blessings
of peace； should flourish； because a great people are tranquil only
when satisfied。 The powers confirm the French Empire in the
possession of an extent of territory which France has never attained
under her kings； since a generous nation should not be punished
because it has experienced reverses in a bloody and well…contested
struggle in which it has fought with its accustomed bravery。
But the powers themselves also wish to be happy and peaceful。 They
desire a condition of peace which； by a wise partition of force； by
a just equilibrium； may hereafter preserve their people from the
innumerable calamities which have for twenty years overwhelmed
Europe。
The allied powers will not lay down their arms until they have
obtained this grand and beneficent result； the worthy object of all
their efforts。 They will not lay down their arms until the
political condition of Europe is again secure； until immutable
principles have regained their ascendency over new pretensions； and
the sanctity of treaties has finally assured a genuine peace to
Europe。〃
It needs only common sense to ascertain whether the allied powers were
sincere in this declaration； the object of which evidently was to
alienate from the Emperor the affections of his people by holding up his
Majesty before them as an obstacle to peace； and separating his cause
from that of France； and on this point I am glad to support my own
opinion by that of M。 de Bourrienne； whom surely no one will accuse of
partiality for his Majesty。
Several passages of his Memoirs； above all those in which he blames the
Emperor； have pained me； I must confess； but on this occasion he does not
hesitate to admit the insincerity of the allies； which opinion is of much
weight according to my poor judgment。
M。 de Bourrienne was then at Paris under the special surveillance of the
Duke of Rovigo。 I frequently heard this minister mention him to the
Emperor； and always favorably； but the enemies of the former secretary of
the First Consul must have been very powerful； or his Majesty's
prejudices very strong； for M。 de Bourrienne never returned to favor。
The Emperor； who； as I have said； sometimes condescended to converse
familiarly with me； never spoke to me of M。 de Bourrienne； whom I had not
seen since the Emperor had ceased to receive him。 I saw him again for
the first time among the officers of the National Guard； the day these
gentlemen were received at the palace； as we shall see later； and I have
never seen him since； but as we were all much attached to him on account
of his kind consideration for us； he was often the subject of
conversation； and； I may add； of our regrets。 Moreover； I was long
ignorant that at the period of which I am now speaking； his Majesty had
offered him the mission to Switzerland； as I learned this circumstance
only from reading his Memoirs。 I would not conceal； however； that I was
painfully affected by reading this； so greatly would I have desired that
Bourrienne should overcome his resentment against his Majesty； who in the
depths of his heart really loved him。
Whatever was done； it is evident now to all that the object of the
declaration of Frankfort was to cause alienation between the Emperor and
the French people； and subsequent events have shown that this was fully
understood by the Emperor； but unfortunately it was soon seen that the
enemy had partly obtained their object。 Not only in private society
persons could be heard expressing themselves freely in condemnation of
the Emperor； but dissensions openly arose even in the body of the Corps
Legislatif。
After the opening session； the Emperor having rendered a decree that a
commission should be named composed of five senators and five members of
the Corps Legislatif； these two bodies consequently assembled。 This
commission； as has been seen from his Majesty's address； had for its
object the consideration of articles submitted relative to pending
negotiations between France and the allied powers。 Count Regnault de
Saint Jean d'Angely bore the decree to the Corps Legislatif； and
supported it with his usual persuasive eloquence； recalling the victories
of France and the glory of the Emperor； but the ballot elected as members
of the commission five deputies who had the reputation of being more
devoted to the principles of liberty than to the Emperor。 These were M。
Raynouard； Laine； Gallois； Flaugergues； and Maine de Biran。 The Emperor
from the first moment appeared much dissatisfied with this selection； not
imagining； however； that this commission would soon show itself so
entirely hostile。 I remember well that I heard his Majesty say in my
presence to the Prince of Neuchatel； with some exasperation though
without anger； 〃They have appointed five lawyers。〃
Nevertheless； the Emperor did not allow the least symptoms of his
dissatisfaction to be seen； and as soon as he had officially received the
list of commissioners； addressed to the President of the Corps Legislatif
the following letter bearing the date of the 23d of December：
〃MONSIEUR； Duke of Massa； President of the Legislative Corps：
We address you the inclosed letter to make known to you our
intention that you report to…morrow； the 24th instant； at the
residence of our cousin the prince archchancellor of the Empire； in
company with the commission appointed yesterday by the Legislative
Corps in compliance with our decree of the 20th instant； and which
is composed of the following gentlemen： Raynouard； Lain； Galiois；
Flaugergues； and Maine de Biran； for the purpose of considering the
articles relative to the negotiations； and also the declaration of
the confederated powers； which will be communicated by Count
Regnault minister of state； and Count d'Hauterive councilor of state
attached to the department of foreign relations； who will be the
bearer of the aforesaid articles and declaration。
Our intention also is that our cousin aforesaid should preside over
this commission。 With this 〃 etc。
The members of the senate appointed on this commission were M。 de
Fontanel； M。 the Prince of Benevent； M。 de Saint Marsan； M。 de Barbe…
Marbois； and M； de Beurnonville。
With the exception of one of these gentlemen； whose disgrace and
consequent opposition were publicly known； the others were thought to be
sincerely attached to the Emperor； and whatever may have been their
opinions and their subsequent conduct they had done nothing then to
deserve the same distrust from the Emperor as the members of the
committee from the Corps Legislatif。 No active opposition； no signs of
discontent； had been shown by the conservative senate。
At this time the Duke of Rovigo came frequently； or I might rather say
every day； to the Emperor。 His Majesty was much attached to him； and
that alone suffices to prove that he was not afraid to hear the truth；
for since he had been minister； the Duke of Rovigo had never concealed
it； which fact I can affirm； having been frequently an eyewitness。 In
Paris there was nevertheless only unanimous opposition to this minister。
I can； however； cite one anecdote that the Duke of Rovigo has not
included in his Memoirs； and of which I guarantee the authenticity； and
it will be seen from this incident whether or not the minister of police
sought to increase the number of persons who compromised themselves each
day by their gratings against the Emperor。
Among the employees of the treasury was a former receiver of the finances
who led a retired and contented life in this modest employment。 He was a
very enthusiastic man of much intelligence。 His devotion to the Emperor
amounted to a passion； and he never mentioned him without a sort of
idolatry。 This employee was accustomed to pass his evenings with a
circle of friends who met in the Rue de Vivienne。 The regular attendants
of this place； whom the police very naturally had their eyes upon； did
not all hold the same opinion as the person of whom I have just spoken；
and began openly to condemn the acts of government； the opposing party
allowing their discontent to be plainly manifest； and the faithful adorer
of his Majesty became prop