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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 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；
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