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presented to the Empress； to whom the Emperor had done homage in the
following terms：
MADAME； AND MY VERY DEAR WIFE；
I send。 you twenty banners taken by my army at the battles of
Wachau； Leipzig； and Hanau。 This is an homage it gives me pleasure
to render to you。 I desire that you…will accept it as a mark of my
entire satisfaction with the manner in which you have administered
the regency which I confided to you。〃
Under the Consulate and during the first six years of the Empire；
whenever the Emperor had returned to Paris after a campaign； it was
because that campaign was finished； and the news of a peace concluded in
consequence of a victory had always preceded him。 For a second time he
returned from Mayence under different circumstances。 In this case； as on
the return from Smorghoni； he left the war still in progress； and
returned； not for the purpose of presenting to France the fruit of his
victories； but to demand new subsidies of men and money in order to
repair the defeat and losses sustained by our army。 Notwithstanding this
difference in the result of our wars； the welcome accorded to his Majesty
by the nation was still the same； apparently at least； and the addresses
by the different towns of the interior were not less numerous； nor less
filled with expressions of devotion； and those especially who were the
prey of fears for the future showed themselves even more devoted than all
others； fearing lest their fatal premonitions should be discovered。 For
my own part； it had never occurred to me that the Emperor could finally
succumb in the struggle he was maintaining； for my ideas had never
reached this point； and it is only in reflecting upon it since that I
have been able to comprehend the dangers which threatened him at the
period we had now reached。 He was like a man who had passed the night on
the edge of a precipice； totally unaware of the danger to which he was
exposed until it was revealed by the light of day。 Nevertheless； I may
say that every one was weary of the war； and that all those of my friends
whom I saw on the return from Mayence spoke to me of the need of peace。
Within the palace itself I heard many persons attached to the Emperor say
the same thing when he was not present； though they spoke very
differently in the presence of his Majesty。 When he deigned to
interrogate me； as he frequently did； on what I had heard people say； I
reported to him the exact truth； and when in these confidential toilet
conversations of the Emperor I uttered the word peace； he exclaimed again
and again； 〃Peace ！ Peace！ Ah！ who can desire it more than I？ There
are some； however； who do not desire it； and the more I concede the more
they demand。〃
An extraordinary event which took place the very day of his Majesty's
arrival at Saint…Cloud； when it became known； led to the belief that the
allies had conceived the idea of entering upon new negotiations。 In
fact； it was learned that M。 de Saint…Aignan； his Majesty's minister at
the ducal court of Saxony； had been taken by main force and conducted to
Frankfort； where were then assembled M。 de Metternich； the Prince von
Schwarzenberg； and the ministers of Russia and Prussia。 There overtures
entirely in the interests of peace were made to him on the part of the
allied sovereigns； after which M。 de Saint…Aignan was allowed to return
immediately to the Emperor to inform him of the details of his seizure
and the propositions which had been made to him。 These offers made by
the allies； of which I was not informed； and consequently can say
nothing； seemed to strike the Emperor as worthy of consideration； and
there was soon a general rumor in the palace that a new Congress was to
be assembled at Manheim； that the Duke of Vicenza had been appointed by
his Majesty as minister plenipotentiary； and that in order to give more
dignity to his mission； the portfolio of foreign affairs had been at the
same time committed to him。 I remember that this news revived the hopes
of all； and was most favorably received； for although it was doubtless
the effect of prejudice； no one could be ignorant that the general public
did not see with pleasure the Duke of Bassano in the place to which the
Duke of Vicenza was called to succeed him。 The Duke of Bassano was said
to have acted in accordance with what he believed to be the secret wishes
of the Emperor； and to be averse to peace。 It will be seen later； by an
answer which his Majesty made to me at Fontainebleau； how groundless and
without foundation were these rumors。 It seemed then exceedingly
probable that the enemy really intended to treat for peace； since in
procuring openly by force a French negotiator； they had forestalled any
credit which might accrue to the Emperor from making overtures for peace。
What above all gave great weight to the general belief in the disposition
of Europe towards peace was that not simply a Continental peace was in
question as at Tilsit and Schoenbrunn； but also a general peace； in which
England was to enter as a contracting party； so that in consequence it
was hoped that the gain in the permanence of such peace would offset the
severity of its terms。 But unfortunately this hope； which was indulged
with the joy of anticipation； lasted only a short time； and it was soon
learned that the propositions made to M。 de Saint…Aignan were only a
bait； and an old diplomatic ruse which the foreigners had made use of
simply in order to gain time by deluding the Emperor with vain hopes。
In fact； a month had not passed away； there had not even been time to
complete the preliminary correspondence usual in such cases； when the
Emperor learned of the famous declaration of Frankfort； in which； far
from entering into negotiations with his Majesty； it was attempted to
separate his cause from that of France。 What a mass of intrigues！ Let
one bless with a thankful heart his mediocrity when he compares himself
with men condemned to live amid this labyrinth of high impostures and
honorable hypocrisies！ A sad certainty was obtained that the foreigners
wished a war of extermination； and renewed consternation ensued where
hope had begun to reign； but the genius of his Majesty had not yet
deserted him； and from this time all his efforts were directed towards
the necessity of once again meeting the enemy face to face； no longer in
order to conquer his provinces； but to prevent an invasion of the sacred
soil of his own country。
CHAPTER XVII。
In speaking of the year 1813； an account of the incredible number of
affiliations which took place at this time between secret societies
recently formed in Italy and Germany should not be omitted。 The Emperor
from the time when he was only First Consul； not only did not oppose the
opening of Masonic lodges； but we have every reason to believe secretly
favored them。 He was very sure that nothing originated in these meetings
which could be dangerous to his person or injurious to his government；
since Freemasonry counted among its votaries； and even had as chiefs； the
most distinguished personages of the state。 Moreover； it would have been
impossible in these societies； where a few false brethren had slipped in；
for a dangerous secret； had there been one； to escape the vigilance of
the police。 The Emperor spoke of it sometimes as pure child's play；
suitable to amuse idlers； and I can affirm that he laughed heartily when
told that the archchancellor； in his position as chief of the Grand
Orient； had presided at a Masonic banquet with no less dignity than would
have comported with the presidency of the senate or of the council of
state。 Nevertheless； the Emperor's indifference did not extend to
societies known in Italy under the name of Carbonari； and in Germany
under various titles。 We must admit； in fact； that since the
undertakings of two young Germans initiated in Illuminism； it was natural
that his Majesty should not have seen without anxiety the propagation of
those bonds of virtue in which young fanatics were transformed into
assassins。
I know nothing remarkable in relation to the Carbonari； since no
circumstance connected our affairs with those of Italy。 In regard to the
secret societies of Germany； I remember that during our stay at Dresden I
heard them mentioned with much interest； and not without fears for the
future； by a Saxon magistrate with whom I had the honor of associating
frequently。 He was a man about sixty years of age； who spoke French
well； and united in the highest degree German stolidity with the gravity
natural to age。 In his youth he had lived in France； and part of his
education had been received at the College of Soreze； and I attributed
the friendship which he showed for me to the pleasure he experienced in
conversing about a country the memory of which seemed very dear to him。
I remember perfectly well to…day the profound veneration with which this
excellent man spoke to me of one of his former professors of Soreze； whom
he called Don Ferlus； and I must have had a defective memory indeed had I
forgotten a name which I heard repeated so often。
My Saxon friend was named M。 Gentz； but was n