Soon after his arrival the Emperor adopted every measure to render himself dear to his people, going frequently out unattended, and mingling in conversation with the labouring classes. "One day in particular," says Las Cases, in his Journal, "Bonaparte was in the suburb of St. Anthony, surrounded by an immense concourse, when one of the mob, standing forth as the organ of the rest, interrogated Napoleon in the following manner :-' Is it true, Sire, according to report, that affairs wear so bad an aspect? To which the Emperor replied: I cannot say they go on well.'' But how will all this terminate?' Upon my honour, God only knows.'- How so, Sire: is it possible your enemies can enter France?' That may very likely come to pass, and even present themselves here in case I am unassisted; I do not possess a million arms; I cannot of myself accomplish every thing.' But we will support you,' answered a multitude of voices. Then, indeed, I shall know how to conquer my adversaries again; and preserve all our glory. But what is it requisite we should do?" • Enrol yourselves and fight.'* We are willing,' said an

formerly written, it contained some expressions of an offensive nature, in no way relating to political affairs: on that account, what was merely personal we have omitted:

"MY BROTHER,

"Paris, January the 16th, 1813.

"I received your letter of the 1st of January, and observe with pleasure the sentiments by which you are animated. I have already made known to you that your duties to me, your country, and your offspring, demand your return to France. Your children are growing up, and stand in need of their father. Return, then, without further delay, and I will receive you, not as a brother whom you have offended, but a father who brought you up. As to the ideas you have formed of the state of my affairs, they are false. I have a million of men on foot and two hundred millions in my coffers, to maintain the integrity of the territory of the confederation and of my allies, and ensure success to the project I have formed for the happiness of my people. Holland is for ever French: it is an emanation from our territory: the outlet of our rivers: it can be happy only with France, and is fully sensible of that. By remaining in France, you do not abandon Holland; but if you mean by separating from that country the renouncing its government, it is you yourself who have quitted it by abdicating, &c.

After the Russian campaign, Napoleon made a law that the National Guard should march to the frontiers, in order to defend them from invasion, which measure, being deemed necessary, was willingly submitted to. Under that impression, one hundred thousand National

other; but wish to stipulate certain conditions.' Well; speak-what are they? We wish to make the frontiers our boundary.' You shall not pass them.''We want to be stationed among your guard,' said a third. Be it so; enlist then for my guards!' The acclamations then became universal; registers were forthwith opened and upwards of two thousand men were enrolled during that day. The Emperor then bent his course towards the Tuileries, and, during his progress, the crowd became so great as almost to prevent the horse* he rode from proceeding: the air resounded with acclamations, and, on gaining the Place Carrousel, the whole wore so much the appearance of a popular insurrection that the guardians of the palace immediately hastened to close the gates of the imperial dwelling."

Napoleon also presented himself at the manufactories

Guards set forward from different points to the Rhine, where they found the regular army. In two days, however, an order arrived for the whole mass to march, so that the National Guard had no other alternative but to proceed to battle, or be cut to pieces, by the regulars, in case of refusal of that corps upwards of seventy thousand perished during the campaign.

*An old driver of diligences, named Gerke, who occupied a farm called Bonaforte, a short distance from Munden, in Hanover, possessed a remarkable horse, which attracted public attention. In 1812, when the French army returned from Russia, a favourite young mare, which Napoleon constantly rode, having been a present to him from the King of Persia, was brought to Bonaforte. The officers of the stables, in the rapidity of their march, left the mare behind, with Gerke, where she remained for eight years, and was considered the most beautiful Arabian ever seen. Its mane descended to the ground, and the animal was particularly distinguished for strength and agility. Gerke had been offered thirty-four thousand crowns for her, but refused to take less than thirty-eight thousand.

Napoleon was of opinion that there existed a link between animals and the Deity, and that man is merely a more perfect creature than the rest.

"A horse," said he, "has memory, knowledge, and love. It knows its master from the servants, though the latter are more constantly with it. I had a horse myself that knew me from any other person; and manifested, by capering and proudly marching with its head erect, when I was upon its back, (being a proof of instinctive knowledge,) that it bore a person superior to those by whom it was surrounded. Neither would it allow any other individual to mount its back, except one groom, who constantly attended it, yet, when rode by that man, its motions were far different, seeming to imply consciousness of bearing an inferior. When I lost my way I was accustomed to throw the reins on the animal's neck, and it always discovered places when I, with all my observation and boasted superior knowledge, could not.”

and public institutions without any escort but an aide-decamp, distributing presents in all directions, and holding conversations with the artizans respecting their various avocations, &c. On some occasions, questions were put to the Emperor respecting the probability of peace, to which he made answer, "That it constituted the dearest wish of his heart; that France had acquired sufficient glory by her arms; and that he only desired to enter upon one more campaign in order to establish the tranquillity of Europe on a solid basis." It is affirmed that Madame de Montesquieu, to whom the care of the young King of Rome had been confided, sought to instil into his infant mind those principles of piety for which she was famed, and for that purpose taught the child to pray night and morning. After the unfortunate campaign of Russia, she had, therefore, added the following ejaculation to the infant's prayers: -"My God, I supplicate thee to inspire my father with the wish to ratify a peace for the felicity of France and all of us." The Emperor happening on one occasion to be in the chamber of his son at the hour of prayer, Madame de Montesquieu did not think fit to leave out the additional supplication, which Napoleon listened to with complacency without making any remark whatsoever.*

In the mean time, preparations for war were followed up, by the government, with the greatest possible energy, for, in the month of January, 1813, the Senatus Consultum decreed a levy of 250,000 men by the conscription. The affairs of the church were also attended to, and a concor dat ratified, at Fontainbleau, between the Emperor and Pius VII. whereby it was stipulated that His Holiness should exert the functions of the pontificate in France and the kingdom of Italy in the same manner as had been done by his predecessors. In return for those advantages, the Pontiff promised to confer the canonical institution to such ecclesiastics as bad, subsequent to the rupture of the Holy See with the cabinet of the Tuileries, been appointed to bishoprics by Napoleon. The government also decreed the form of a regency in France during the

When any one came to ask a favour of Napoleon, he was dis pleased if the person betrayed meanness of address. If the petitioner seemed conscious of inferiority, or so overpowered by his august presence, as to be unable to make his request with firmness, the Emperor would say: "What are you afraid of, my friend? I am no more than yourself; I am but a man.”

minority of the young King of Rome, in case of the Emperor's dissolution. In the middle of February, Napoleon, in person, opened the sittings of the legislative body, when he delivered a speech expressive of his desire to ratify peace; at the same time intimating that, in spite of reverses, he would never consent to any treaty unless upon a basis that should secure the honour and independence of the French nation. Soon after, a fresh levy of 180,000 men was decreed by the imperial government, while thirty-seven Urbanian cohorts were ordered to be raised for the protection of all maritime places. With so much activity were preparations carried on in the several manufactories, that the production of war-implements appeared almost incredible. New arms of every description seemed to be produced as from the forges of Vulcan. Immense magazines of provisions, forage, and supplies of every description were collected in the numerous depôts, while recruits sprang up as if by magic, to complete the various corps which had been nearly annihilated by the climate of Russia, those levies being successively passed in review by the Emperor, when they marched off to their several destinations.

At the period in question, the German allies of France did not demonstrate any appearance of a change in their amicable intentions. Napoleon, however, began to entertain doubts respecting the good faith of the Emperor of Austria, and communicated his ideas on that head to the Duke of Bassano, minister for foreign affairs. The latter, notwithstanding the acuteness of mind he possessed, was by no means a fit object to fill the post allotted him, having, at a former period, been deceived by the chicanery of the hostile cabinet of Russia, neither was he more fortunate on the present occasion. On being questioned, by the Emperor, respecting the views of Austria, he gave him positive assurances that the latter power entertained the most pacific intentions as regarded France; so that, whether owing to over credulity, or deceived by Austria, he felt such a thorough conviction on that head as even to dispel from the mind of his master the suspicions he had entertained respecting his father-in-law. Maria-Louisa, who dreaded the idea of a rupture of that union which bad existed from the period of her marriage with Napoleon, felt gratified with her husband for the confidence manifested by him in the loyalty of her parent. The Empress,

who had previously felt no predilection for the Duchess of Bassano, from that moment changed her conduct, and became prodigal of her attentions, taking every opportunity of displaying her munificence towards that lady. All the courtiers were astonished on witnessing the favours showered on the Duchess of Bassano; and the close friendship which so suddenly took place was attributed to her intimacy with the Duchess of Montebello, but the real cause was as above stated.

At length, on the 15th of April, 1813, the Emperor left his capital for the north of Germany, in order to take the command of the army, having, previous to his departure, appointed the Empress Regent of the French empire, and his brother Joseph president of the regency council. He was accompanied to Metz by Maria-Louisa, at which period, the grand French army consisted of twelve corps, the imperial guard, and the staff, which were constituted as follow:-

Staff of the Grand Army.

COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF-The Sovereign in Person; His Imperial and Royal Majesty Napoleon, Emperor, &c. SECOND IN COMMAND-H. S. H. Eugene Beauharnois, Viceroy of Italy.

CHIEF OF THE STAFF-General Berthier, Prince of
Neufchatel and Wagram, Vice-Constable of France.
The twelve corps and the imperial guard were com-
manded as follow:-

1st Corps, Marshal Davoust, Prince of Ecmuhl.
2d Corps, Marshal Victor, Duke of Belluno.
3d Corps, Marshal Ney, Prince of Moskwa.
4th Corps, General Count Bertrand.

5th Corps, General Lauriston.

6th Corps, Marshal Marmont, Duke of Ragusa.
7th Corps, General Count Regnier.

8th Corps, Marshal Junot, Duke of Abrantes.

9th Corps, General Count Sebastiani.

10th Corps, Marshal Augereau, Duke of Castiglione. 11th Corps, Marshal Macdonald, Duke of Tarentum. 12th Corps, Marshal Oudinot, Duke of Reggio.

Imperial guards, Marshal Bessieres, Duke of Istria. The general position of the army, on April 18, 1813, was-Head-quarters at Metz, the several corps being distributed on the line of the Saale, or advancing by the high-road between Metz and Dresden.