Theywerealmostunknowntothenewgeneration，forgottenbymanyoftheold，andfearedbytheconventionalists;atthattimetheypossessedonlythefrailsupportofthecoteriesoftheFaubourgSt.Germain，andsomeremainsoftheemigration.ButasitiscertainthattheemigrantscouldofferonlyvaindemonstrationsandwishesinsupportoftheoldfamilyofourKings，theydidlittletoassisttherestorationoftheBourbons.
Anotherthingequallycertainis，thattheyalone，bytheirfolliesandabsurdpretensions，broughtaboutthereturnofBonaparteandthesecondexileofLouisXVIII.inthefollowingyear.
Onthe28thofMarchwasconvokedanextraordinaryCouncilofRegency，atwhichMariaLouisapresided.Thequestiondiscussedwas，whethertheEmpressshouldremaininParisorproceedtoBlois.JosephBonapartestronglyurgedherdeparture，becausealetterfromtheEmperorhaddirectedthatincaseofParisbeingthreatenedtheEmpress—RegentandalltheCouncilofRegencyshouldretiretoBlois.TheArch—ChancellorandthemajorityoftheCouncilwereofthesameopinion，butoneofthemostinfluentialmembersoftheCouncilobservedtoJosephthattheletterreferredtohadbeenwrittenundercircumstancesverydifferentfromthosethenexisting，andthatitwasimportanttheEmpressshouldremaininParis，whereshewould，ofcourse，obtainfromtheEmperorherfatherandtheAlliedsovereigns，moreadvantageousconditionsthanifshewerefiftyleaguesfromParis.Theadoptionofthisopinionwouldonlyhaveretardedforafewdaysachangewhichhadbecomeinevitable;
neverthelessitmighthavegivenrisetogreatdifficulties.ItmustbeadmittedthatfortheinterestsofNapoleonitwasthewisestcounselthatcouldbesuggested.However，itwasoverruledbyJoseph’sadvice.
M.deTalleyrand，asamemberoftheCouncilofRegency，alsoreceivedtheordertoquitParisonthe30thofMarch.AtthisperiodIwasathishouseeveryday.WhenIwenttohimthatdayIwastoldhehadstarted.HoweverIwentup，andremainedsometimeinhishotelwithseveralofhisfriendswhohadmetthere.Wesoonsawhimreturn，andformypartIheardwithsatisfactionthattheyhadnotallowedhimtopassthebarriers.Itwassaidthen，andithasbeenrepeatedsince，thatM.deTalleyrandwasnotastrangertothegentleviolenceusedtowardshim.ThesamedayofthisvisittoM.deTalleyrandIalsowenttoseetheDucdeRovigo（Savary），withthefriendlyobjectofgettinghimtoremain，andtoprofitbyhispositiontopreventdisturbances.
Herefusedwithouthesitating，asheonlythoughtoftheEmperor.
Ifoundhimbyhisfireside，wheretherewasalargefile，inwhichhewasburningallthepaperswhichmighthavecompromisedeveryonewhohadservedhisministry（Police）.Icongratulatedhimsincerelyonthisloyaloccupation：firealonecouldpurifythemassoffilthanddenunciationswhichencumberedthepolicearchives.
OnthedepartureoftheEmpressmanypersonsexpectedapopularmovementinfavourofachangeofGovernment，butthecapitalremainedtranquil.
Manyoftheinhabitants，indeed，thoughtofdefence，notforthesakeofpreservingNapoleon’sgovernment，butmerelyfromthatardouroffeelingwhichbelongstoournationalcharacter.StrongindignationwasexcitedbythethoughtofseeingforeignersmastersofParis——acircumstanceofwhichtherehadbeennoexamplesincethereignofCharlesVII.
Meanwhilethecriticalmomentapproached.Onthe29thofMarchMarshalsMarmontandMortierfellbacktodefendtheapproachestoParis.DuringthenightthebarrierswereconsignedtothecareoftheNationalGuard，andnotaforeigner，notevenoneoftheiragents，wasallowedtoenterthecapital.
Atdaybreakonthe30thofMarchthewholepopulationofPariswasawakenedbythereportofcannon，andtheplainofSt.DeniswassooncoveredwithAlliedtroops，whoweredebouchinguponitfromallpoints.
Theheroicvalourofourtroopswasunavailingagainstsuchanumericalsuperiority.ButtheAlliespaiddearlyfortheirentranceintotheFrenchcapital.TheNationalGuard，underthecommandofMarshalMoncey，andthepupilsofthePolytechnicSchooltransformedintoartillerymen，behavedinamannerworthyofveterantroops.TheconductofMarmontonthatdayalonewouldsufficetoimmortalisehim.Thecorpshecommandedwasreducedtobetween7000and8000infantryand800cavalry，withwhom，forthespaceoftwelvehourshemaintainedhisgroundagainstanarmyof55，000men，ofwhomitissaid14，000werekilled，wounded，andtaken.
MarshalMarmontputhimselfsoforwardintheheatofthebattlethatadozenofmenwerekilledbythebayonetathisside，andhishatwasperforatedbyaball.Butwhatwastobedoneagainstoverwhelmingnumbers！
InthisstateofthingstheDukeofRagusamadeknownhissituationtoJosephBonaparte，whoauthorisedhimtonegotiate.
Joseph’sanswerissoimportantinreferencetotheeventswhichsucceededthatIwilltranscribeithere.
IftheDukesofRagusaandTrevisocannolongerholdout，theyareauthorisedtonegotiatewithPrinceSchwartzenbergandtheEmperorofRussia，whoarebeforethem.
TheywillfallbackontheLoire.
（Signed）JOSEPH
Montmartre，30thMarch1814，12oclockItwasnotuntilaconsiderabletimeafterthereceiptofthisformalauthoritythatMarmontandMortierceasedtomakeavigorousresistanceagainsttheAlliedarmy，forthesuspensionofarmswasnotagreeduponuntilfourintheafternoon.ItwasnotwaitedforbyJoseph;ataquarterpasttwelve——thatistosay，immediatelyafterhehadaddressedtoMarmonttheauthorityjustalludedtoJosephrepairedtotheBoisdeBoulognetoregaintheVersaillesroad，andfromthencetoproceedtoRambouillet.TheprecipitateflightofJosephastonishedonlythosewhodidnotknowhim.Iknowforafactthatseveralofficersattachedtohisstaffweremuchdissatisfiedathisalacrityonthisoccasion.
InthesecircumstanceswhatwastobedonebuttosaveParis，whichtherewasnopossibilityofdefendingtwohourslonger.MethinksIstillseeMarmontwhen，ontheeveningofthe30thofMarch，hereturnedfromthefieldofbattletohishotelintheRuedeParadis，whereIwaswaitingforhim，togetherwithabouttwentyotherpersons，amongwhomwereMM.
PerregauaandLafitte.Whenheenteredhewasscarcelyrecognisable：hehadabeardofeightdays’growth;thegreatcoatwhichcoveredhisuniformwasintatters，andhewasblackenedwithpowderfromheadtofoot.Weconsideredwhatwasbesttobedone，andallinsistedonthenecessityofsigningacapitulation.TheMarshalmustrecollectthattheexclamationofeveryoneabouthimwas，"Francemustbesaved."
MM.PerregausandLafittedeliveredtheiropinionsinaverydecidedway，anditwillreadilybeconceivedhowgreatwastheinfluenceoftwomenwhowereattheheadofthefinancialworld.TheyallegedthatthegeneralwishoftheParisians，whichnobodyhadabetteropportunityofknowingthanthemselves，wasdecidedlyaversetoaprotractedconflict，andthatFrancewastiredoftheyokeofBonaparte.Thislastdeclarationgaveawiderrangetothebusinessunderconsideration.
ThequestionwasnolongerconfinedtothecapitulationofParis，butachangeinthegovernmentwasthoughtof，andthenameoftheBourbonswaspronouncedforthefirsttime.Idonotrecollectwhichofusitwaswho，onhearingmentionmadeofthepossiblerecalloftheolddynasty，remarkedhowdifficultitwouldbetobringaboutarestorationwithoutretrogradingtothepast.ButIthinkIamperfectlycorrectinstatingthatM.Lafittesaid，"Gentlemen，weshallhavenothingtofearifwehaveagoodconstitutionwhichwillguaranteetherightsofall."Themajorityofthemeetingconcurredinthiswiseopinion，whichwasnotwithoutitsinfluenceonMarshalMarmont.
Duringthispainfulmeetinganunexpectedincidentoccurred.OneoftheEmperor’saidesdecamparrivedatMarmont’s.Napoleon，beinginformedoftheadvanceoftheAlliesonParis，hadmarchedwiththeutmostspeedfromthebanksoftheMarneontheroadofFontainebleau.IntheeveninghewasinpersonatFroidmanteau，whencehedespatchedhisenvoytoMarshalMarmont.FromthelanguageoftheaidedecampitwaseasytoperceivethatthestateofopinionattheImperialheadquarterswasverydifferentfromthatwhichprevailedamongthepopulationofParis.Theofficerexpressedindignationattheveryideaofcapitulating，andheannouncedwithinconceivableconfidencetheapproachingarrivalofNapoleoninParis，whichheyethopedtosavefromtheoccupationoftheenemy.TheofficerinformedusthatNapoleontrustedtothepeoplerisinginspiteofthecapitulation，andthattheywouldunpavethestreetstostonetheAlliesontheirentrance.Iventuredtodissentfromthisabsurdideaofdefence，andIobservedthatitwasmadnesstosupposethatPariscouldresistthenumeroustroopswhowerereadytoenteronthefollowingday;thatthesuspensionofarmshadbeenconsentedtobytheAlliesonlytoaffordtimefordrawingupamoreregularcapitulation，andthatthearmisticecouldnotbebrokenwithouttramplingonallthelawsofhonour.Iaddedthatthethoughtsofthepeopleweredirectedtowardsabetterfuture;thattheFrenchweretiredofadespoticGovernmentandofthedistresstowhichcontinualwarhadreducedtradeandindustry;"for，"saidI，"whenanationissunktosuchastateofmiseryitshopescanonlybedirectedtowardsthefuture;itisnaturaltheyshouldbesodirected，evenwithoutreflection."Mostoftheindividualspresentconcurredinmyopinion，andthedecisionofthemeetingwasunanimous.MarshalMarmonthassincesaidtome，"Ihavebeenblamed，mydearBourrienne：butyouwerewithmeonthe30thofMarch.YouwereawitnesstothewishesexpressedbyaportionoftheprincipalinhabitantsofParis.IactedasIwasurgedtodoonlybecauseIconsideredthemeetingtobecomposedofmenentirelydisinterested，andwhohadnothingtoexpectfromthereturnoftheBourbons."
SuchisacorrectstatementofthefactswhichsomepersonshavepervertedwiththeviewofenhancingNapoleon’sglory.WithrespecttothoseversionswhichdifferfrommineIhaveonlyonecommenttooffer，whichis，thatIsawandheardwhatIdescribe.
ThedayafterthecapitulationofParis——MarmontwentintheeveningtoseetheEmperoratFontainebleau.Hesuppedwithhim.NapoleonpraisedhisdefenceofParisAftersuppertheMarshalrejoinedhiscorpsatEssonne，andsixhoursaftertheEmperorarrivedtheretovisitthelines.OnleavingParisMarmonthadleftColonelsFabvierandDent’stodirecttheexecutionofthecapitulation.TheseofficersjoinedtheEmperorandtheMarshalastheywereproceedingupthebanksoftheriveratEssonne.TheydidnotdisguisetheeffectwhichtheentranceoftheAllieshadproducedinParis.AtthisintelligencetheEmperorwasdeeplymortified，andhereturnedimmediatelytoFontainebleau，leavingtheMarshalatEssonne.
Atdaybreakonthe31stofMarchParispresentedanovelandcuriousspectacle.NosoonerhadtheFrenchtroopsevacuatedthecapitalthantheprincipalstreetsresoundedwithcriesof"DownwithBonaparte！"——
"Noconscription！"——"Noconsolidatedduties（droitsreunis）！"Withthesecriesweremingledthatof"TheBourbonsforever！"butthislattercrywasnotrepeatedsofrequentlyastheothers：ingeneralIremarkedthatthepeoplegapedandlistenedwithasortofindifference.AsIhadtakenaveryactivepartinallthathadhappenedduringsomeprecedingdaysIwasparticularlycurioustostudywhatmightbecalledthephysiognomyofParis.Thiswasthesecondopportunitywhichhadoffereditselfforsuchastudy，andInowsawthepeopleapplaudthefallofthemanwhomtheyhadreceivedwithenthusiasmafterthe18thBrumaire.Thereasonwas，thatlibertywasthenhopedfor，asitwashopedforin1814.
Iwentoutearlyinthemorningtoseethenumerousgroupsofpeoplewhohadassembledinthestreets.Isawwomentearingtheirhandkerchiefsanddistributingthefragmentsastheemblemsoftherevivedlily.ThatsamemorningImetontheBoulevards，andsomehoursafterwardsonthePlaceLouisXV.，apartyofgentlemenwhoparadedthestreetsofthecapitalproclaimingtherestorationoftheBourbonsandshouting，"ViveleRoi！"and"ViveLouisXVIII！"AttheirheadIrecognisedMM.SosthenesdelaRochefoucauld，ComtedeFroissard，theDucdeLuxembourg，theDucdeCrussol，Seymour，etc.Thecavalcadedistributedwhitecockadesinpassingalong，andwasspeedilyjoinedbyanumerouscrowd，whorepairedtothePlaceVendome.Thescenethatwasactedthereiswellknown，andtheenthusiasmofpopularjoycouldscarcelyexcusethefurythatwasdirectedagainsttheeffigyofthemanwhosemisfortunes，whethermeritedornot，shouldhaveprotectedhimfromsuchoutrages.Theseexcessesserved，perhapsmorethanisgenerallysupposed，tofavourtheplansoftheleadersoftheRoyalistparty，towhomM.NesselrodehaddeclaredthatbeforehewouldpledgehimselftofurthertheirviewshemusthaveproofsthattheyweresecondedbythepopulationofParis.
Iwasafterwardsinformedbyaneye—witnessofwhattookplaceontheeveningofthe31stofMarchinoneoftheprincipalmeetingsoftheRoyalists，whichwasheldinthehoteloftheComtedeMorfontaine，whoactedaspresidentontheoccasion.AmidstachaosofabortivepropositionsandcontradictorymotionsM.SosthenesdelaRochefoucauldproposedthatadeputationshouldbeimmediatelysenttotheEmperorAlexandertoexpresstohimthewishofthemeeting.Thismotionwasimmediatelyapproved，andthemoverwaschosentoheadthedeputation.
OnleavingthehotelthedeputationmetM.deChateaubriand，whohadthatverydaybeen，asitwere，theprecursoroftherestoration，bypublishinghisadmirablemanifesto，entitled"BonaparteandtheBourbons."Hewasinvitedtojointhedeputation;butnothingcouldovercomehisdiffidenceandinducehimtospeak.Onarrivingatthehote1intheRueSt.FlorentinthedeputationwasintroducedtoCountNesselrode，towhomM.SosthenesdelaRochefoucauldbrieflyexplaineditsobject;hespokeofthewishesofthemeetingandofthemanifestdesireofParisandofFrance.HerepresentedtherestorationoftheBourbonsastheonlymeansofsecuringthepeaceofEurope;andobserved，inconclusion，thatastheexertionsofthedaymusthavebeenveryfatiguingtotheEmperor，thedeputationwouldnotsolicitthefavourofbeingintroducedtohim，butwouldconfidentlyrelyonthegoodfaithofhisImperialMajesty."IhavejustlefttheEmperor，"repliedM.
Nesselrode，"andcanpledgemyselfforhisintentions.ReturntothemeetingandannouncetotheFrenchpeoplethatincompliancewiththeirwisheshisImperialMajestywilluseallhisinfluencetorestorethecrowntothelegitimatemonarch：hisMajestyLouisXVIII.shallreascendthethroneofFrance."WiththisgratifyingintelligencethedeputationreturnedtothemeetingintheRued’Anjou.
ThereisnoquestionthatgreatenthusiasmwasdisplayedontheentranceoftheAlliesintoParis.Itmaybepraisedorblamed，butthefactcannotbedenied.Icloselywatchedallthatwaspassing，andIobservedtheexpressionofasentimentwhichIhadlonganticipatedwhen，afterhisalliancewiththedaughteroftheCaesars，theambitionofBonaparteincreasedinproportionasitwasgratified：IclearlyforesawNapoleon’sfall.WhoeverwatchedthecourseofeventsduringthelastfouryearsoftheEmpiremusthaveobserved，asIdid，thatfromthedateofNapoleon’smarriagewithMariaLouisatheformoftheFrenchGovernmentbecamedailymoreandmoretyrannicalandoppressive.Theintolerableheightwhichthisevilhadattainedisevidentfromthecircumstancethatattheendof1813theLegislativeBody，throwingasidethemutecharacterwhichithadhithertomaintained，presumedtogivealecturetohimwhohadneverbeforereceivedalecturefromanyone.Onthe31stofMarchitwasrecollectedwhathadbeentheconductofBonaparteontheoccasionalludedto，andthoseofthedeputieswhoremainedinParisrelatedhowthegendarmeshadopposedtheirentranceintothehalloftheAssembly.
AllthiscontributedwonderfullytoirritatethepublicmindagainstNapoleon.HehadbecomemasterofFrancebythesword，andtheswordbeingsheathed，hispowerwasatanend，fornopopularinstitutionidentifiedwiththenationthenewdynastywhichhehopedtofound
ThenationadmiredbutdidnotloveNapoleon，foritisimpossibletolovewhatisfeared，andhehaddonenothingtoclaimtheaffectionsofFrance.
IwaspresentatallthemeetingsandconferenceswhichwereheldatMdeTalleyrand’shotel，wheretheEmperorAlexanderhadtakenuphisresidence.OfallthepersonspresentatthesemeetingsM.deTalleyrandwasmostdisposedtoretainNapoleonattheheadoftheGovernment，withrestrictionsontheexerciseofhispower.Intheexistingstateofthingsitwasonlypossibletochooseoneofthreecourses：first，tomakepeacewithNapoleon，withtheadoptionofpropersecuritiesagainsthim;second，toestablishaRegency;andthird，torecalltheBourbons.
Onthe13thofMarchIwitnessedtheentranceoftheAlliedsovereignsintoParis，andaftertheprocessionhadpassedthenewstreetoftheLuxembourgIrepairedstraighttoM.deTalleyrand’shotel，whichI
reachedbeforetheEmperorAlexander，whoarrivedataquarter—pastone.
WhenhisImperialMajestyenteredM.deTalleyrand’sdrawing—roommostofthepersonsassembled，andparticularlytheAbbedePradt，theAbbedeMontesquieu，andGeneralDessolles，urgentlydemandedtherestorationoftheBourbons.TheEmperordidnotcometoanyimmediatedecision.
Drawingmeintotheembrasureofawindow，whichlookeduponthestreet，hemadesomeobservationswhichenabledmetoguesswhatwouldbehisdetermination."M.deBourrienne，"saidhe，"youhavebeenthefriendofNapoleon，andsohaveI.Iwashissincerefriend;butthereisnopossibilityofremainingatpeacewithamanofsuchbadfaith."Theselastwordsopenedmyeyes;andwhenthedifferentpropositionswhichweremadecameunderdiscussionIsawplainlythatBonaparte，inmakinghimselfEmperor，hadmadeupthebedfortheBourbons.
AdiscussionensuedonthethreepossiblemeasureswhichIhaveabovementioned，andwhichwereproposedbytheEmperorAlexanderhimself.I
thought，ifImaysoexpressmyself，thathisMajestywasplayingapart，when，pretendingtodoubtthepossibilityofrecallingtheBourbons，whichhewishedaboveallthings，heaskedM.deTalleyrandwhatmeansheproposedtoemployfortheattainmentofthatobject？BesidestheFrench，therewerepresentatthismeetingtheEmperorAlexander，theKingofPrussia，PrinceSchwartzenberg，M.Nesselrode，M.Pozzo—di—Borgo，andPrinceLiechtenstein.DuringthediscussionAlexanderwalkedaboutwithsomeappearanceofagitation."Gentlemen，"said，he，addressingusinanelevatedtoneofvoice，"youknowthatitwasnotIwhocommencedthewar;youknowthatNapoleoncametoattackmeinmydominions.Butwearenotdrawnherebythethirstofconquestorthedesireofrevenge.
YouhaveseentheprecautionsIhavetakentopreserveyourcapital，thewonderofthearts，fromthehorrorsofpillage，towhichthechancesofwarwouldhaveconsignedit.NeithermyAlliesnormyselfareengagedinawarofreprisals;andIshouldbeinconsolableifanyviolencewerecommittedonyourmagnificentcity.WearenotwagingwaragainstFrance，butagainstNapoleon，andtheenemiesofFrenchliberty.
William，andyou，Prince"（heretheEmperorturnedtowardstheKingofPrussiaandPrinceSchwartzenberg，whorepresentedtheEmperorofAustria），"youcanbothbeartestimonythatthesentimentsIexpressareyours."BothbowedassenttothisobservationofAlexander，whichhisMajestyseveraltimesrepeatedindifferentwords.HeinsistedthatFranceshouldbeperfectlyfree;anddeclaredthatassoonasthewishesofthecountrywereunderstood，heandhisAllieswouldsupportthem，withoutseekingtofavouranyparticulargovernment.
TheAbbedePradtthendeclared，inatoneofconviction，thatwewereallRoyalists，andthatthesentimentsofFranceconcurredwithours.
TheEmperorAlexander，advertingtothedifferentgovernmentswhichmightbesuitabletoFrance，spokeofthemaintenanceofBonaparteonthethrone，theestablishmentofaRegency，thechoiceofBernadotte，andtherecalloftheBourbons.M.deTalleyrandnextspoke，andIwellrememberhissayingtotheEmperorofRussia，"Sire，onlyoneoftwothingsispossible.WemusteitherhaveBonaparteorLouisXVIII.Bonaparte，ifyoucansupporthim;butyoucannot，foryouarenotaloneWewillnothaveanothersoldierinhisstead.Ifwewantasoldier，wewillkeeptheonewehave;heisthefirstintheworld.Afterhimanyotherwhomaybeproposedwouldnothavetenmentosupporthim.Isayagain，Sire，eitherBonaparteorLouisXVIII.Anythingelseisanintrigue."
TheseremarkablewordsofthePrincedeBeneventoproducedonthemindofAlexanderalltheeffectwecouldhopefor.Thusthequestionwassimplified，beingreducednowtoonlytwoalternatives;andasitwasevidentthatAlexanderwouldhavenothingtodowitheitherNapoleonorhisfamily，itwasreducedtothesinglepropositionoftherestorationoftheBourbons.
Onbeingpressedbyusall，withtheexceptionofM.deTalleyrand，whostillwishedtoleavethequestionundecidedbetweenBonaparteandLouisXVIII.，AlexanderatlengthdeclaredthathewouldnolongertreatwithNapoleon.WhenitwasrepresentedtohimthatthatdeclarationreferredonlytoNapoleonpersonally，anddidnotextendtohisfamily，headded，"Norwithanymemberofhisfamily."Thusasearlyasthe31stofMarchtherestorationoftheBourbonsmightbeconsideredasdecided.
IcannotomitmentioningthehurrywithwhichLaborie，whomM.deTalleyrandappointedSecretarytotheProvisionalGovernment，rushedoutoftheapartmentassoonashegotpossessionoftheEmperorAlexander’sdeclaration.HegotitprintedwithsuchexpeditionthatinthespaceofanhouritwaspostedonallthewallsinParis;anditcertainlyproducedanextraordinaryeffect.AsyetnothingwarrantedadoubtthatAlexanderwouldnotabidebyhisword.ThetreatyofPariscouldnotbeanticipated;andtherewasreasontobelievethatFrance，withanewGovernment，wouldobtainmoreadvantageousconditionsthaniftheAllieshad，treatedwithNapoleon.Butthisillusionspeedilyvanished.
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