Memoirs of Napoleon, vol 13 | Page 4

sample the author's ideas before
making an entire meal of them. D.W.]

MEMOIRS OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, VOLUME 13.
By LOUIS ANTOINE FAUVELET DE BOURRIENNE

His Private Secretary
Edited by R. W. Phipps Colonel, Late Royal Artillery
1891

CONTENTS:

CHAPTER I.
to
CHAPTER VI.
1814-1815

CHAPTER I.
1814.
Unalterable determination of the Allies with respect to Napoleon--
Fontainebleau included in the limits to be occupied by the Allies--
Alexander's departure from Paris--Napoleon informed of the necessity
of his unconditional abdication--Macdonald and Ney again sent to
Paris--Alleged attempt of Napoleon to poison himself--Farewell
interview between Macdonald and Napoleon--The sabre of Murad
Bey-- Signature of the act of unconditional abdication--Tranquillity of
Paris during the change of Government--Ukase of the Emperor of
Russia relative to the Post-office--Religious ceremony on the Place
Louis XV.--Arrival of the Comte d'Artois--His entrance into Paris--
Arrival of the Emperor of Austria--Singular assemblage of sovereigns
in France--Visit of the Emperor of Austria to Maria Louisa--Her
interview with the Emperor Alexander--Her departure for Vienna.
When Marmont left Paris on the receipt of the intelligence from
Essonne, Marshals Macdonald and Ney and the Duke of Vicenza
waited upon the Emperor Alexander to learn his resolution before he
could have been informed of the movement of Marmont's troops. I
myself went during the morning to the hotel of M. de Talleyrand, and it
was there I learnt how what we had hoped for had become fact: the
matter was completely decided. The Emperor Alexander had walked
out at six in the morning to the residence of the King of Prussia in the

Rue de Bourbon. The two sovereigns afterwards proceeded together to
M. de Talleyrand's, where they were when Napoleon's Commissioners
arrived. The Commissioners being introduced to the two sovereigns,
the Emperor Alexander, in answer to their proposition, replied that the
Regency was impossible, as submissions to the Provisional
Government were pouring in from all parts, and that if the army had
formed contrary wishes those should have been sooner made known.
"Sire," observed Macdonald, "that--was--impossible, as none of the
Marshals were in Paris, and besides, who could foresee the turn which
affairs have taken? Could we imagine that an unfounded alarm would
have removed from Essonne the corps of the Duke of Ragusa, who has
this moment left us to bring his troops back to order?" These words
produced no change in the determination of the sovereigns, who would
hear of nothing but the unconditional abdication of Napoleon. Before
the Marshals took leave of the Emperor Alexander they solicited an
armistice of forty-eight hours, which time they said was indispensable
to negotiate the act of abdication with Napoleon. This request was
granted without hesitation, and the Emperor Alexander, showing
Macdonald a map of the environs of Paris, courteously presented him
with a pencil, saying, "Here, Marshal, mark yourself the limits to be
observed by the two armies."--"No, Sire," replied Macdonald, "we are
the conquered party, and it is for you to mark the line of demarcation."
Alexander determined that the right bank of the Seine should be
occupied by the Allied troops, and the left bank by the French; but it
was observed that this arrangement would be attended with
inconvenience, as it would cut Paris in two, and it was agreed that the
line should turn Paris. I have been informed that on a map sent to the
Austrian staff to acquaint Prince Schwartzenberg with the limits
definitively agreed on, Fontainebleau, the Emperor's headquarters, was
by some artful means included within the line. The Austrians acted so
implicitly on this direction that Marshal Macdonald was obliged to
complain on the subject to Alexander, who removed all obstacles.
When, in discussing the question of the abdication conformably with
the instructions he had received, Macdonald observed to the Emperor
Alexander that Napoleon wished for nothing for himself, "Assure him,"
replied Alexander, "that a provision shall be made for him worthy of

the rank he has occupied. Tell him that if he wishes to reside in my
States he shall be well received, though he brought desolation there. I
shall always remember the friendship which united us. He shall have
the island of Elba, or something else." After taking leave of the
Emperor Alexander, on the 5th of April, Napoleon's Commissioners
returned to Fontainebleau to render an account of their mission. I saw
Alexander that same day, and it appeared to me that his mind was
relieved of a great weight by the question of the Regency being brought
to an end. I was informed that he intended to quit Paris in a few days,
and that he had given full powers to M. Pozzo-di-Borgo, whom he
appointed his Commissioner to the Provisional Government.
On the same day, the 5th of April, Napoleon inspected his troops in the
Palace yard of Fontainebleau. He observed