Memoirs of Napoleon, vol 13 | Page 6

the hands of Caulaincourt and presented it to the Marshal "Here,
my faithful friend," said he, "is a reward which I believe will gratify
you." Macdonald on receiving the sabre said, "If ever I have a son, Sire,
this will be his most precious inheritance. I will never part with it as
long as I live."--" Give me your hand," said the Emperor, "and embrace
me." At these words Napoleon and Macdonald affectionately rushed
into each other's arms, and parted with tears in their eyes. Such was the
last interview between Macdonald and Napoleon. I had the above
particulars from the Marshal himself in 1814., a few days after he
returned to Paris with the treaty ratified by Napoleon.
After the clauses of the treaty had been guaranteed Napoleon signed, on
the 11th of April, at Fontainebleau, his act of abdication, which was in
the following terms:--
"The Allied powers having proclaimed that the Emperor Napoleon is
the only obstacle to the re-establishment of peace in Europe, the
Emperor Napoleon, faithful to his oath, declares that he renounces for
himself and his heirs the thrones of France and Italy, and that there is
no personal sacrifice, even that of life, which he is not ready to make
for the interests of France."
It was not until after Bonaparte had written and signed the above act
that Marshal Macdonald sent to the Provisional Government his

recognition, expressed in the following dignified and simple manner:--
"Being released from my allegiance by the abdication of the Emperor
Napoleon, I declare that I conform to the acts of the Senate and the
Provisional Government."
It is worthy of remark that Napoleon's act of abdication was published
in the 'Moniteur' on the 12th of April, the very day on which the Comte
d'Artois made his entry into Paris with the title of Lieutenant-General
of the Kingdom conferred on him by Louis XVIII. The 12th of April
was also the day on which the Imperial army fought its last battle
before Toulouse, when the French troops, commanded by Soult, made
Wellington purchase so dearly his entrance into the south of
France.--[The battle of Toulouse was fought on the 10th not 12th April
D.W.]
Political revolutions are generally stormy, yet, during the great change
of 1814 Paris was perfectly tranquil, thanks to the excellent discipline
maintained by the commanders of the Allied armies, and thanks also to
the services of the National Guard of Paris, who every night patrolled
the streets. My duties as Director-General of the Post-office had of
course obliged me to resign my captain's epaulette.
When I first obtained my appointment I had been somewhat alarmed to
hear that all the roads were covered with foreign troops, especially
Cossacks, who even in time of peace are very ready to capture any
horses that may fall in their way. On my application to the Emperor
Alexander his Majesty immediately issued a ukase, severely
prohibiting the seizure of horses or anything belonging to the
Post-office department. The ukase was printed by order of the Czar,
and filed up at all the poet-offices, and it will be seen that after the 20th
of March, when I was placed in an embarrassing situation, one of the
postmasters on the Lille road expressed to me his gratitude for my
conduct while I was in the service.
On the 10th of April a ceremony took place in Paris which has been
much spoken of; and which must have had a very imposing effect on
those who allow themselves to be dazzled by mere spectacle. Early in

the morning some regiments of the Allied troops occupied the north
side of the Boulevard, from the site of the old Bastille to the Place
Louis XV., in the middle of which an altar of square form was erected.
Thither the Allied sovereigns came to witness the celebration of mass
according to the rites of the Greek Church. I went to a window of the
hotel of the Minister of the Marine to see the ceremony. After I had
waited from eight in the morning till near twelve the pageant
commenced by the arrival of half a dozen Greek priests, with long
beards, and as richly dressed as the high priests who figure in the
processions of the opera. About three-quarters of an hour after this first
scene the infantry, followed by the cavalry, entered the place, which, in
a few moments was entirely covered with military. The Allied
sovereigns at length appeared, attended by brilliant staffs. They
alighted from their horses and advanced to the altar. What appeared to
me most remarkable was the profound silence of the vast multitude
during the performance of the mass. The whole spectacle had the effect
of a finely-painted panorama. For my own part, I must confess I was