NAPOLEON'S LETTER TO THE SOVEREIGNS.

299

France has sought to separate itself from them. It has called for a deliverer. The expectation which had decided me at the greatest of sacrifices, had been disappointed. I am come: and from the point where I have touched the shore, the love of my people has carried me to the very bosom of my capital. The first wish of my heart is to reward so much affection, by the maintenance of an honorable tranquility. The re-establishment of the imperial throne was necessary for the happiness of the French. My sweetest thought is to render it at the same time useful to the security of the repose of Europe. Sufficient of glory has, in their turn, rendered illustrious the standards of the several nations. The vicissitudes of fortune have sufficiently made great reverses to succeed to great successes. A much finer arena is this day opened to sovereigns, and I am the first to descend into in it.

After having presented to the world the spectacle of great battles, it will be much sweeter to know in future no other rivality than that of the advantages of peace, no other contest than the holy contest of the happiness of the people. France is pleased to proclaim, with frankness, this noble end of all its wishes. Jealous of its independence, the invariable principle of its policy shall be the most absolute respect for the independence of other nations. If such are, as I entertain the happy confidence, the personal sentiments of your majesty, the general tranquilty is secured for a long time; and justice, seated at the confines of the several states, will singly be sufficient to guard their frontiers."

This communication, containing sentiments the most noble and exalted, and breathing the most conciliatory spirit, was treated with contempt by the allied sovereigns; the letter to the prince regent of England was refused to be received, and sent to Vienna, to the congress of sovereigns. The allied sovereigns having determined to accept of no terms of peace from Bonaparte, and once more to force the Bourbons upon the nation against its will, made the most active preparations for war. The ratifications of the treaty wherein the four great powers each agreed to furnish 150,000 men, were exchanged on the 25th of April. The small states were to furnish their

300 ACTIVE PREPARATIONS-THE Army of france.

proportions; and Sweden and Portugal alone refused. The calculation was, to have one million of men, drawn from all the nations in Europe, not even excepting France, assembled by the first of August, on the frontiers of France. The conclusion of the treaty of Ghent, between Great Britain and the United States, enabled the former to remove their troops from America to Europe. The most active warlike preparations resounded upon the Thames, the Danube, the Spree, the Neva, and the Tagus. The Duke of Wellington, who had been appointed generalissimo, had his head-quarters at Brussels on the 15th of April, and Blucher his at Liege. The duke addressed a proclamation to the people of France, reiterating the sentiments contained in the declarations and manifestos of the allied sovereigns; calling on them to aban don Bonaparte, assist in re-establishing the Bourbons, and denouncing vengeance against all who adhered to the usurper, against whom alone the war was prosecuted.

The French army, which had undergone a new organi zation during the last half of the year 1814, was composed in March 1815, of 105 regiments of infantry; sixty-one of cavalry, and eight battalions of artillery, besides corps of engineers, sappers, miners, &c. The regiments of the infantry consisted of two battalions; six only contained three, and four regiments were in the colonies; the effective strength of each regiment was 900 men. There were 25,000 effective men of the cavalry, and the whole effective force of the French army was 149,000 men, of which 93,000 only could take the field, scarcely sufficient to gar rison the fortified places, and the principal naval estab lishments; all the fleet having been dismantled, and their crews discharged, excepting one sail of the line and three frigates at Toulon, and two frigates at Rochefort. All the fortified places were dismantled, and there were but 150, 000 new muskets in the arsenals.

Such was the defenceless condition of France, and se slender its means of defence, when threatened with being invaded with a million of men.

It was contemplated to organize a force of eight husdred thousand men, which was deemed necessary to en counter all Europe, whose armies which were to take the

LEVY OF TROOPS-MANUFACTURE OF ARMS. 301

held, were expected to equal that force. The greatest exertions were made, with the most astonishing success; the old veterans, and those who had never witnessed the "tented field," turned out with equal alacrity. All the veteran soldiers were recalled to their standards; they obeyed with joy, there was no occasion for coercion; farmers, mechanics, and manufacturers abandoned their work, put on their old uniforms, and joined the regiments to which they had formerly belonged. Two hundred battalions of the national guards were drafted, and the conscription of 1815, called out. These requisitions produced about 300,000 men. Twenty regiments of marines, comprising 30,000 men, were formed from the sailors of the different squadrons, and the retired and disbanded of- → ficers, non-commissioned officers and privates, amounting to 100,000 men, complied with the orders of the minister of war, and their experience and exertions were of great use in organizing and disciplining the new levies. In addition to these requisitions, the emperor intended to propose to the chambers in July, to authorise the levy of 250, 000 men, which it was calculated would have been completed in September.

To supply arms for so numerous a force, workshops were established in all the large fortified places, and those in the capital greatly increased; old muskets were repaired, and new ones constructed with astonishing despatch. All the workmen in brass and copper, and journeymen clock-makers, and black and whitesmiths, in Paris, were employed in the business; the shops were superintended by artillery officers. In the month of May they finished daily 1,500, in June 3000, and inJuly they were to have furnished 4000. The activity in the capital occasioned by the extensive manufacture of arms, repairing old muskets, and other preparations for war, surpassed that of 1793, and every thing was conducted with more order and economy.

The orders for the manufacture of clothing for the troops, were suspended during the year 1814, from which circumstance there was a great deficiency. Commencing with the month of April, the government advanced several

302

IMMENSE EXPENDITURES PROMPTLY MET.

millions to the manufacturers of cloth, which soon enabled them to put their establishments in active operation. To furnish clothing for 800,000 men was no small concern. On the first of June 46,000 cavalry horses had been purchased by the contractors, and were in the depots or the line; and 15,000 more had been contracted for. were also 18,000 artillery horses.

There

These immense supplies of arms, clothing, horses and their equipments, and various other military articles, necessary to organize and bring into the field, 800,000 men, required a most enormous expenditure. But it was met by the minister of finance, the duke of Gaete, and the minister of the treasury, count Molien, with a facility that excited universal astonishment. In providing for many parts of the service, large advances were necessary ; and all parts required immediate funds. Notwithstanding these immense and extraordinary expenditures, the interest of the public debt, and the pensions were regularly paid; and at the same time the great system of internal works, which had been in a great measure abandoned by Louis, was re-commenced. The workmen observed, 66 we see that the man of enterprise has returned; every thing was dull, now all is activity; we were all without employment, now all are occupied."

Many undertook to account for these astonishing expenditures by supposing that the emperor on his return found one hundred millions in the treasury of the Thuilleries. But it was not so; the real treasury he found was the affections of the people; not only the mass of the population, but the wealthy capitalists, and not only in France, but also in Holland. The king in the precipitancy of his flight, left behind him the plate belonging to the crown, valued at six millions; and there was in the treasury about fifty millions.

Šo enthusiastic were the people, that gratuitous gifts were numerous and extensive; in some departments they exceeded a million; on all public occasions, unknown individuals presented packages of bank notes to the emperor, and at several times he transmitted to the treasury 80 or 100,000 franks which he had thus received.

On the first of June, the whole force of France under

DIFFERENT CORPS OF THE ARMY, COMMANDERS, &c. 303

arms, amounted to 559,000 men, presenting an augmentation in two months of 414,000, nearly 7000 a day. Of this force the army of the line amounted to 363,000, of which 217,000 were clothed, armed, and ready to take the field. The residue of the troops were to form an extraordinary army, or were wanted for the garrisons. The troops of the army of the line in a condition to take the field were formed into seven army corps, four corps of reserved cayalry, four of observation, and the army of La Vendee. They were distributed so as to cover and defend the whole frontier, but the principal force was cantoned within reach of Paris, towards the frontiers of Flanders. On the first of June the troops were withdrawn from the fortresses, which were to be garrisoned by the extraordinary army, and joined the army of the line. The first corps of this army was commanded by count Erlon, stationed in the environs of Lille; the second by count Reille, at Valencienes the third by count Vandamme, cantoned in the environs of Mezeires; the fourth by count Gerard in the vicinity of Mentz; the fifth by count Rapp in Alsace; the sixth by count Lobau at Laon; the seventh commanded by marshal Suchet, was assembled at Cambray. The first corps of observation was under general Lecourbe, the second under marshal Brune, the third under general Decaen, stationed at Toulouse, the fourth by general Clausel, and assembled at Bordeaux. The troops forming the army of La Vendee, consisting of eight regiments of the line, several of young guards, cavalry, &c. were commanded by general Lamarque. The four corps of reserve cavalry were commanded by marshal Grouchy, and cantoned between the Aisne and the Sombre.

To be prepared for the worst, and the event of the destiny of France being again decided at Paris, the Emperor determined to fortify the capital. This service was assigned to the general of engineers Haox. The works were commenced upon the heights. of Montmartre, and the table land from the hills of Chaumont to Pere la Chaise, and in a few days presented an aspect of defence. The officers of the corps of bridges and highways, directed this service. Lyons was also fortified.

The Emperor hesitated between three different plans