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Emperor； as well as jewelry； rings； tobacco boxes； and other valuable
objects。 We saved very few things from this fire； and if the reserve
corps had not arrived promptly； his Majesty would have been obliged to
change his customary toilet rules for want of stockings and shirts。 The
Saxon Major d'Odeleben； who has written some interesting articles on this
campaign； states that everything belonging to his Majesty was burned； and
that it was necessary to have him some pantaloons made in the greatest
haste at Breslau。 This is a mistake。 I do not think that the baggage…
wagon was burned； but even if it had been； the Emperor would not on that
account have needed clothing； since there were always four or five
complete suits either in advance or in the rear of the headquarters。
In Russia； when the order was given to burn all carriages which lacked
horses； this order was rigorously executed in regard to the persons of
the household； and they were consequently left with almost nothing； but
everything was reserved which might be considered indispensable to his
Majesty。
At length on the 1st of June； at six o'clock in the morning； the advance
guard entered Breslau； having at its head General Lauriston； and General
Hogendorp； whom his Majesty had invested in advance with the functions of
governor of this town； which was the capital of Silesia。 Thus was
fulfilled in part the promise the Emperor had made in passing through
Warsaw on his return from Russia： 〃I go to seek three hundred thousand
men。 Success will render the Russians bold。 I will deliver two battles
between the Elbe and the Oder； and in six months I will be again on the
Niemen。〃
These two battles fought and gained by conscripts； and without cavalry；
had re…established the reputation of the French army。 The King of Saxony
had been brought back in triumph to his capital。 The headquarters of the
Emperor were at Breslau； one of the corps of the grand army was at the
gates of Berlin； and the enemy driven from Hamburg。 Russia was about to
be forced to withdraw into its own boundaries； when the Emperor of
Austria； acting as mediator in the affairs of the two allied sovereigns；
advised them to propose an armistice。 They followed this advice； and as
the Emperor had the weakness to consent to their demands； the armistice
was granted and signed on the fourth of June； and his Majesty at once set
out on his return to Dresden。 An hour after his departure he said； 〃If
the allies do not in good faith desire peace； this armistice may become
very fatal to us。〃
On the evening of the 8th of June； his Majesty reached Gorlitz。 On that
night fire broke out in the faubourg where the guard had established its
quarters； and at one o'clock one of the officials of the town came to the
headquarters of the Emperor to give the alarm； saying that all was lost。
The troops extinguished the fire； and an account was rendered the Emperor
of what had occurred。 I dressed him in all haste； as he wished to set
out at break of day。 〃To how much does the loss amount？〃 demanded the
Emperor。 〃Sire； to seven or eight thousand francs at least for the cases
of greatest need。〃〃Let ten thousand be given； and let it be distributed
immediately。〃 The inhabitants were immediately informed of the
generosity of the Emperor； and as he left the village an hour or two
after； he was saluted with unanimous acclamations。
On the morning of the 10th we returned from Dresden。 The Emperor's
arrival put an end to most singular rumors which had been circulated
there since the remains of Grand Marshal Duroc had passed through the
city。 It was asserted that the coffin contained the body of the Emperor；
that he had been killed in the last battle； and his body mysteriously
concealed in a room of the chateau； through the windows of which lights
could be seen burning all night。 When he arrived； some persons perfectly
infatuated with this idea went so far as to repeat what had already been
reported； with the added circumstance that it was not the Emperor who was
seen in his carriage； but a figure made of wax。 Nevertheless； when next
day he appeared before the eyes of all on horseback in a meadow in front
of the gates of the city； they were compelled to admit that he still
lived。
The Emperor alighted at the Marcolini palace； a charming summer residence
situated in the faubourg of Friedrichstadt。 An immense garden； the
beautiful meadows of Osterwise on the banks of the Elbe； in addition to
an extremely fine landscape； rendered this sojourn much more attractive
than that of the winter palace； and consequently the Emperor was most
grateful to the King of Saxony for having prepared it for him。 There he
led the same life as at Schoenbrunn； reviews every morning； much work
during the day； and few distractions in the evening； in fact； more
simplicity than display。 The middle of the day was spent in cabinet
labors； and during that time such perfect tranquillity reigned in the
palace； that except for the presence of two sentinels on horseback and
videttes； which showed that it was the dwelling of a sovereign； it would
have been difficult to imagine that this beautiful residence was
inhabited even by the simplest private citizen。
The Emperor had chosen for his apartments the right wing of the palace；
the left was occupied by the Prince de Neuchatel。 In the center of the
building were a large saloon and two smaller ones which served as
reception rooms。
Two days after his return； his Majesty sent orders to Paris that the
actors of the 〃Comedy〃 Theater from Paris should spend the time of the
armistice at Dresden。 The Duke of Vicenza； charged in the interim with
the duties of grand marshal of the palace； was ordered to make all
necessary preparations to receive them。 He committed this duty to the
care of Messieurs de Beausset and de Turenne； to whom the Emperor gave
the superintendence of the theater； and a hall to be used for this
purpose was erected in the orangery of the Marcolini palace。 This hall
communicated with the apartments； and could seat about two hundred
persons。 It was erected as if by magic； and was opened； while awaiting
the arrival of the French troupe； with two or three representations given
by the Italian comedians of the King of Saxony。
The actors from Paris were： For tragedy； Messieurs Saint…Prix and Talma
and Mademoiselle Georges。
For comedy： Messieurs Fleury； Saint…Fal； Baptiste the younger； Armand；
Thenard； Michot； Devigny； Michelot and Barbier； Mesdames Mars； Bourgoin；
Thenard； Emilie Contat； and Mezeray。
The management of the theater was given to M。 Despres。
All these actors arrived on the 19th of June； and found every arrangement
made for their comfort；tastefully furnished lodgings； carriages；
servants； everything which could enable them to agreeably endure the
ennui of a residence in a foreign land； and prove to them at the same
time how highly his Majesty appreciated their talents； an appreciation
which most of them richly merited； both on account of their excellent
social qualities； and the nobility and refinement of their manners。
The debut of the French troupe at the theater of the Ora