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The debut of the French troupe at the theater of the Orangery took place
on the 22d of June； in the 'Gageure Imprevue'； and another piece； then
much in vogue at Paris； and which has often since been witnessed with
much pleasure； 'La Suite d'un Bal Masque'。
As the theater of the Orangery would have been too small for the
representation of tragedy； that was reserved for the grand theater of the
city； and persons were admitted on those occasions only by cards from the
Count of Turenne； no admission fee being charged。
At the grand theater on the days of the French play； and also in the
theater at the Marcolini palace； the footmen of his Majesty attended upon
the boxes； and served refreshments while the piece was being played。
This is how the days were spent after the arrival of the actors of the
French theater。
Everything was quiet until eight o'clock in the morning； unless a courier
arrived； or some aide…de…camp was unexpectedly summoned。 At eight
o'clock I dressed the Emperor； at nine he held his levee； which all could
attend who held as high a rank as colonel。 The civil and military
authorities of the country were also admitted； the Dukes of Weimar and
d'Anhalt； the brothers and nephews of the King of Saxony； sometimes
attended。 Next came breakfast； then the parade in the meadows of
Osterwise； about one hundred paces distant from the palace； to which the
Emperor always went on horseback； and dismounted on arriving； the troops
filed before him； and cheered him three times with their customary
enthusiasm。 The evolutions were commanded sometimes by the Emperor；
sometimes by the Count of Lobau。 As soon as the cavalry began to defile；
his majesty re…entered the palace and began to work。 Then began that
perfect stillness of which I have spoken； and dinner was not served until
late；seven or eight o'clock。 The Emperor often dined alone with the
Prince de Neuchatel； unless there were guests from the royal family of
Saxony。 After dinner they attended the theater； when there was a play；
and afterwards the Emperor returned to his cabinet to work again； either
alone or with his secretaries。
Each day it was the same thing； unless； which was very rarely the case；
fatigued beyond measure by the labors of the day； the Emperor took a
fancy to send for Madame Georges after the tragedy。 Then she passed two
or three hours in his apartment； but never more。
Sometimes the Emperor invited Talma or Mademoiselle Mars to breakfast。
One day； in a conversation with this admirable actress； the Emperor spoke
to her concerning her debut。 〃Sire；〃 said she； in that graceful manner
which every one remembers； 〃I began very young。 I slipped in without
being perceived。〃〃Without being perceived！〃 replied his Majesty
quickly； 〃you are mistaken。 Be assured moreover； Mademoiselle； that I
have always； in common with all France； highly appreciated your wonderful
talents。〃
The Emperor's stay at Dresden brought wealth and abundance。 More than
six million francs of foreign money were spent in this city between the
8th of May and 16th of November； if one can believe the statements
published on Saxon authority of the number of lodgings distributed。 This
sojourn was a harvest of gold； which keepers of boarding…houses； hotels；
and merchants carefully reaped。 Those in charge of military lodgings
furnished by the inhabitants also made large profits。 At Dresden could
be seen Parisian tailors and bootmakers； teaching the natives to work in
the French style。 Even bootblacks were found on the bridges over the
Elbe； crying； as they had cried on the bridges of the Seine； 〃Shine your
boots！〃
Around the city numerous camps had been established for the wounded；
convalescents； etc。 One of these； called the Westphalian camp； presented
a most beautiful scene。 It was a succession of beautiful small gardens；
there a fortress made of turf； its bastions crowned with hortensias； here
a plot had been converted into a terrace； its walks ornamented with
flowers； like the most carefully tended parterre； on a third was seen a
statue of Pallas。 The whole barrack was decked with moss； and decorated
with boughs and garlands which were renewed each day。
As the armistice would end on the 15th of August； the fete of his Majesty
was advanced five days。 The army； the town； and the court had made
extensive preparations in order that the ceremony might be worthy of him
in whose honor it was given。 All the richest and most distinguished
inhabitants of Dresden vied with each other in balls； concerts；
festivities； and rejoicings of all sorts。 The morning before the day of
the review； the King of Saxony came to the residence of the Emperor with
all his family； and the two sovereigns manifested the warmest friendship
for each other。 They breakfasted together； after which his Majesty；
accompanied by the King of Saxony； his brothers and nephews； repaired to
the meadow behind the palace； where fifteen thousand men of the guard
awaited him in as fine condition as on the most brilliant parades on the
Champ…de…Mars。
After the review； the French and Saxon troops dispersed through the
various churches to hear the Te Deum； and at the close of the religious
ceremony； all these brave soldiers seated themselves at banqueting tables
already prepared； and their joyous shouts with music and dancing were
prolonged far into the night。
CHAPTER XIII。
The entire duration of the armistice was employed in negotiations tending
to a treaty of peace； which the Emperor ardently desired； especially
since he had seen the honor of his army restored on the fields of Lutzen
and Bautzen； but unfortunately he desired it only on conditions to which
the enemy would not consent； and soon the second series of our disasters
recommenced； and rendered peace more and more impossible。 Besides； from
the beginning of negotiations relative to the armistice； whose limit we
had now nearly reached； the emperor Alexander； notwithstanding the three
battles won by Napoleon； would listen to no direct proposals from France；
except on the sole condition that Austria should act as mediator。 This
distrust； as might be expected； did not tend to produce a final。
reconciliation； and； being the conquering party； the Emperor was
naturally irritated by it； nevertheless； under these grave circumstances
he conquered the just resentment caused by the conduct of the Emperor of
Russia towards himself。 The result of the time lost at Dresden； like the
prolongation of our sojourn at Moscow； was a great advantage to the
enemy。
All hopes of a peaceful adjustment of affairs now having vanished； on the
15th of August the Emperor ordered his carriage； we left Dresden； and the
war recommenced。 The French army was still magnificent and imposing；
with a force of two hundred thousand infantry； but only forty thousand
cavalry； as it had been entirely impossible to repair completely the
immense loss of horses that had been sustained。 The most serious danger
at that time arose from the fact that England was the soul of the
coalition of Russia； Prussia； and Sweden against France。 Her subsidies
having obtained her the supreme control；