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had been advanced five days； because； as I have previously observed； the
armistice expired precisely on the anniversary of Saint…Napoleon； and； as
may be readily inferred from his natural passion for war； the resumption
of hostilities was not an addition to his fete which he would be likely
to disdain。
There was at Dresden； as had been customary at Paris； a special
representation at the theater on the evening before the Emperor's fete。
The actors of the French theater played two comedies on the 9th at five
o'clock in the evening； which representation was the last； as the actors
of the French Comedy received orders immediately afterwards to return to
Paris。 The next day the King of Saxony； accompanied by all the princes
of the royal family； repaired at nine o'clock in the morning to the
Marcolini palace； in order to pay his respects to the Emperor； after
which a grand morning reception was held as was the custom at the
Tuileries； and a review； at which the Emperor inspected a part of his
guard； several regiments； and the Saxon troops； who were invited to dine
by the French troops。 On that day the city of Dresden without much
exaggeration might have been compared to a great dining…hall。 In fact；
while his Majesty was dining in state at the palace of the King of
Saxony； where the whole family of this prince was assembled； the entire
diplomatic corps was seated at the table of the Duke of Bassano； Baron
Bignon； envoy from France to Warsaw； feasted all the distinguished Poles
present in Dresden； Count Darn gave a grand dinner to the French
authorities； General Friant to the French and Saxon generals； and Baron
de Serra； minister from France to Dresden； to the chiefs of the Saxon
colleges。 This day of dinings was concluded by a supper for nearly two
hundred guests； which General Henri Durosnel； Governor of Dresden； gave
that evening at the close of a magnificent ball at the residence of M。 de
Serra。
On our return from Mayence to Dresden I learned that the residence of
General Durosnel was the rendezvous of all the highest circles of
society； both Saxon and French。 During the absence of his Majesty； the
general； taking advantage of this leisure； gave numerous fetes； among
others one to the actors and actresses of French Comedy。 I recall in
this connection an amusing anecdote which was related to me at the time。
Baptiste junior； with no lack either of decorum or refinement；
contributed greatly to the amusement of the evening； being presented
under the name of my Lord Bristol； English diplomat； en route to the
Council of Prague。 His disguise was so perfect； his accent so natural；
and his phlegm so imperturbable； that many persons of the Saxon court
were completely deceived； which did not in the least astonish me； and I
thereby saw that Baptiste junior's talent for mystification had lost
nothing since the time when I had been so highly diverted at the
breakfasts of Colonel Beauharnais。 How many events had occurred since
that time。
The Emperor； seeing that nothing could longer delay the resumption of
hostilities； had consequently divided the two hundred thousand men of his
infantry into fourteen army corps； the command of which was given to
Marshals Victor； Ney； Marmont； Augereau； Macdonald； Oudinot； Davoust； and
Gouvion Saint…Cyr； Prince Poniatowski； and Generals Reynier； Rapp；
Lauriston； Vandamme； and Bertrand；。 The forty thousand cavalry formed
six grand divisions under the command of Generals Nansouty； Latour…
Maubourg； Sebastiani； Arrighi； Milhaud； and Kellermann； and； as I have
already said； the King of Naples had the command of the Imperial Guard。
Moreover； in this campaign appeared for the first time on our fields of
battle the guard of honor； a select troop recruited from the richest and
most distinguished families； and which had been increased to more than
ten thousand men； divided into two divisions under the simple title of
regiments； one of which was commanded by General Count of Pully； and the
other； if I am not mistaken； by General Segur。 These youths； but lately
idlers given up to repose and pleasure； became in a short time most
excellent cavalry； which signalized itself on various occasions； notably
at the battle of Dresden； of which I shall soon have occasion to speak。
The strength of the French army has been previously stated。 The combined
army of the allies amounted to four hundred and twenty thousand infantry；
and its cavalry to hardly less than one hundred thousand； without
counting a reserve army corps of eighty thousand Russians； in readiness
to leave Poland under the command of General Beningsen。 Thus the enemy's
army outnumbered ours in the proportion of two to one。
At the time we entered into this campaign； Austria had just declared war
openly against us。 This blow； although not unexpected； struck the
Emperor deeply； and he expressed himself freely in regard to it before
all persons who had the honor to approach him。 M。 de Metternich； I have
heard it stated； had almost certainly forewarned him of this in the last
interviews this minister had at Dresden with his Majesty； but the Emperor
had been entirely unable to bring himself to the belief that the Emperor
of Austria would make common cause with the coalition of the north
against his own daughter and grandson。 Finally all doubts were solved by
the arrival of Count Louis de Narbonne； who was returning from Prague to
Dresden； as bearer of a declaration of war from Austria。 Every one
foresaw that France must soon count among its enemies all the countries
no longer occupied by its troops； and results justified this prediction
only too well。 Nevertheless； everything was not lost； for we had not yet
been compelled to take the defensive。
CHAPTER XIV。
War recommenced before negotiations were finally broken； for the Duke of
Vicenza was still in communication with M。 de Metternich。 The Emperor；
as he mounted his horse； said to the numerous generals surrounding him
that he now marched to conquer a peace。 But what hope could remain after
the declaration of war by Austria； and above all； when it was known that
the allied sovereigns had incessantly increased their pretensions in
proportion as the Emperor granted the concessions demanded？ The Emperor
left Dresden at five o'clock in the afternoon； advancing on the road to
Koenigstein； and passed the next day at Bautzen； where he revisited the
battlefield； the scene of his last victory。 There the king of Naples；
who did not wish royal honors to be rendered himself； came to rejoin the
Emperor at the head of the Imperial Guard； who presented as imposing an
appearance as in its pristine days。
We arrived at Gorlitz on the 18th； where the Emperor found the Duke of
Vicenza； who was returning from Bohemia。 He confirmed the truth of the
report his Majesty had already received at Dresden； that the Emperor of
Austria had already decided to make common cause with the Emperor of
Russia and the Kings of Prussia and Sweden against the husband of his
daughter； the princess whom he had given to the Emperor as a pledge of
peace。 It was also through the Duke of Vicenza that the Emperor learned
that G