XIII.

The emigration was composed of two entirely distinct parties—­the politicians and the combatants.  The politicians, who crowded round the Comte de Provence and the Comte d’Artois, and poured forth idle invectives against the truths of philosophy and the principles of democracy.  They wrote books and supported papers, in which the French Revolution was represented to the foreign sovereigns as an infernal conspiracy of a few scoundrels against kings, and even against heaven.  They formed the councils of an imaginary government—­they sought to obtain missions—­they formed plans—­renewed intrigues—­visited every court—­stirred up the sovereigns and their ministers against France—­disputed the favour of the French princes—­devoured their subsidies—­and transported to this foreign soil the ambitions, the rivalries, and the cupidity of a court.

The military men had brought nothing but the bravery, the insouciance, the recklessness, and the polish of their nation and profession.  Coblentz became the camp of illusion and devotion.  This handful of brave men deemed themselves a nation; and prepared, by accustoming themselves to the manoeuvres and fatigues of war, to conquer in a few days a whole monarchy.  The emigrants of every country and every age have presented this spectacle; for emigration, like the desert, has its mirage.  The emigrants believe that they have borne away their country on the soles of their shoes, to employ the language of Danton, but they carry away nought but its shadow, accumulate nothing but its anger, and find nothing but its pity.

XIV.

Amongst the first emigres, three factions corresponded to these different parties in the emigration itself.

The Comte de Provence, afterwards Louis XVIII., was a philosophic prince—­a politician and a diplomatist somewhat inclined towards innovation; an enemy of the nobility, of the priesthood; favourable to the aristocracy; and who would have pardoned the Revolution, if the Revolution itself would have pardoned royalty.  His early infirmities closing the career of arms to him, he became addicted to politics—­he cultivated his mind—­he studied history—­he wrote well, and foreseeing the approaching downfall, he predicted the probable death of Louis XVI.—­he believed in the vicissitudes of the Revolution, and prepared himself to become the pacificator of his country, and the conciliator of the throne and liberty.  His heart possessed all the qualities and all the faults of a woman—­he needed friendship, and he gave himself favourites; but he chose them rather for their elegance than their merit, and saw men and things only through books and the hearts of courtiers.  Somewhat theatrical, he exhibited himself as a statue of right and misfortune to all Europe; studied his attitudes; spoke learnedly of his adversaries; and assumed the position of a victim and a sage:  he was, however, unpopular with the army.