On being pressed by us all, with the exception of M. de Talleyrand, who still wished to leave the question undecided between Bonaparte and Louis XVIII., Alexander at length declared that he would no longer treat with Napoleon.  When it was represented to him that that declaration referred only to Napoleon personally, and did not extend to his family, he added, “Nor with any member of his family.”  Thus as early as the 31st of March the restoration of the Bourbons might be considered as decided.

I cannot omit mentioning the hurry with which Laborie, whom M. de Talleyrand appointed Secretary to the Provisional Government, rushed out of the apartment as soon as he got possession of the Emperor Alexander’s declaration.  He got it printed with such expedition that in the space of an hour it was posted on all the walls in Paris; and it certainly produced an extraordinary effect.  As yet nothing warranted a doubt that Alexander would not abide by his word.  The treaty of Paris could not be anticipated; and there was reason to believe that France, with a new Government, would obtain more advantageous conditions than if the Allies had, treated with Napoleon.  But this illusion speedily vanished.

On the evening of the 31st of March I returned to M. de Talleyrand’s.  I again saw the Emperor Alexander, who, stepping up to me, said, “M. de Bourrienne you must take the superintendence of the Post-office department.”  I could not decline this precise invitation on the part of the Czar; and besides, Lavalette having departed on the preceding day, the business would have been for a time suspended; a circumstance which would have been extremely prejudicial to the restoration which we wished to favour.

I went at once to the hotel in the Rue J. J. Rousseau, where, indeed, I found that not only was there no order to send out the post next day, but that it had been even countermanded.  I went that night to the administrators, who yielded to my requests and, seconded by them, next morning I got all the clerks to be at their post.  I reorganised the service, and the post went out on the 1st of April as usual.  Such are my remembrances of the 31st of March.

A Provisional Government was established, of which M. de Talleyrand was appointed President.  The other members were General Beurnonville, Comte Francois de Jaucourt, the Due Dalberg, who had married one of Maria Louisa’s ladies of honour, and the Abby de Montesquieu.  The place of Chancellor of the Legion of Honour was given to the Abbe de Pradt.  Thus there were two abbes among the members of the Provisional Government, and by a singular chance they happened to be the same who had officiated at the mass which was performed in the Champ de Mars on the day of the first federation.