The cortege of their Majesties set out at noon from the chateau of the Tuileries, in the same order adopted at the coronation:  the chasseurs of the guard and the squadrons of mamelukes marching in front, the Legion d’ Elite and the mounted grenadiers following the municipal guard; while the grenadiers of the guard closed up the line.  Their Majesties having entered l’Ecole-Militaire, received the homage of the diplomatic corps, who were stationed for this purpose in the reception-rooms.  Then the Emperor and Empress, having donned their insignia of royalty, took their seats upon the throne, while the air was rent with reiterated discharges of artillery and universal acclamations.  At a given signal the deputations of the army, scattered over the Champ-de-Mars, placed themselves in solid column, and approached the throne amid a flourish of trumpets.  The Emperor then rose, and immediately a deep silence ensued, while in a loud, clear tone he pronounced these words, “Soldiers, behold your standards!  These eagles will serve you always as a rallying point.  They will go wherever your Emperor may judge their presence necessary for the defense of his throne and of his people.  Will you swear to sacrifice even your lives in their defense, and to keep them always by your valor in the path to victory?  Do you swear it?”—­“We swear it,” repeated all the colonels in chorus, while the presidents of the colleges waved the flags they bore.  “We swear it,” said in its turn the whole army, while the bands played the celebrated march known as “The March of the Standards.”

This intense enthusiasm was communicated to the spectators, who, in spite of the rain, pressed in crowds upon the terraces which surrounded the enclosure of the Champ-de-Mars.  Soon the eagles took their designated places, and the army defiled in divisions before the throne of their Majesties.

Although nothing had been spared to give this ceremony every possible magnificence, it was by no means brilliant.  It is true, the object of the occasion was imposing; but how could an impressive ceremony be held in a deluge of melted snow, and amid a sea of mud, which was the appearance the Champ-de-Mars presented that day?  The troops were under arms from six in the morning, exposed to rain, and forced to endure it with no apparent necessity so at least they regarded it.  The distribution of standards was to these men nothing more than a review; and surely it must strike a soldier as a very different matter to brave the weather on the field of battle, from what it is to stand idle, exposed to it for hours, with shining gun and empty cartridge-box, on a parade-day.