The preservation of this monument was imposed as an obligation on the occupant of the house, who received it as a gift with this condition annexed.  The pastor, the magistrate of the village, and the one who accepted this gift, were summoned to his Majesty’s presence; and he made known to them his wishes, which they solemnly engaged to fulfill.  His Majesty then drew from his privy purse the necessary funds, and handed them to these gentlemen.

It is well that the reader should know how this agreement so solemnly made was executed.  This order of the Russian staff will inform him.

“A copy of a receipt dated the 16th (28th) of March states that the Emperor Napoleon handed to Hermann, pastor of the church at Markersdorf, the sum of two hundred gold napoleons for the purpose of erecting a monument to the memory of Marshal Duroc, who died on the field of battle.  His Excellency Prince Repnin, Governor-General of Saxony, having ordered that a deputy from my office be sent to Markersdorf in order to bring the said sum and deposit it with me until it is finally disposed of, my secretary, Meyerheim, is charged with this mission, and consequently will go at once to Dlarkersdorf, and, as an evidence of his authority, will present to Minister Hermann the accompanying order, and take possession of the above mentioned sum of two hundred gold napoleons.  The secretary Meyerheim will account to me alone for the execution of this order.  At Dresden this 20th of March (1st of April), 1814.

“(Signed) baron de Rosen.”

This order needs no comment.  After the battles of Bautzen and Wurschen, the Emperor entered Silesia.  He saw on every occasion combined armies of the allies put to flight before his own in every encounter; and this sight, while flattering his vanity exceedingly, also greatly strengthened him in the belief that he would soon find himself master of a rich and fertile country, where the abundant means of subsistence would be of much advantage in all his undertakings.  Many times a day he exclaimed, “How far are we from such a town?  When do we arrive at Breslau?” His impatience did not prevent him meanwhile from occupying his mind with every object which struck his attention, as if he were free from all care.  He examined the houses, one by one, as he passed through each village, remarked the direction of rivers and mountain ranges, and collected the most minute information which the inhabitants could or would give him.  On the 27th of May, his Majesty, when not more than three days march from Breslau, met in front of a little town called Michelsdorf several regiments of Russian cavalry who held the road.  They were quite near the Emperor and his staff before his Majesty had even perceived them.  The Prince de Neuchatel, seeing the enemy so near, hastened to the Emperor, and said, “Sire, they are still advancing.”—­ “Well, we will advance also,” replied his Majesty, smiling.  “Look behind you—­”