you.”  Macdonald on receiving the sabre said, “If ever I have a son, Sire, this will be his most precious inheritance.  I will never part with it as long as I live.”—­“Give me your hand,” said the Emperor, “and embrace me.”  At these words Napoleon and Macdonald affectionately rushed into each other’s arms, and parted with tears in their eyes.  Such was the last interview between Macdonald and Napoleon.  I had the above particulars from the Marshal himself in 1814., a few days after he returned to Paris with the treaty ratified by Napoleon.

After the clauses of the treaty had been guaranteed Napoleon signed, on the 11th of April, at Fontainebleau, his act of abdication, which was in the following terms:—­

“The Allied powers having proclaimed that the Emperor Napoleon is the only obstacle to the re-establishment of peace in Europe, the Emperor Napoleon, faithful to his oath, declares that he renounces for himself and his heirs the thrones of France and Italy, and that there is no personal sacrifice, even that of life, which he is not ready to make for the interests of France.”

It was not until after Bonaparte had written and signed the above act that Marshal Macdonald sent to the Provisional Government his recognition, expressed in the following dignified and simple manner:—­

   “Being released from my allegiance by the abdication of the Emperor
   Napoleon, I declare that I conform to the acts of the Senate and the
   Provisional Government.”

It is worthy of remark that Napoleon’s act of abdication was published in the ‘Moniteur’ on the 12th of April, the very day on which the Comte d’Artois made his entry into Paris with the title of Lieutenant-General of the Kingdom conferred on him by Louis XVIII.  The 12th of April was also the day on which the Imperial army fought its last battle before Toulouse, when the French troops, commanded by Soult, made Wellington purchase so dearly his entrance into the south of France.—­[The battle of Toulouse was fought on the 10th not 12th April D.W.]

Political revolutions are generally stormy, yet, during the great change of 1814 Paris was perfectly tranquil, thanks to the excellent discipline maintained by the commanders of the Allied armies, and thanks also to the services of the National Guard of Paris, who every night patrolled the streets.  My duties as Director-General of the Post-office had of course obliged me to resign my captain’s epaulette.

When I first obtained my appointment I had been somewhat alarmed to hear that all the roads were covered with foreign troops, especially Cossacks, who even in time of peace are very ready to capture any horses that may fall in their way.  On my application to the Emperor Alexander his Majesty immediately issued a ukase, severely prohibiting the seizure of horses or anything belonging to the Post-office department.  The ukase was printed by order of the Czar, and filed up at all the poet-offices, and it will be seen that after the 20th of March, when I was placed in an embarrassing situation, one of the postmasters on the Lille road expressed to me his gratitude for my conduct while I was in the service.