The capitulation of Marshal Saint-Cyr will never, surely, occupy an honorable place in the history of the cabinet of Vienna.  It is not my province to pass judgment on these political combinations; but I cannot forget the indignation which was generally manifested at the palace when it was learned that this capitulation had been shamelessly violated by those who had now become the stronger party.  It was stated in this capitulation that the marshal should return to France with the troops under his command, carrying with him a part of his artillery, and that these troops should be exchanged for a like number of the allied troops; that the wounded French who remained at Dresden should be returned to France on their restoration to health; and that, finally, the marshal should begin these movements on the 16th of November.  No part of this agreement was complied with.  Imagine, then, the indignation of the Emperor, already so deeply afflicted by the capitulation of Dresden, when he learned that, contrary to every stipulation agreed upon, these troops had been made prisoners by the Prince von Swarzenberg.  I remember one day the Prince de Neuchatel being in his Majesty’s cabinet, which I happened to enter at the moment, the Emperor remarked to him, with considerable vehemence, “You speak to me of peace.  How can I believe in the good faith of those people?  You see what happened at Dresden.  No, I tell you, they do not wish to treat with us; they are only endeavoring to gain time, and it is our business not to lose it.”  The prince did not reply; or, at least, I heard no more, as I just then left the cabinet, having executed the duty which had taken me there.  Moreover, I can add, as an additional proof of the confidence with which his Majesty honored me, that when I entered he never interrupted himself in what he was saying, however important it might be; and I dare to affirm that if my memory were better, these souvenirs would contain much more valuable information.

Since I have spoken of the evil tidings which overwhelmed the Emperor in such quick succession during the last months of the year 1813, there is one I should not omit, since it affected his Majesty so painfully.  I refer to the death of Count Louis de Narbonne.  Of all those who had not begun their careers under the eyes of the Emperor, M. de Narbonne was the one for whom he felt the deepest affection; and it must be admitted that it was impossible to find a man in whom genuine merit was united to more attractive manners.  The Emperor regarded him as a most proper person to conduct a negotiation, and said of him one day, “Narbonne is a born ambassador.”  It was known in the palace why the Emperor had appointed him his aide-decamp at the time he formed the household of the Empress Marie Louise.  The Emperor had at first intended to appoint him chevalier of honor to the new Empress, but a skillfully concocted intrigue caused him to refuse this position; and it was in some degree to make amends for this that he received the appointment of aide-de-camp to his Majesty.  There was not at that time a position more highly valued in all France; many foreign and even sovereign princes had solicited in vain this high mark of favor, and amongst these I can name Prince Leopold de Saxe-Coburg,