Napoleon used to observe that if he had had two such field-marshals as Suchet in Spain he would have not only conquered but kept the Peninsula.  Suchet’s sound judgment, his governing yet conciliating spirit, his military tact, and his bravery, had procured him astonishing success.  “It is to be regretted,” added he, “that a sovereign cannot improvise men of his stamp.”

On the 19th of March, 1815, a number of papers were left in the King’s closet.  Napoleon ordered them to be examined, and among them was found the letter written by Madame Campan to Louis XVIII., immediately after the first restoration.  In this letter she enumerated the contents of the portfolio which Louis XVI. had placed under her care.  When Napoleon read this letter, he said, “Let it be sent to the office of Foreign Affairs; it is an historical document.”

Madame Campan thus described a visit from the Czar of Russia:  “A few days after the battle of Paris the Emperor Alexander came to Ecouen, and he did me the honour to breakfast with me.  After showing him over the establishment I conducted him to the park, the most elevated point of which overlooked the plain of St. Denis.  ‘Sire,’ said I, ’from this point I saw the battle of Paris’—­’If,’ replied the Emperor, ’that battle had lasted two hours longer we should not have had a single cartridge at our disposal.  We feared that we had been betrayed; for on arriving so precipitately before Paris all our plans were laid, and we did not expect the firm resistance we experienced.’  I next conducted the Emperor to the chapel, and showed him the seats occupied by ‘le connetable’ (the constable) of Montmorency, and ‘la connetable’ (the constable’s lady), when they went to hear mass.  ‘Barbarians like us,’ observed the Emperor, ‘would say la connetable and le connetable.’

“The Czar inquired into the most minute particulars respecting the establishment of Ecouen, and I felt great pleasure in answering his questions.  I recollect having dwelt on several points which appeared to me to be very important, and which were in their spirit hostile to aristocratic principles.  For example, I informed his Majesty that the daughters of distinguished and wealthy individuals and those of the humble and obscure mingled indiscriminately in the establishment.  ‘If,’ said I, ’I were to observe the least pretension on account of the rank or fortune of parents, I should immediately put an end to it.  The most perfect equality is preserved; distinction is awarded only to merit and industry.  The pupils are obliged to cut out and make all their own clothes.  They are taught to clean and mend lace; and two at a time, they by turns, three times a week, cook and distribute food to the poor of the village.  The young girls who have been brought up at Ecouen, or in my boarding-school at St. Germain, are thoroughly acquainted with everything relating to household business, and they are grateful to me for having made that a part of their education.  In my conversations with them I have always taught them that on domestic management depends the preservation or dissipation of their fortunes.’