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to Napoleon； a fanatic partisan of the Bourbons； he is one of our men。
I looked； at him。 At every fresh epithet of the Minister the Abbe bowed
his head down to his plate with a smile of cheerfulness and self…
complacency； and with a sort of leer。 I never saw a more ignoble
countenance。 Fouche explained to me； on leaving the breakfast table；
in what manner all these valets of literature were men of his； and while
I acknowledged to myself that the system might be necessary； I scarcely
knew who were really more despicablethe wretches who thus sold
themselves to the highest bidder； or the minister who boasted of having
bought them； as if their acquisition were a glorious conquest。 Judging
that the Emperor had spoken to me of the scene I have described above；
Fouche said to me； 'The Emperor's temper is soured by the resistance he
finds； and he thinks it is my fault。 He does not know that I have no
power but by public opinion。 To morrow I might hang before my door
twenty persons obnoxious to public opinion； though I should not be able
to imprison for four…and…twenty hours any individual favoured by it。
As I am never in a hurry to speak I remained silent； but reflecting on
what the Emperor had said concerning Fouche I found the comparison of
their two speeches remarkable。 The master could have his minister hanged
with public applause； and the minister could hangwhom？ Perhaps the
master himself； and with the same approbation。 What a singular
situation！and I believe they were both in the right； so far public
opinion； equitable in regard to Fouche； had swerved concerning the
Emperor。〃
The wrath of Napoleon was confined to the Lower House； the Peers； from
the nature of their composition； being complacent and passive enough。
The vast majority of them were in fact mere shadows gathered round the
solid persons of Joseph； Lucien； Louis； and Jerome Bonaparte； and Sieyes；
Carnot； and the military men of the Revolution。 As a political body
Napoleon despised them himself； and yet he wanted the nation to respect
them。 But respect was impossible； and the volatile Parisians made the
Peers a constant object of their witticisms。 The punsters of Paris made
the following somewhat ingenious play upon words。 Lallemand； Labedogure；
Drouot； and Ney they called Las Quatre Pairs fides （perfides）； which in
pronunciation may equally mean the four faithful peers or the four
perfidious men。 The infamous Vandamme and another were called Pair…
siffles； the biased peers； or the biased pair； or （persiffles） men made
objects of derision。 It was thus the lower orders behaved while the；
existence of France was at stake。
By this time the thunder…cloud of war had gathered and was ready to
burst。 Short as the time at his disposal was Napoleon prepared to meet
it with his accustomed energy。 Firearms formed one of the most important
objects of attention。 There were sufficient sabres； but muskets were
wanting。 The Imperial factories could； in ordinary times； furnish
monthly 20；000 stands of new arms； by the extraordinary activity and
inducements offered this number was doubled。 Workmen were also employed
in repairing the old muskets。 There was displayed at this momentous
period the same activity in the capital as in 1793； and better directed；
though without the same ultimate success。 The clothing of the army was
another difficulty； and this was got over by advancing large sums of
money to the cloth manufacturers beforehand。 The contractors delivered
20；000 cavalry horses before the 1st of June； 10；000 trained horses had
been furnished by the dismounted gendarmerie。 Twelve thousand artillery
horses were also delivered by the 1st of June； in addition to 6000 which
the army already had。
The facility with which the Ministers of Finance and of the Treasury
provided for all these expenses astonished everybody； as it was necessary
to pay for everything in ready money。 The system of public works was at
the same time resumed throughout France。 〃It is easy to see；〃 said the
workmen； 〃that 'the great contractor' is returned； all was dead； now
everything revives。〃
〃We have just learnt；〃 says a writer who was at Brussels at this time；
〃that Napoleon had left the capital of France on the 12th； on the 15th
the frequent arrival of couriers excited extreme anxiety； and towards
evening General Muffing presented himself at the hotel of the Duke of
Wellington with despatches from Blucher。 We were all aware that the
enemy was in movement； and the ignorant could not solve the enigma of the
Duke going tranquilly to the ball at the Duke of Richmond'shis coolness
was above their comprehension。 Had he remained at his own hotel a panic
would have probably ensued amongst the inhabitants； which would have
embarrassed the intended movement of the British division of the army。
〃I returned home late； and we were still talking over our uneasiness when
we heard the trumpets sound。 Before the sun had risen in full splendour
I heard martial music approaching； and soon beheld from my windows the
5th reserve of the British army passing； the Highland brigade were the
first in advance； led by their noble thanes； the bagpipes playing their
several pibrochs； they were succeeded by the 28th； their bugles' note
falling more blithely upon the ear。 Each regiment passed in succession
with its band playing。〃
The gallant Duke of Brunswick was at a ball at the assembly…rooms in the
Rue Ducale on the night of the 15th of June when the French guns； which
he was one of the first to hear； were clearly distinguished at Brussels。
〃Upon receiving the information that a powerful French force was
advancing in the direction of Charleroi。 'Then it is high time for me to
be off；' he exclaimed； and immediately quitted； the ball…room。〃
〃At four the whole disposable force under the Duke off Wellington was
collected together； but in such haste that many of the officers had no
time to change their silk stockings and dancing…shoes； and some； quite
overcome by drowsiness； were seen lying asleep about the ramparts； still
holding； however； with a firm hand； the reins of their horses； which were
grazing by their sides。
〃About five o'clock the word march' was heard in ail directions； and
instantly the whole mass appeared to move simultaneously。 I conversed
with several of the officers previous to their departure； and not one
appeared to have the slightest idea of an approaching engagement。
〃The Duke of Wellington and his staff did not quit Brussels till past
eleven o'clock； and it was not till some time after they were gone that
it was generally known the whole French army； including a strong corps of
cavalry； was within a few miles of Quatre Bras。〃
CHAPTER VIII。
＇Like the preceding； this chapter first appeared in the 1836
edition； and is not from the pen of M。 de Bourrienne。＇
1815。
THE BATTLES OF LIGNY AND QUATRE BRAS。
The moment for striking a decisive blow had now come； and accordingly；
early on the morning of the 15th； the whole of the French army was in
motion。 The 2d corps proceeded to Marchiennes to attack the Prussian
outposts at Thuin and Lobes； in order to sec