18244] 
the conduct of his female penitents, in 
the: hours of night; and, as was given 
out; for the greater glory of God. 
From the rank of ‘serjeant, which I 
held in the line, I was reduced to that 
of a common soldier in the guards. I 
viewed this measure, though a general 
one, as a degradation, but’ soon 
adopted other sentiments on becoming 
acquainted with my officers and com- 
rades. The discipline of the guards 
was’ So well understocd, and so honour- 
able a fraternity existed between the 
general and the lowest under his com- 
mand, that we could not without 
improving satisfaction, and increasing 
comfort, taste the sweets and avail 
ourselves of the many superior advan- 
tages which we possessed. *'This 
made all ready to exert themselves 
with their best zeal and ability, in 
every part of their duty.. With this 
corps I remained to the last, but had 
then the honour of fighting at the head 
of that company wherein I had served, 
as a simple grenadier. f 
Throughout the years 1808, 1810, 
and 1811; I served in Spain. I was 
presentat the taking of Madrid, at the 
battles of Burgos, of Rio Secco, Bene- 
vente, and others. . On ‘the subject of 
this war let me publish my opinion, 
that the principles which then had a 
powerful influence on: my mind were 
not correctly defined; its injustice did 
not. then ‘appear to me, as at present, 
when, having better studied the history 
of societies, I have entered more 
largely into the spirit of the times. 
My apprenticeship in arms was. on the 
natal soil of the Romans; enthusiasm 
had condensed and hardened the im- 
pulse of my ambition to an improper 
degree. I supposed it right and 
natural, all in the highway of human 
affairs, that Paris should become the 
capital of the world, as Rome had 
been. ‘he deceptions and falsehood 
of supérstition, the numerous abuses 
of ignorance and prejudice, the base 
tyranny and cruelty of monastic fraud, 
conspiring with other circumstances, 
called up so many disgusting ideas, that 
I conceived it would be deserving of 
the»greatest praise to root them out, 
vi et armis. And now that my mind 
has aequired more intelligence, I am 
frank enough to acknowledge it, as a 
right political opinion, that conquest 
would be just, should the conqueror 
impose on the vanquished, in lieu of 
governments pursuing wicked plans or 
weak: measures, a Constitution on the 
Mowtnty Mac. No. 390, 
After the Restoration of the Bourbons. 
513 
basis’ of public virtue or patriotism. 
Imagination, perhaps, is leading me 
here into anerror. Already, however, 
another order of things seems matur- 
ing in Spain. It may be a problem 
worthy of discussion, whether a future 
race of Spaniards will not hail, as 
useful, the revolutionary principles 
which the French professedly dissemi- 
rated every where throughout Spain. 
Napoleon said to the deputies who 
presented him with the keys of Madrid, 
‘Your grand-children will bless the 
day wherein I appeared among you.” 
In 1809, we were ordered from 
Madrid to Ratisbon in Germany; our 
marches were rapid ; gross infractions 
of treaties, by the treacherous Austri- 
ans, brought on fresh hostilities, which 
were only terminated after the Austri- 
ans had been several times defeated. 
Waving Spanish and other details, T 
proceed next to the campaign of 1812: 
in that year, I was a serjeant of grena- 
diers in the ever-glorious Old Guard. 
I had cultivated the esteem of those 
among whom I was placed; and,.for: 
my military services and duties,had 
obtained the cross. From this epoch 
I date my rank of officer ; for, if 1 had 
passed into the line, it wonld have been 
as a lientenant, not as a sub-licu- 
tenant. 
Much has been said of the designs 
and enterprises of Napoleon against 
Russia. I believe that our politicians, 
in general, opposed the measure, from 
judgment, many pointedly condemning 
it, as highly imprudent and dangerons. 
I shall not contend against a generally 
received opinion, but reserving my 
own, enter into some particulars 
respecting that famous march whereof 
1 had ocular testimony, and for ‘the 
truth of which Ican vouch. 
On our quitting Moscow, the army 
was well enough provided, and _se- 
cured against the cold. It was then 
severe, but not so terrible as it after- 
wards proved. As the French have a 
turn for a sprightly agility, and even 
excel, perhaps, too much in gaiety, 
the first days of our march might have 
seemed like the last of a carnival; it 
was a rolling fire of vivid pleasautvies, 
of versatile quod. libets on the accoutre~ 
ments of this individual, and onthe 
odd character of that, In the case of 
the gentlemen thus singled out, all the 
decorums of gravity were grossly in- 
‘fringed on, if not wholly violated and 
the materials for our humourous tem- 
perament might haye lasted all the 
aU way 
