[126] Letters from Paris, written during the last reign of Napoleon, vol. i., p. 197 [By John Cam Hobhouse, Esq.; now Sir J. C. Hobhouse.]
[127] It was subjected, notwithstanding, with the usual success, to the electoral bodies, whose good-nature never refused a constitution which was recommended by the existing government. The number of those who gave their votes were more than a million; being scarce a tenth part, however, of those who had qualifications.
[128] Moniteur, June 2; Savary, tom. iv., p. 34; Fouché, tom. ii., p. 277.
[129] The punsters of Paris selected Labédoyère, Drouot, Ney, and L'Allemand, as the _Quatre pairs fides (perfides.)_ while Vandamme and others were termed the _Pairs sifflés_.--S.
_Preparations for War--Positions of the Allied Forces, amounting in whole to One Million of Men--Buonaparte's Force not more than 200,000--Conscription not ventured upon--National Guard--their reluctance to serve--Many Provinces hostile to Napoleon--Fouché's Report makes known the Disaffection--Insurrection in La Vendée--quelled--Military Resources--Plan of Campaign--Paris Placed in a Complete State of Defence--Frontier Passes and Towns fortified--Generals who accept Command under Napoleon--He Announces his Purpose to measure himself with Wellington._
We are now to consider the preparations made for the invasion of France along the whole eastern frontier--the means of resistance which the talents of the Emperor presented to his numerous enemies--and the internal situation of the country itself.
While the events now commemorated were passing in France, the allies made the most gigantic preparations for the renewal of war. The Chancellor of the Exchequer of England had achieved a loan of thirty-six millions, upon terms surprisingly moderate, and the command of this treasure had put the whole troops of the coalition into the most active advance.
The seat of the Congress had been removed from Vienna to Frankfort, to be near the theatre of war. The Emperors of Russia and Austria, with the King of Prussia, had once more placed themselves at the head of their respective armies. The whole eastern frontier was menaced by immense forces. One hundred and fifty thousand Austrians, disengaged from Murat, might enter France through Switzerland, the Cantons having acceded to the coalition. An army equal in strength menaced the higher Rhine. Schwartzenberg commanded the Austrians in chief, having under him Bellegarde, and Frimont, Bianchi, and Vincent. Two hundred thousand Russians were pressing towards the frontiers of Alsace. The Archduke Constantine was nominated generalissimo, but Barclay de Tolly, Sacken, Langeron, &c. were the efficient commanders. One hundred and fifty thousand Prussians, under Blucher, occupied Flanders, and were united with about eighty thousand troops, British, or in British pay, under the Duke of Wellington. There were also to be reckoned the contingents of the different princes of Germany, so that the allied forces were computed grossly to amount to upwards of one million of men. The reader must not, however, suppose that such an immense force was, or could be, brought forward at once. They were necessarily disposed on various lines for the convenience of subsistence, and were to be brought up successively in support of each other.