[103] "When the king's ministers desired to know what were the means which I proposed to employ, in order to prevent Napoleon from reaching Paris, I refused to communicate them, being determined to disclose them to no person but the King himself; but I protested that I was sure of success."--FOUCHÉ, p. 250. [104] In the Memoirs of Fouché, it is avowed, that this order of arrest was upon no political ground, but arose from the envy of Savary, who, foreseeing that Fouché would be restored to the situation of minister of police, which he himself desired, on account of the large sums which were placed at the disposal of that functionary, hoped, in this manner, to put his rival out of his road.--S. [105] "Hortense received me with open arms; and as in a wonderful Arabian tale, I suddenly found myself in the midst of the _élite_ of the Buonapartists, in the headquarters of the party, where I found mirth, and where my presence caused an intoxication of joy."--FOUCHÉ, p. 253. [106] "It is impossible not to condemn Ney's conduct. It behoved him to imitate Macdonald and to withdraw. It ought, however, to be added, that Generals Lecourbe and Bourmont were with him when he consented to be led astray. But, after committing this error, he fell into a still greater one. He wrote to Napoleon to acquaint him with what he had done, announcing to him at the same time, that he was about to proceed to Auxerre, where he expected the honour of seeing him."--SAVARY, tom. iv., p. 252. [107] Sir James Mackintosh. See Debate on Mr. Abercrombie's Motion respecting Buonaparte's Escape from Elba.--_Parl. Deb._, vol. xxx., p. 738. CHAPTER LXXXV. _Various attempts to organise a defence for the Bourbons fail--Buonaparte, again reinstated on the throne of France, is desirous of continuing the peace with the Allies--but no answer is returned to his letters--Treaty of Vienna--Grievances alleged by Buonaparte in justification of the step he had taken--Debates in the British House of Commons, on the renewal of War--Murat occupies Rome with 50,000 men--his Proclamation summoning all Italians to arms--He advances against the Austrians--is repulsed at Occhio-Bello--defeated at Tolentino--flies to Naples, and thence, in disguise, to France--where Napoleon refuses to receive him._ When Paris was lost, the bow of the Bourbons was effectually broken; and the attempts of individuals of the family to make a stand against the evil hour, was honourable indeed to their own gallantry, but of no advantage to their cause.