MEMOIRS OF NAPOLEON, V11, By Bourrienne [nb11v10.txt]3561 A sect cannot be destroyed by cannon-balls Every time we go to war with them we teach them how to beat us God in his mercy has chosen Napoleon to be his representative on earth The wish and the reality were to him one and the same thing MEMOIRS OF NAPOLEON, V12, By Bourrienne [nb12v10.txt]3562 Treaties of peace no less disastrous than the wars Yield to illusion when the truth was not satisfactory MEMOIRS OF NAPOLEON, V13, By Bourrienne [nb13v10.txt]3563 I almost fancy I am dreaming when I look back on the miraculous incapacity of the persons who were then at the head of our Government. The emigrants, who, as it has been truly said, had neither learned nor forgotten anything, came back with all the absurd pretensions of Coblentz. Their silly vanity reminded one of a character in one of Voltaire's novels who is continually saying, "Un homme comme moi!" These people were so engrossed with their pretended merit that they were blind to everything else. They not only disregarded the wishes and the wants of France; which in overthrowing the Empire hoped to regain liberty, but they disregarded every warning they had received. M. de Talleyrand, accompanied by the members of the Provisional Government, several Marshals and general officers, and the municipal body, headed by the prefect of the Seine, went in procession beyond the barrier to receive Monsieur. M. de Talleyrand, in the name of the Provisional Government, addressed the Prince, who in reply made that observation which has been so often repeated, "Nothing is changed in France: there is only one Frenchman more." This was the opinion which the mass of the people instinctively formed, for they judged of the Emperor of Austria in his character of a father and not in his character of a monarch; and as the rights of misfortune are always sacred in France, more interest was felt for Maria Louisa when she was known to be forsaken than when she was in the height of her splendour. Francis II. had not seen his daughter since the day when she left Vienna to unite her destiny with that of the master of half of Europe MEMOIRS OF NAPOLEON, V14, by Bourrienne [nb14v10.txt]3564 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." One of the most important struggles of modern times was now about to commence-- a struggle which for many years was to decide the fate of Europe. Napoleon and Wellington at length stood opposite one another. They had never met; the military reputation of each was of the highest kind.