ountry
had only one master, and _he_ was the master of
all. If it is true that the French abandoned
Napoleon in 1814, it was not because we were tired
of Napoleon or discontented with his government,
but because the nation was exhausted, discouraged,
and demoralized by an uninterrupted succession of
calamitous wars. The people would still have been
delighted to obey him, but they had neither
strength nor soul.

The real causes of the downfal of Napoleon are to
be found in his hatred towards England, and in the
continental system, which resulted from that
hatred. This gigantic system, which oppressed all
Europe, could not fail to raise the entire
continent against Napoleon and France, and thus to
bring on the ruin of both. "Rome," as it is said by
Montesquieu, "extended her empire because her wars
only followed in succession. Each nation, such was
her inconceivable good fortune, waited till another
had been conquered, before beginning the attack."
Rome fell as soon as all the nations assailed and
penetrated on every side.]

Hostilities ended with the abdication of Napoleon. The people of
Paris, who had scarcely recovered from the panic with which they were
struck by the marauding hordes of Russia, displayed the most
extravagant gladness when they thought that they were delivered from
the visitation, which again threatened them in the presence of the
allies and the imperial army.

The neighbouring departments, which the enemy prepared to invade,
rejoiced on being relieved from impending pillage and devastation.

The departments which had been occupied by the enemy were intoxicated
with joy, when they anticipated the termination of their sufferings.

Thus almost all the people of France turned away from their discarded
sovereign. And they abandoned themselves to joy when they thought that
they were delivered from the scourge of war, and that they could hope
to enjoy the blessings of peace.

It was in the midst of this pouring out of the spirit of selfishness,
that the senate raised the brother of Louis XVI