Neuwied, Ukerath, Froeeschwiller,
Geisberg, to Zurich and Hohenlinden. These were also great victories,
and even the most splendid of all, for they preserved liberty. He only
spoke of the last ones, that was enough for the moment. Let those
people come! let them dare to move! The nation wants peace, but if the
allies commence war woe be unto them. Now we shall again talk of
liberty, equality, and fraternity. All France will be roused by it, I
warn you beforehand. There will be a national guard, and the old men
like me and the married men will defend the towns, while the younger
ones will march, but no one will cross the frontiers. The Emperor,
taught by experience, will arm the artisans, the peasants, and the
bourgeoisie, and when we are attacked, even if they are a million, not
one shall escape. The day for soldiers is past, regular armies are for
conquest, but a people who can defend themselves do not fear the best
armies in the world. We proved that to the Prussians and Austrians, to
the English and the Russians from 1792 to 1800, and since then the
Spaniards have shown us the same thing, and even before that, the
Americans demonstrated it to the English. The Emperor will speak to us
of liberty, be sure of that; and if he will send his proclamations into
Germany, many Germans will be with us; they were promised liberty in
order to make them rise against France, and now the sovereigns in
conference at Vienna mock at their own promises. Their plan is fixed.
They divide the people among themselves as they would a flock of sheep.
Those who have good sense will unite, and in that way peace will be
established by force. The kings alone have any interest in war, the
people do not need to conquer themselves, provided that they arrange
for the freedom of commerce, that is the principal thing."

In his excitement everything looked bright to him. And all that he
said seemed to me so natural, that I was sure that the Emperor would
direct matters as we had supposed. Catherine believed it too. We
thanked God for what had come, and about eleven o'clock, after having
laughed and drank and shouted, we went to bed with the brightest hopes.
All the city was illuminated, and we had put lamps in our windows also.
Every moment we heard the crackers in the street and the children were
shouting, "Vive l'Empereur!" and the soldiers were coming out of the
inns, singing, "Down with the emigres." This lasted till very late,
and