the Allies was
regarded with indifference; and it was only at a later period, when the
invading generals were no longer able to maintain strict discipline
among their barbarous hordes of horsemen, then scattered over a wide
extent of country, that the sense of individual suffering afforded even
a glimpse of hope to Napoleon, and those who, like him, were eager to
oppose a national insurrection to the allied march.

Meantime, nearer and nearer every day the torrent of invasion rolled
on--sweeping before it, from post to post, the various corps which had
been left to watch the Rhine. Marmont, Mortier, Victor, and Ney,
commanding in all about 50,000 men, retired of necessity before the
enemy. It had been considered as certain that much time must be occupied
with the besieging of the great fortresses on the Rhenish frontier. But
it was now apparent that the Allies had resolved to carry the war into
the interior, without waiting for the reduction of these formidable
outworks. Their numbers were such that they could afford to mask them,
and still pass on with hosts overwhelmingly superior to all those of
Napoleon's lieutenants. These withdrew, and with them, and behind them,
came crowds of the rustic population possessing any means of transport.
Carts and waggons, crammed with terrified women and children, thronged
every avenue to the capital. It was at last necessary that the Emperor
should break silence to the Parisians, and re-appear in the field.

The invasion of France, however, rallied around Napoleon some persons of
eminence who had long hung aloof from him. Carnot in particular, who,
ever since he opposed the assumption of the imperial title, had remained
in retirement, came forward to offer his sword in what he now considered
as the cause of his country. Nor did Buonaparte fail to receive such
proposals as they deserved. He immediately sent his old enemy to command
the great city and fortress of Antwerp; and similar instances of manly
confidence might be mentioned to his honour.

On the 22nd of January the first official news of the invasion appeared;
the _Moniteur_ announced that Schwartzenberg had entered Switzerland on
the 20th of December, and that Blucher also had crossed the Rhine on the
first day of the year; thus confessing openly the deliberate deceit of
its previous silence. The next morning, being Sunday, the officers of
the National Guard were summoned to the Tuileries. They lined the
_Saloon of the Ma