Amidst these peaceful and amusing occupations, the easy tenor of our
lives gliding on from day to day, interrupted by no variety of event,
except the entertaining differences occasioned by foreign manners and a
foreign country; we were surprised one morning by the entrance of our
landlord, who came into our parlour with a face full of anxiety, and
informed us, that Napoleon had landed at Cannes from Elba, and had
already, with five hundred men, succeeded in reaching Grace. Mr L. B.
soon came in and confirmed the report. Although certainly considerably
alarmed at this event, especially as the greater portion of our party
was composed of ladies, I could not help feeling, that we were fortunate
in having an opportunity thus offered of ascertaining the state of
public opinion, and the true nature of the political sentiments of that
part of the country in which we are at present residing; for we are here
at Aix, within twenty-five miles of the small town where Napoleon has
landed.

I shall first detail the circumstances under which this singular event
took place; afterwards attempt to give some idea of the effects
produced by it on the multitude. On the 1st of March 1815, Napoleon
landed near Cannes, in the gulf of Juan. His first step was, to dispatch
his Aide-de-Camp, Casabianca, with another officer and 25 men, to ask
admittance into the Fort of Antibes; admitted into the Fort, they
demanded its surrender to Bonaparte. The Governor paraded his garrison,
and having made them swear allegiance to their Sovereign, he secured the
rebels. Casabianca leaped from the wall and broke his back. In the
meantime, Napoleon, finding his first scheme fail, marched straight to
Grace, with between 700 and 800 men. He there encamped with his small
force on the plain before the town, and summoned the mayor to furnish
rations for his men; to which the mayor replied; that he acknowledged no
orders from any authority except Louis XVIII. This conduct was the more
worthy of praise, as the poor mayor had not a soldier to support him.
The Emperor then attempted to have printed a proclamation in writing,
signed by him, and counter-signed by General Bertrand, in which, among
other rhodomontades, he tells the good people of France, that he comes
at the call of the French nation, who, he knew, could not suffer
themselves to be ruled by the Prince Regent of England, in the person of
Louis XVIII.--The printer refused to print it. Napoleon proceeded from