Grace to Digne, from Digne to Sisteron, and from Sisteron to Gap, where
he slept on the 6th of March. In all the villages, he endeavoured,
apparently without success, to inflame the minds of the people, and
strengthen, by recruits, his small body of troops. He has, as yet, got
no one to join him; but, on the other hand, he has met with no
resistance. This day, the 8th, he must meet with three thousand men,
commanded by General Marchand. It is thought, that if these prove true
to their allegiance, he will make good his way to Lyons; but if, on the
contrary, they oppose him, he is ruined. The commotion excited in Aix,
by this news, is not to be conceived. The hatred and detestation in
which Bonaparte is held here, becomes, I think, more apparent as the
danger is more imminent. With a very few exceptions, all ranks of people
express these sentiments. The national guard were immediately under
arms, and entreated their commanding officer and the civil authorities,
to permit them to go in pursuit of the ex-Emperor. Unfortunately the
chiefs were not well agreed on the measures which ought to be adopted.
From the excessive _sang froid_ with which Massena conducted himself, I
should not be surprised if there were some truth in the report which was
current here, that he had intelligence of the whole scheme, and kept
back, in order that he might join Bonaparte. The first and second day,
nothing was done; on the 3d, the 83d regiment was dispatched in pursuit
from Marseilles. I accompanied them for four miles, during which, they
had made two short halts. I had an opportunity of talking with a number
of the men: they were certainly liberal in their abuse of the
ex-Emperor; but several of them remarked, that it _was a hard thing to
make them fight against each other_. The French here are all of opinion,
that the troops of the line are not to be trusted. Like all other
soldiers, they long for war, and as they would be more likely to have
war Under Napoleon, than under Louis XVIII. I have little doubt they
would join him. On the first news, the whole society of Aix were in the
deepest affliction--the men agitated and disturbed--the women and
children weeping. Each hour these feelings changed, for every hour there
was some new report. The French believe every thing, and though each
report belied the other, I saw no difference in the credit attached to
them. There is no newspaper published in Aix, and the prefect, who is a
person much sus