pected, has taken no steps to give the public correct
information, but allows them to grope, in the dark; they have invented
accordingly the most ridiculous stories, converting hundreds into
thousands, and a few fishing boats and other small craft, into first a
squadron of Neapolitans, and then a fleet of English ships. This report
of the English ships is, I am sorry to say, still current, and the
English are looked on with an evil eye by the lower orders. Even among
our more liberal friends, there were some who asked me, what interest
the English could have in letting him escape? After some cool reasoning,
however, they acknowledged the folly of this story. The King is
universally blamed for employing, in the most responsible situations,
the Generals attached to Napoleon. The populace declare, that Soult, the
Minister of War, is at the bottom of this attempt. Now, that one can
reason on the matter, and that the impression of the magnanimity which
dictated the conduct of the allied Powers to Napoleon, is somewhat
diminished, it must be allowed, that there is some sense in the remark,
that it was folly to dismiss him to Elba, with all the appointment,
"pomp, and circumstance" of a little Sovereign, instead of confining him
in a prison, or leaving him no head to plan mischief. The people affirm
here, that this was done purposely by the English, to keep France in
continual trouble.

_15th_.--All possibility of continuing this little Journal is precluded
by the alarming progress of Napoleon, and the consequent necessity of
taking immediate steps for our departure from this country. The
ex-Emperor is every day making rapid strides to the capital; and we have
to-day intelligence that it is believed the troops in Lyons are
disaffected. I have now given up all hope, for I see plainly that every
thing is arranged--not a blow has been struck. The soldiers have every
where joined him, and there cannot be a doubt that he will reign in
France. He may not, indeed, reign long; for it is to be hoped that the
English will not shut their eyes, or be deceived by the fabricated
reports of the journals--It is to be hoped that the allied Powers are
better acquainted with the character of Napoleon than the too-good Louis
XVIII. In the mean time, it is high time for us to be off; and I think
we shall take the route of Bourdeaux. This unfortunate town (Aix), is
now a melancholy spectacle; for all the thinking part believe that the
cause of the