Baron Fain, in "The Manuscript of 1814," says that on the night of the 12th of April, Napoleon attempted to kill himself by poison: all weapons of destruction having been removed out of his reach, but he had kept the poison by him too long, and it had lost its virtue. It simply gave him great pain.
VIOLETTES.
A treaty between the Allied Powers and Napoleon was signed on the 11th of April. By its articles, after his solemn renunciation for himself, and his descendants, of the Sovereignty of France and Italy, it was stipulated that Napoleon, and Maria Louisa, should retain their rank and titles for life, and that all the branches of his family should also possess the title of Princes: that the Island of Elba should form a separate principality, to be held by him in full sovereignty and property for life; that there should be granted to him an annual revenue of six millions of francs,[17] with reversion of one million to the Empress, and that, to the members of his family, a revenue of two and a half millions of francs should be assigned. That the Duchies of Parma, Guastalla, and Placentia should be granted in full sovereignty to the Empress, with succession to her son and descendants. That the property possessed by Napoleon in France, as Domain, should form a capital not exceeding two millions of francs, to be expended in gratifications to persons according to a list given in by him; that free passage should be given to all of the family, and their suites, who chose to establish themselves out of France, and an escort of 1,200 or 1,500 of the Imperial Guard to Napoleon himself, to the place of embarkation; and that he should be allowed to take with him, and retain, 400 men, as his guard.
There were a few other Articles to the treaty which was signed by the Ministers of the Allied Powers—England dissenting and refusing signature to the assignment of Elba to Napoleon, and that of the Italian Duchies to Maria Louisa.
And so for a time he fades away, but many, very many Frenchmen thought, and spoke, lovingly of Papa Violette, and Caporal Violette, and hugged themselves with the idea, "En printemps il reviendra:" a prophecy which we know was fulfilled. Bunches of violets similar to the illustration on the preceding page were freely sold in France, and my reader will find that it contains portraits of the Emperor, Maria Louisa, and the King of Rome.
But he was supposed to be safely caged at Elba, and the Caricaturists held high revel over his downfall. I should have liked to have reproduced some of them, but I have already done so in another book.[18] Monsieur, the French King's brother, afterwards Charles X., made his public entry into Paris, and was received with every demonstration of joy by the inhabitants.
