This handful of brave men deemed themselves a nation; and prepared, by accustoming themselves to the manoeuvres and fatigues of war, to conquer in a few days a whole monarchy.

The emigrants of every country and every age have presented this spectacle; for emigration, like the desert, has its mirage.

The emigrants believe that they have borne away their country on the soles of their shoes, to employ the language of Danton, but they carry away nought but its shadow, accumulate nothing but its anger, and find nothing but its pity.
XIV.
Amongst the first _emigres_, three factions corresponded to these different parties in the emigration itself.
The Comte de Provence, afterwards Louis XVIII., was a philosophic prince--a politician and a diplomatist somewhat inclined towards innovation; an enemy of the nobility, of the priesthood; favourable to the aristocracy; and who would have pardoned the Revolution, if the Revolution itself would have pardoned royalty.

His early infirmities closing the career of arms to him, he became addicted to politics--he cultivated his mind--he studied history--he wrote well, and foreseeing the approaching downfall, he predicted the probable death of Louis XVI .-- he believed in the vicissitudes of the Revolution, and prepared himself to become the pacificator of his country, and the conciliator of the throne and liberty.

His heart possessed all the qualities and all the faults of a woman--he needed friendship, and he gave himself favourites; but he chose them rather for their elegance than their merit, and saw men and things only through books and the hearts of courtiers.