The Memoirs of François René Vicomte de Chateaubriand sometime Ambassador to England, Volume 2 (of 6)

Book VII

I go to see my mother—Saint-Malo—Progress of the Revolution —My marriage—Paris—Old acquaintances and new—The Abbé Barthélemy—Saint-Ange—The theatres—Changes in Paris—The Club des Cordeliers—Marat—Danton—Camille Desmoulins—Fabre d'Églantine—M. de Malesherbes' opinion on the emigration—I play and lose—Adventure of the hackney-coach—Madame Roland—Barère at the Hermitage—Second Federation of the 14th of July—Preparations for the emigration—I emigrate with my brother—Adventure of Saint-Louis—We cross the frontier—Brussels—Dinner at the Baron de Breteuil's—Rivarol—Departure for the army of the Princes—The journey—I meet the Prussian army—I arrive at Trèves—The Army of the Princes—A Roman amphitheatre—Atala—The shirts of Henry IV.—A soldier's life—Last appearance of old military France—Commencement of the siege of Thionville—The Chevalier de La Baronnais—Continuation of the siege—A contrast—Saints in the woods—Battle of Bouvines—A patrol—An unexpected encounter—Effects of a cannon-ball and a shell—Market in camp—Night amid piled arms—The Dutch dog—A recollection of the Martyrs—The nature of my company—With the outposts—Eudora—Ulysses—Passage of the Moselle—A fight—Libba, the deaf and dumb girl—Assault of Thionville—The siege is raised—We enter Verdun—The Prussian evil—The retreat—Smallpox—The Ardennes—The Prince de Ligne's baggage-wagons—The women of Namur—I meet my brother at Brussels—Our last farewell—Ostend—I take passage for Jersey—I land at Guernsey—The pilot's wife—Jersey—My uncle de Bedée and his family—Description of the island—The Duc de Berry—Lost friends and relations—The misfortune of growing old—I go to England—Last meeting with Gesril