The birth of a son to Napoleon, filled the nation with joy, and removed from the statesman of France a load of anxiety. The French empire and Napoleon were one. He had made it, and he alone could preserve its integrity. No other statesman nor leader in the army, even if elevated to his place, could sway his sceptre. Were he dead, France must look into the gulf of another revolution, or submit to the dictation of tyrants. And yet this single man, on whose shoulders lay the interests of so vast an empire, lived on the battle-field, exposed to death on every side. Wise men trembled when they saw so mighty a structure resting on a single pedestal, and asked, what would become of France if the shot that pierced the breast of Turenne, or shattered Charles XII., should pierce him. A son would confirm his dynasty, and the army would rally around his cradle, for the father's sake. It was from such views sprung the strong desire on the part of France, that Napoleon should be divorced from Josephine and marry some one who could give him an heir. One can, therefore, easily imagine the intoxication of the French people when that heir was actually born.

The confinement of the queen was known throughout Paris, and the whole population was on the tip-toe of expectation. At length the cannon of the Invalides thundered forth the joyful event that a child was born. It was announced beforehand that if it were a princess, twenty-one guns should be fired--if a prince, a hundred. As the first heavy explosion rolled over the city, the vast population stood and listened. They counted to the twenty-first discharge, at which there was a pause. The excitement then became intense and when at length the twenty-second gun, double charged, pealed over the Seine, a wild shout of enthusiasm shook the capital to its centre, telling to all Europe how deep-seated was the affection of the people for their Emperor, and how great their joy at the prospect of the continuation of his dynasty.

The birth of this young " king of Rome," as he was titled, was celebrated with extraordinary pomp.

To give greater eclat to the event, and at the same time form the nucleus of a Guard which should be to his son what the Old Guard had been to him, he issued a decree, creating a regiment of two battalions composed of six companies each, under the name of pupils of the Guard, to be called "Guards of the King of Rome." The young Bonaparte was to be the commander when he became old enough to handle a sword. No one could be admitted into this guard under ten, or over sixteen years of age. He also must be the son or nephew of a soldier who had died on the field of battle. He must be able to read and write, and bring proof that he had been vaccinated. Most of the officers were chosen from the military school of St. Cyr--and from the sub-lieutenants, up to the colonel commandant, they were nominated by the emperor himself; after being proposed by the minister of war. This corps of boys was organized at Versailles, and very soon numbered four thousand. They were all orphans, and Napoleon said, "their fathers being dead, the army shall be their father." They had a standard of their own, but no eagle; for that was never given to a regiment unless earned on the field of battle.

After they had been drilled awhile, the emperor ordered them to be brought to Paris from Versailles, to figure in one of his grand reviews of the Old Guard. The latter were drawn up in line of battle, when to the surprise of every one, a new army in miniature debouched by the bridge royal, and advanced in good order in front of the troops. The martial air and erect figures of these boys of ten to sixteen years of age astonished every one. There was a platoon of sappers, little fair-haired urchins, with bear-skin caps whose beardless chins and lively faces contrasted ludicrously with the terrible air they tried to give themselves. The drum-major was five feet two inches high, and as he passed the Old Guard, he made his cane fly about his head with extraordinary rapidity, as much as to say, " beat that if you can. He was followed by the drummers, but without the larger bass drums, for there were none big enough to beat them. They played " la Favorite," a quick step composed expressly for them. Then came the chief officers on horseback, followed by the whole corps. As they marched along, they looked for all the world like the Old Guard seen through an inverted spy glass. They formed in front of the 1st regiment of grenadiers, and the old veterans at the sight of these baby soldiers laughed and chuckled in great delight.

Soon, however, the beat of drums announced the arrival of the Emperor, who appeared on the field and rode straight to the pupils. They opened their ranks to receive him, and he dismounted, and, accompanied by the little staff officers, began his inspection. All at once he stopped, and seizing a corporal by the ear, pulled him towards him, and, in a stern voice, asked his age.

"Thirteen years old, my Emperor, the 30th of last March, the day of the birth of the King of Rome."

"Why did you smile just now when I spoke to your captain?"

"From pleasure in seeing you," replied the little blond.

"And what, if on arriving at Versailles, I should have you put in the hall of police, to teach you that an under officer never ought to smile in the ranks?"

"My Emperor, it would make me very happy, for it would show that you had thought of me."

Napoleon smiled at the naive reply, and passed on.

After he had finished his inspection, he ordered the line of pupils to advance a few steps, then placing himself between them and his grenadiers, he said:

"Soldiers of my Old Guard, behold your children! Their fathers fell fighting by your sides, and you will take their places to them. They will find in you, at the same time, an example and a support. Be their tutors. In imitating you, they will be brave; in listening to your counsel, they will become the first soldiers of the world. I confide to them the Guard of my son. With them I will have no fear for him, as with you I am without fear for myself. I ask for them your friendship and protection."

"Vive l'Empereur! Vive le Roi de Rome!" rolled in deafening shouts through the ranks.

Napoleon, with a gesture of his hand, checked their enthusiasm, and, turning to the pupils, said, in a subdued tone, "And you, my children, in attaching you to my Guard, I have given you a difficult duty to fulfill; but I rely upon you, and I hope one day to hear it said--'These children are worthy of their fathers.'"

As he finished, the most frantic acclamations rent the air.

He little thought, that in less than three years he would see those children crushing Russian grenadiers beneath their impetuous charge, and leaving their youthful forms on the soil of France in bravely endeavoring to hurl back the invaders of her soil.

As the troops defiled before him, the pupils were at the head of the Old Guard, and throughout the parade marched in good order, like trained soldiers. As the grenadiers came opposite Napoleon, a child of ten years old quitted his comrades, and advancing timidly towards him, presented, at a distance, his little bonnet, on which was placed a petition.

"Ah, ha!" said Napoleon, smiling, " ambitious already. He has commenced early." Then turning to Lauriston, his aide, he bade him see what the child wanted. As the latter brought back the petition, he said: "Sire, it is an orphan."

"An orphan!" interrupted the Emperor; "then I must see to it. Give me the paper."

As he unrolled the petition, he saw it was addressed to his infant child. It began: "To his Majesty the King of Rome."--Sire: Pierre Muscadet, eleven campaigns old, exclusive proprietor of five wounds not mortal, and foot grenadier of the Old Guard to your honored father, who has decorated the petitioner with his own hands at Boulogne, wishes to let you know that he has a nephew with whom he knows not what to do, inasmuch as he wishes to become a soldier. He is of blond complexion; has been vaccinated according to the rules. The bearer will undoubtedly make a good soldier. He knows how to read and write, and is aware of the respect due to his chiefs, and to the heir presumptive to the great Napoleon. The petitioner, therefore, prays that you will have the goodness to permit his nephew, Francois Muscadet, bearer of the present, to be incorporated as soon as possible into the corps of the pupils of the Guard, which is your own. I promise that he will never murmur in the service of your imperial person, royal and Roman."

The old soldier made his sign at the bottom of the petition.

In reading it, Napoleon smiled again and again. As he read the address, "To his Majesty the King of Rome," he shrugged his shoulders and said, "But this is not for me."

Having made a sign for the boy to approach, he said, "Thou art called Francis, and art nephew of Pierre Muscadet, grenadier of my Guard?"

"Yes, my Emperor," he replied, timidly, rolling his bonnet in his hands.

"Well, tell your uncle that he is a simpleton."

"Yes, my Emperor," replied the little fellow, with his eyes cast down.

Napoleon smiled at his naivete, and continued, "Nevertheless, his commission shall be punctually executed, for it would not be right to let you be the victim of your uncle's foolishness." Then turning to his aide-de-camp, he said, "Take the petitioner with his petition to my son."

Lauriston introduced the little Francis into the chamber of his Majesty, then five months old. He was asleep, but just then waking up, began to cry vociferously. Lauriston thinking his commission fulfilled, returned and found Napoleon occupied with the movements of the light artillery.

"Well," said he, "have you done what I desired?"

"Yes, sire."

"What response did his Majesty the King of Rome make?"

"Sire, his Majesty made no reply." Napoleon smiled and said, "They say silence gives consent. I will see to it this evening." Then turning to Francis, he bade him rejoin his comrades, and take care not to get under the horses' feet. He watched him as he ran with all his might through the ranks of the last battalion of grenadiers, and when he lost sight of him he said, "Poor little fellow, I wager that he will be no fool; but his uncle, though simple, is not less one of my braves, and I wish to gratify him."

Afterwards when Napoleon was disputing inch by inch the soil of France against an overwhelming army, this Francis led his troops to the charge with the sang-froid of a veteran, and equalled the Old Guard in a murderous action on the plains of Champagne. Although wounded early in the battle, he refused to quit the field, but lay bleeding and shouting, "Vive l' Empereur," till the Russians gave way. The cross of the Legion of Honor was his reward.

Immediately after the review, the pupils of the Guard commenced their service around the young king of Rome. The ladies in waiting of the empress amused themselves much with these miniature soldiers, teasing and consoling them by turns. Like the Old Guard, in its service to the Emperor, a portion only was on duty at a time, relieving the other every day. In the morning when the new detachment arrived, it found in its cartouch boxes, tops, toys, balls filled with bon bons and confectionery of every description. Such playthings did they make of these unfledged soldiers whom Ney himself two years after was to lead with astonishment against the veterans of Europe.

At the close of this year, 1811, the Guard numbered 51,960 men.