The public characters of Europe : conataining the lives of all the eminent men now living who have performed conspicuous parts in the political transactions o the last twenty-five years : forming a complete history of the late war

THE

PUBLIC CHARACTERS

OF

EUROPE;

CONTAINING

THE LIVES

OF ALL

THE EMINENT MEN

NOW LIVING,

WHO HAVE PERFORMED CONSPICUOUS PARTS IN THE POLITICAL
TRANSACTIONS OF THE LAST TWENTY-FIVE ^YEARS.

FORMING A COMPLETE

Htstotp of t|)e aate ®Ean

BY FRANCIS GIBBON, ESQ.
EMBELLISHED WITH PORTRAITS

OF THE

Most Distinguished Personages.
VOL, II.

lonuon ;
PRINTED FOR A. WHELLIER, 23, WARWICK SQUARE,

Paternoster Row;

AND SOLD BY ALL THE BOOKSELLERS IN THE

UNITED KINGDOM.

Printed bj Macdonald and Son, Cloth F«r, LondoDii

9//yj /^

M

PUBLIC CHARACTERS.

6fc.

J^emoirs of ti^e ^nWc Hift

OF

LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

KING OF FRANCE AND NA VARRE.

'T^HE restoration of the House of Bourbon to the
-"- throne of France, after a proscription of more than
twenty years, is an event of such unexampled magni-
tude, that,, for ages to come, it cannot fail to excite
the particular attention of mankind: the misfortunes of
this iflustnous House have been of the deepest cast,
and have been shared, more or less, by all its members;
and, vv^hen all hope of their termination seemed abso-
lutely to have fled for ever, a revolution, as unexpected
as it was sudden, has again restored them to those
rights which their birth and fortune give them a claim
to. In the Memoirs of Louis the Eighteenth it is
impossible to separate his life from those events which
gave birth to the great and unexampled misfortunes of
his family; nor should we be doing justice to our own
feelings, if we were to omit the opportunity which his
Memoirs afford of describing the history of a revolution
the most momentous in history, which has no ex-
ample in the annals of the world, and whose conse-
quences will be felt, in all human probability, at a period
as remote as the imagination can reach : for it is not in
France alone, that the effects of this great political con-
vulsion are felt, its influence has extended in every direc-
tion; and, however much its immediate consequences are
to be deplored, it cannot be concealed that many excellent
and beneficial results have sprung- out of it.

A 2 Louis

LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

Louis Stanislaus Xavier, King of France and Navarre,
was born on the 17th of November 1765, and was soon
after created Count de Provence. His father, who was
Dauphin of France, and son of Louis XV. died before
he inherited the throne; his first son, therefore, the
unfortunate Louis XVL and brother to his present Ma-
jesty, inherited his claims. During his brother's reign,
his present Majesty, according to the established custom
of the French monarchy, was styled Monsieur, as being
the next brother to the King. At the time he arrived at
the age of manhood, the court of France was distin-
guished by all that corruption of manners which ages of
refinement had given birth to; but, in all the voluptuous-
ness of the times, Louis XVIII. was remarkable for the
strictness of his morals and his temperate habits. In
this respect he formed a striking contrast to his younger
brother the Count d'Artois, who gave himself up freely
to all the pleasures of the court. This remarkable
difference between the habits of the two brothers, we
are told, produced a shyness between them, which was
greatly increased by their matrimonial connexions ; for
having married sisters, Madame was extremely jealous
and uneasy in having no family, while the Countess
d'Artois was the mother of a most promising one. The
clouds and misfortunes which hung over their house,
however^ produced a different effect than could be given
by days of prosperity ; and, whatever little differences and
jealousies might subsist between the branches of this
illustrious family, they soon gave way to a sense of com-
mon danger, arising from the turbulence of factions, and
the storms that w^ere thickly gathering around them.

It is here that we intend to investigate the causes, and
to describe the progress, of that extraordinary revolution
which terminated so fatally to the illustrious brother of the
subject of our present biography, and so destructive to the
best and dearest interests of the Bourbon family. A long
train of oppression, for a considerable period before the
accession of Louis XVL had prepared the French peo-
ple to shake off the yoke of domestic tyranny. For a
long time France had been governed by an aristocracy,
whose various members were feebly united by the au-
thority of a succession of kings destitute of power or
influence. The nobles enjoyed privileges, nothing short

of

&

/'/^/k // -^ ^J{'/y7/

/v/,Ayw.vw-/v^As^. A,.4R7,^^n;..

KING OF FRANCE.

of royal, within their own territories: they made peace
and war; they coined money; were judges in the last
resort; held their vassals as slaves, whom they bought
and sold with their lands: and the inhabitants of cities,
though freemen, were depressed and poor, depending for
protection on some neighbouring baron; at least, such
was their condition till, through the progress of the arts,
the cities had acquired considerable importance, when
their inhabitants, with such freemen of low rank as re-
sided in the country, were considered as entitled to a
representation in the"^ States-General, or general assembly
of the nation, under the appellation of the Tiers Etat, or
Third Estate, the clergy being the first, and the nobility
the second. Such was the origin of that order, so dis-
tinguished and conspicuous in the first years of the
French revolution. Both clergy and no'bles were ex-
empted from all taxation, the whole burden of which
consequently fell on the labouring and industrious class
of the community. Next to the nobility, in point of
importance, were the parliaments, consisting of large
bodies of men, appointed as courts of law, for the ad-
ministration of justice. The members purchased their
places, and held them for life; whence arose the most
flagrant corruption and perversion of right.

The sovereigns having become despotic, the meetings
of the States-General were laid aside. But, notwith-
standing the vast assumption of power by Louis XI. the
kingdom was never consolidated, but consisted of various
provinces, each governed by peculiar laws. After the
assembling ol" the States-General had grown into disuse,
the parliaments acquired a degree of political importance,
and frequently checked the power of the crown in re-
fusing to register the royal edicts, without which they
were of no force. Tliis rendered them very popular,
and induced Louis XV. to abolish them, and bis suc-
cessor, from an opposite motive, to restore them, early in
his reign. a

Such was the state of France, when the unhappy
Louis XVL ascended the throne. The commons, as we
have hinted, bore all the burden of taxation, and were,
besides, dreadfully oppressed by the higher orders. An
expensive and dissipated court; an army of 200,000
men to be maintained in time of peace, and double that

number

LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

number during war, a great marine establishment, public
roads, works, &c. were all exclusively supplied by their
labours; and, to make the evil greater, the revenues
were leased out to farmers-general, who accumulated
immense fortunes by the most cruel exactions, under the
sanction of the revenue laws, the enactment of which
they obtained at pleasure. And while the commons
thus suffered, all ranks were kept in a state of continual
terror, by the Bastille and Lettres de Cachet. The
system of espionage was carried to its utmost extent, and
such a host of spies were dispersed every where by the
court police, that no man was safe.

Among the immediate causes that led to this extra-
ordinary revolution, may be recited, in addition to the
foregoing, the decided part taken by the French court
in favour of the Americans, and the spirit of freedom
imbibed among them by the French soldiers, and by
them brought back to Europe; the various changes in
the French ministry; the public discontents, on account
of the dismission of M. Necker; the failure of the
Caisse des Escomptes ; the low state of the French
funds; the assemblage and dismission of the Notables;
the exile and recal of the Parliament of Paris, and their
spirited remonstrance, which led to the restoration of
the States-General. To these we may add the general
diffusion of political, philosophical, and infidel writings,
by the first geniuses of the age, who levelled their wit
equally at the pulpit and the throne, and thus unloosed
the religious and political prejudices of the people, and
destroyed the common bonds of society.

Meantime, all ranks vs^ere jealous of each other;
the inferior clergy, excluded from preferment, envied
their superiors, and were ready to join the laity in any
commotion. The inferior provincial nobility, also, de-
spised the vices of the courtiers; and the higher nobility
wished to reduce the power of the crown. The lawyers,
excluded from becoming judges, wished for a change,
and actually were the most active supporters of the
revolution.

To add to the general discontent, an extraordinary
storm of uncommonly large hail, or rather pieces of ice,
destroyed the crop of 1788, at a moment when the gene-
ral scarcity throughout Europe prevented the neighbour-
ing

KING OF FRANCE.

ing nations from furnishing a supply adequate to the
wants of the French people, under such a calamity. Thus
the year 1789 commenced in the midst of uncommon
pohtical and commercial anxiety and distress. The
commons demanded equal taxation, the abolition of lettres
de cachet, and, in short, a constitution similar to the
British. The minister, M. Necker, as well as the king,
wished, through their means, to abridge, if not to over-
turn, the overgrown and oppressive privileges of the
higher orders ; and, in this situation of affairs, tlie States-
General were convoked, by royal auihority, after a
sequestration of 175 years.

The lettres de cachet, alluded to, were private letters, or
mandates, issued under the royal seal, for the apprehen-
sion of individuals, who had rendered themselves sus-
pected by the court; and who were, in consequence,
generally immured in the Bastille, without trial, and
were very seldom heard of afterwards.

The States were summoned to meet at Versailles, on
the 27th of April, and most of the deputies arrived by
that time; but the elections for Paris not being com-
pleted, the king deferred the commencement of their
session till the 4th of May. This interval afforded the
deputies of the commons an opportunity of becoming
acquainted with each other, and of forming themselves
into clubs; among which, one formed by a few mem-
bers from Britany, and afterwards enlarged by the admis-
sion of such other deputies, and even others who were
not deputies, as shewed themseivt s zealous in tlie popular
cause, was called the Comite Breton till after its removal
to Paris, and there it became formidable under the
name of the Jacobin Club ; an appellation given to it from
the hall of the Jacobin friars, in which its sittings were
held.

During the first sittings of the States-General, the com-
mons insisted that the three estates should sit together in
one chamber, which was resisted in the chamber of the
clergy by a majority of 133 against 114, and in that of
the nobles by 188 against 47. The commons, therefore,
determined that no business should be transacted till
their desire was yielded to, and suffered five weeks to
pass away in total inactivity, as to public affairs, but not
as to the propagation of tlieir new and bold ideas of

liberty,

LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

liberty, which were eagerly icibibed by their auditory,
who were admitted promiscuously, without lespecl to
rank or sex, not only into the galleries, but even into the
body of the hall, among the deputies. The declairiations
of the popular orators were received with acclamations,
and the meetings of the commons rather resembled the
tumult of a theatre than the gravity of an assembly
of legislators. In the mean time, the nobles became
more and more unpopular; the odious epithet of Aristo^
crate was applied to all who dared to speak in their
favour. They saw the clergy ready to abandon them,
under the influence of the parochial parsons; and even
in their own body they were opposed by a minority,
having at its head the celebrated Duke of Orleans, the
first prince of the royal blood.

At length the leaders of the commons declared, that
the privileged orders, being only the representatives of
particular corporations, had no right, in a collective capa-
city, to act as legislators for France, but that they should
be admitted to sit and vote with the representatives of
the people at large. They therefore sent a message to
this effect to the chambers of the peers and clergy, requir-
ing their attendance as individuals, and intimating that
the commons, as the deputies of 96 out of every hun-
dred of their countrymen, were about to assume the
exclusive power of legislation: at the same time they
appointed twenty committees for the management of
public affairs. This bold measure was proposed by the
Abbe Sieyes. None of the nobles obeyed this mandate;
but three cures presented their credentials, and were re-
ceived with loud acclamations: these were soon followed
by five more; and, after some debate as to the appella-
tion they ought to assume, the commons, thus joined by
eight of the clergy, solemnly voted themselves the sove-
reign legislators of the country, under the title of the
National Constituent Assembly.

The popular cause now gained ground so fast, that on
the lOth of June a majority of the clergy voted for a
verification of their powers, in common with the national
assembly; and the nobles perceived that they must in-
stantly make a decisive stand, or give up their cause for
lost. The king had hitherto favoured the popular cause
against the aristocracy; but now every art was used to

alarnt

KING OF FRANCE.

alarm his mind upon the assumption of power by the
commons; and they proved at length successful, during
the absence ot M. Necker, then attending the last mo-
ments of a dying sister. On the 20th of June, when the
president and members of the National Assembly were
about to enter their hidl, they found it surrounded by a
detachment of the guards, who refused them admission,
•while the heralds proclaimed a royal session ; the plea for
this interruption was the necessary preparations for the
intended solemnity. Supposing that an immediate dis-
solution of the assembly was designed, the president and
deputies retired to an adjoining tennis-court, and there
took a solemn oath, " never to separate till the constitu-
tion of their country should be completed." On the
22d, the National Assembly met in the church of St.
Louis, and were there joined by the majority of the
clergy, with the Archbishop of Vienne at their head. Two
nobles of Dauphine, the Marquis de Blazon, and the
Count D'Angoult, also presented their commissions,
and were received with applause. On the 23d, the royal
session was held in the ancient form; the hall was sur-
rounded with soldiers; and while the two privileged
orders were seated within, the commons were left stand-
ing without, for a full hour, in a heavy rain ; so that when
at last admitted, they were in no humour to receive with
much complacency the commands of their sovereign.
The King read a discourse, in which he declared the pro-
ceedings of the national assembly to be null, and presented
the plan of a new constitution, which, though it con-
tained many patriotic principles, preserved the distinction
of orders, and the use of lettres de cachet; it was also
silent as to any share to be possessed in the legislation by
the States-General, as well as upon the responsibility of
ministers, and the liberty of the press. When the King
withdrew, he commanded the deputies to retire, and was
followed by all the nobles, and part of the clergy. But
the commons chose to remain, and, before they separated,
decreed their adherence to their former resolutions, and
pronounced their persons to be inviolable. On the fol-
lowing day, the 24th of June, the majority of the clergy
attended with the commons, as members of the National
Assembly; and, on the 2oth, they were joined by the
VOL, II. B Duke

10 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

Duke of Orleans and 49 of the deputies of the order of
nobles. On the 27th, Louis sent a pressing letter to both
orders, inviting them to join the commons; which re-
quest was immediately complied with, though many of
the nobility disapproved of the measure. Such was the
origin of the famous National Assembly, whose deeds will
be remembered to the latest posterity.

In the mean time, famine raged throughout the coun-
try, and, being particularly felt in Paris, prepared the
people for receiving unfavourable impressions. The mili-
tary were also seduced, and, in a case of riot on the 23d of
June, refused to fire on the mob; for which disobedience
they were afterwards pardoned by the National Assembly.
The tumultuous state of the capital, which was daily
increasing, made the king call out the military force, to
restore the public peace. A rumour was instantly pro-
pagated, that it was intended to besiege and bombard
Paris, to dissolve the Assembly, and to put the members
to death. About 35,000 troops were stationed in the
neighbourhood of Paris and Versailles; the posts com-
manding the city were occupied, and camps marked out
for a still greater force. The Count D'Artois, who was
at the head of these proceedings, now procured the dis-
mission of M. Necker; and that popular minister was
ordered to quit the kingdom in twenty-four hours.

All Paris was thrown into consternation on receiving
intelligence of M. Necker's banishment; and when the
Prince de Lambesc, grand ecuyer of France, attempted
by violence to reduce the turbulent spirit of the citizens,
at the head of a German regiment, the French guards
joined their countrymen, and compelled them to retire.
All order was now at an end ; and, as night approached,
an universal terror pervaded every quarter of the city.
Bands of robbers were collecting, and a general pillage
was dreaded. The alarm bells were sounded; the citi-
zens assembled at the Hotel de Ville, and enrolled them-
selves as a militia for general defence, under the title of
the National Guards.

On the morning of the memorable 14th of July 1789,
it was discovered that the troops who had been encamped
in the Champs Elisees had moved off, whence a general
attack was apprehended. The national guards now

amounted

KING OF FRANCE. n

amounted to 150,000 men ; and in the Hotel des Invalides
they found upwards of 30,000 stand of arms, besides 20
pieces of cannon : to these were added a coiisiderabie
quantity and variety of weapons taken from the Garde
Meuble of the crown, the cutlers' shops, &c. At first,
this new militia had mounted a ;?reen cockade; but this
being the livery of the Count D'Artois, they afterwards
discarded it, and adopted one of red, blue, and ichitc.

The celebrated fortress and prison of the BastiUe was an
object of terror and jealousy to the Parisians: so long as
it remained in the power of the crown, the city could
not be considered as secure. It was tlierefore invested
by a motley multitude of citizens and soldiers, who had
joined the popular cause; and the governor, M. De Launy,
was summoned to surrender, fie displayed a flag of truce,
and demanded a parley; upon which M. De la Rosier,
with a numerous deputation, waited on him, and he pro-
mised not to fire on the city, unless first attac!;ed. But
he soon after admitted a multitude of persons within the
fortress, drew up the bridge, and ordered them to be fired
on, which was done, and occasioned a great carnage.
This, instead of intimidating, only augmented the rage
of the populace ; they forced the outer and inner courts,
and, after five hours firing, obliged the fort and garrison
to surrender. De Launy and his major were instantly
put to death, and their heads carried on poles through the
streets of Paris. The remainder of the day was spent in
a mixture of alarm and triumph, and a general illumina-
tion lasted the whole night.

Seven prisoners only were found in the cells of this
prison, among whom were Major White, a native of Scot-
land, Earl Mazarene, an Irish nobleman, and the Count
de Lorges; all of whom had, more or less, suffered in
their intellects from the length and severity of their con-
finement. Major White, by being unaccustomed tocon-
vese with human creatures, had actually lost the faculty
of speech. There was also discovered, in an iron cage,
weighing about twelve tons, the skeleton of some unhappy
victim of despotism, who had lingered out a miserable
existence in that dark and horrible abode.

These transactions were concealed from the King, by

the Count D'Artois and his party, till the Duke de Lian-

gonrt forced his way into the royal apartment, at midnight,

B 2 to

12 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

to apprise him of the situation of his capital; at the same
time he recommended the Count to fly immediately for
his life, as his name was contained in the lists of pro-
scribed persons, posted on the walls of Paris. The next
morning Louis appeared in the National Assembly, but
without the pomp of despotisni ; and, in an affectionate
and consolatory address, lamented the disturbances at
Paris, disavowed all intention of an attack on the persons
of the deputies, and intimated that the troops should be
immediately removed. The tear of s\'mpathy started
from almost every eye ; and, after an expressive pause of
silence, a general burst of applause broke lorth. On the
following day, the King intimated to the Assembly his
desire to visit Paris; and many of the members, in their
robes, accompanied him, on foot. The Paris militia,
headed by the Marquis de la Fayette, their commander,
went out to mett the procession; and when his Majesty
arrived at the gates of the city, the keys were presented
to him, by M. Baily, in whose person the office of Mayor
of Paris had been renewed. All this time nothing could
be heard but shouts of Vive la Nation! Louis repaired
to the Hotel de Ville; and having received a national cock-
ade, he put it on, and appeared at the window, on which
the air was rent with shouts of Vive le Roi ! The return
of the king to Versailles was a real triumph ; the citizens,
intoxicated with enthusiasm, surrounded his carriage;
and his countenance, which in the morning was sad-
dened by melancholy apprehensions, now shone with
cheerfulness, and he apparently partook in the general
exultation.

This humour of the populace, however, did not long
continue; they speedily returned to the work of mas-
sacre; the heads of unpopular men were struck off, and
carried about on poles; they became habituated to blood-
shed, and excited each other to fresh acts of atrocity by
what were termed national airs and songs, particularly
the well known *' Cd ira,'' and the " MarseiUois Hymn."

In consequence of an invitation from the King, M.
Necker returned to France, and was received by the Na-
tional Assembly with great applause, and in Paris with
great solemnity and triumph. But he could not put a
stop to the bloody proscription and tumult; on the con-
trary, the enthusiasm of the capital was communicated to

the

KING OF FRANCE. 13

the provinces, and in every quarter the people seized
upon all the arms that could be found, and the military
refused to act against them.

In the sitting of the 4th of August, the Viscount de
Noailles, seconded by the Duke D'Aiguillon, proposed
the abolition of all feudal clainls and services, together
with a general taxation on all classes of men, according
to their property. These proposals were received with
the most enthusiastic applauses by the assembly and the
galleries, and were decreed by acclamation, without a
vote. The hereditary jurisdictions possessed by the
nobles within their own territories were next sacriticed.
All places and pensions granted by the court were sup-
pressed, unless granted as the reward of merit or of
actual services. The game laws were renounced, toge-
ther with the rights of warrens, fisheries, and dove-cotes.
The sale of offices was abolished; and the fees exacted
from the poor, with the privilege of holding a plurality-
of livings, were relinquished by the clergy. The depu-
ties of the Pays d'Etat, or privileged provinces, with
the deputies of Dauphine, offered a surrender of their
ancient privileges. The representatives of Paris, Mar-
seilles, Lyons, Bourdeaux, Strasbourg, &c. likewise re-
quested leave to renounce all their privileges as corpora-
tions, under the idea of placing every man, and every
village in the nation, upon a footing of equality ; and, to
close the whole, the Duke de Liancourt proposed that a
solemn Te Deum should be performed, that a medal
should be struck in commemoration of the events of
that night, and that the title of Restorer of Gallic
Liberty should be bestowed upon the reigning mon-
arch.

These great popular sacrifices were succeeded by a
short season of tranquillity, during which the king
seized the opportunity of appointing a new ministry.
M. Necker, as minister of finance, stated the embarrassed
situation of the revenue: for the confusion into which
the nation had been thrown by the late events had
produced a suspension of the payment of all taxes.
Among other plans for retrieving the finances, recourse
w*s had to patriotic contributions; and great numbers
of gold rings, silver buckles, and pieces of plate, were
presented to the assembly ; and the royal family them-
selves

14 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

selves sent their plate to the mint. At length, M.
.Necker was driven to the necessity of proposing a com-
pulsory loan, by which every individual should advance
a sum equal to one-fourth of his annual income: this
proposition was adopted by the assembly; but it does
not appear to have been effectually carried into execu-
tion. In the mean time, the Assembly was occupied in
framing the celebrated declaration of the rights of man,
which was afterwards prefixed to the new constitution*.

This

* The following is the Declaration of the Rights of Man, as voted
by the National Assembly; its principles were too pure for a suc-
cessful adoption in so corrupt a state of society as the French.

" The Representatives of the People of Franci:, formed into a
National Assembly, considering that ignorance, neglect, or con-
tempt of human rights, are the sole causes of public misfortunes and
corruptions of government, have resolved to set forth, in a solemn de-
claration, these natural, imprescriptible, and unalienable rights. That
this declaration being constantly present to the minds of the mem-
bers of the body social, they may be ever kept attentive to their
rights and their duties. That the acts of the legislative and executive
powers of government, being capable of being every moment compared
with the end of political institutions, may be more respected : and
also, that the future claims of the citizens, being directed by simple
and incontestible principles, may always tend, to the maintenance of
the constitution, and the general happmess.

" For these reasons, the National Assembly doth recognize and
declare, in the presence of the Supreme Being, and witli the hope of
liis blessing and favour, the following sacred rights of men and
citizens: —

* 1 Men are born, and always continue, free, and equal in respect of
' their rights. Civil distinctions, therefore, can be founded onlj/ on public

* utility.

" 2. The end of all political associations is the preservation of the

* natural and imprescriptible rights of man; and these rights are liberty,
' property, security, and resixtance of oppression.

* 3. The nation is essentially the source of all sovereignly ; nor can
' any ineividual, or any body of men, be entitled to any authority

* zchich is not expressly derived from it.

' 4. Political liberty consists in the power of doing whatever does

* not injure another. The exercise of the natural rights of every man,

* has no other limits than those which are necessary to secure to every

* other man the free exercise of the same rights; and these limits are
' determinable only by the law.

' 5. The law ought to prohibit only actions hurtful to society.

* What is not prohibited by the law, should not be hindered; nftr
' should any one be compelled to that which the law does not

* require.

* 6. The law is an expression of the will of the community. All

' citizens

KING OF FRANCE. 15

This was followed by a long discussion respecting the
legislative authority of the King; and it was settled that
the executive power could possess no negative against
the decrees of the Assembly. Soon after this, the King

' citizens have a riglit to concur, either personally, or by their represen-
' talives, in its formation. It should be the same to all, whether it

* protects or punishes ; and all being equal in ils sight, are equally
' eligible to all honours, places, and employments, according to their

* different abilities, without any other distinction than that created by

* their virtues and talents.

' 7. No man should be accused, arrested, or held in confinement,
'except ill cases determined by the law, and according to the forms

* which it has prescribed. All uiio promote, solicit, execute, or cause
' to be executed, arbitrary orders, ought to bo punished ; and every
'citizen called upon, or apprehended by virtue of the law, ought

< immediately to obey, and renders himself culpable by resistance.

' 8. The law ought to impose no other penalties but such as are

* absolutely and evidently necessary : and no one ought to be pu-

* nished, but in virtue of a law promulgated before the offence, and
' legally applied.

' 9. Every man being presumed innocent till he has been convicted,
' whenever his detention becomes indispensiblc, all rigour to him,
' more than is necessary to secure his person, ought to be provided
' against by the law.

' 10. No man ought to be molested on account of his opinions, not

* even on account of his r^/ZgioMS opinions, provided his avowal of them
' dues not disturb the public order established by the law.

'II. The unrestrained communication of thoughts and opinions

< being one of the most precious rights of man, every citizen maj

* speak, write, and publish freely, provided he is responsible for the

* abuse of this liberty in cases determined by the law.

* 12. A public force being necessary to give security to the rights

* of men and of citizens, that force is instituted for the benefit of the

* community, and not for the particular benefit of the persons with
' whom it is entrusted.

* 13. A common contribution being necessary for the support of

* the public force, and for defraying the other expences of government,
' it oiigiit to be divided equally among the members of the community,
» according to their abilities.

' 14. Every citizen has a right, either by himself or his repre-
' sentatives, to a free voice in determining the necessity of public con-

* tributions, the appropriation of them, and their amount, mode of

* assessment, and duration.

' 15. Every community has a right to demand of all its agents, an
' account of their conduct.

' IG. Every community in which a separation of powers and a se-

* curity of rights is not provided for, wants a constitution.

' 17. The right to property being inviolable and sacred, no one
' ought to be deprived of it, except in cases of evident public necessity,

* legally ascertained, and on condition of a previous just indemnity."

gave

16 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

gave his sanction to the important decrees of the 4th of
August; but not without expressing his doubts of the
expediency of some of them, in a letter to the Assembly.
At ^he saute time the inviolability of the person of the
monarch was decreed, the indivisibility of the throne,
and its hereditary descent from male to male in the
reigning family.

About this period, a report being circulated of the
intended flight of the King, the French guards, who
were, since their defection, in the pay of the city, began
to wish to be restored to their ancient employment of
attending his person, to prevent any attempt of this
nature. This idea was eagerly cherished by the capiial ;
and, in spite of every effort used by M. de la Fayette, the
appearance of approaching disturbances could not be
prevented. The popular party saw the advantages which
they would derive from placing the Assembly and the
King in the midst of that turbulent metropolis; every
encouragement was, therefore, given by the most active
leaders of the democratic party to the establishing the
court at Paris. On the 5th of October, a violent debate
ensued in the Assembly at Versailles, during which all
Paris was in commotion. A vast multitude of women of
the lower rank, with many men in women's clothes,
had assembled at the Hotel de Ville, and were calling
aloud for arms and bread. La Fayette in vain opposed
their proceeding to Versailles to demand bread from the
King and the Assembly, for the soldiers refused to turn
their bayonets against the women. Upon this, the insur-
gents set out for Versailles, led by one Stanislaus Maillard,
a man who had distinguished himself at the taking of
the Bastille. The Mayor and municipality of Paris now
thought fit to give orders to La Fayette instantly to set
out for Versailles at the head of the national guard. In
the mean time, Maillard approached Versailles with his
tumultuous troop; the King was hunting in the woods
of Mendon when he was informed of their arrival. Mail-
lard entered the Assembly, accompanied with a deputa-
tion of his followers, to state the object of their journey.
The Assembly, to pacify them, sent a deputation of their
own number along with them, to lay their complaints
before the King, who received the whole with great urba-
nity, and agreed to adopt any measure for the supply of

the

KING OF FRANCE. 17

the capital that could be suggested. This had such an
effect on the multitude, that they began to disperse; but
they were spt-edily succeeded by another crowd, not less
numerous. A sudden rcsoiulion of fligiit appears now to
have been proposed by the court, tor the King's carriages
were biouglit to the gate of the palace: but the national
guard of Versailles refused to allow them to pass; and
the King himself refused to remove, or to allow any
blood to be shed in his cause. La Fayette with his army
at length arrived, about ten o'clock at night, and found
the hall and galleries of the assembly crowded by the
Parisian ti^hwomen, and others of the mob, who, at
every instant, interrupted the debates. La Fayette
waited upon the King, and informed him of the proceed-
ings of the day ; planted guards in every quarter ; and,
after a scanty banquet had been procured for the multi-
tude, he prevailed with the Assembly to close their sitting
for the night. All was now quiet, till about six in the
mornmg of the 6th, when a great number of women and
desperate persons rushed forward to the palace, and at-
tempted to force their way into it. Two of the gardes
du corps were k\[\ed; the crowd ascended the staircase
leading to the Queen's apartn)ents, but were bravely re-
sisted by Meiniandre, a sentinel, who gave the alarm, and
defended his post till he fell covered with wounds;
which, however, did not prove fatal. The ruffians, reek-
ing with his biood, rushed into the Queen's chamber, and
pierced with bayonets and poniards the bed, whence this
persecuted woman had but just time to fly, almost
naked, and through ways unknown to the murderers, to
take refuge with the King, who, being alarmed, had gone
to seek her. The tumult became every moment more
violent, and death seemed to threaten the whole royal
family; but La Fayette was, by this time, at the head of
his troops, whom he besought earnestly to save the
gardes du corps from massacre: in which he was success-
ful, and the retreat of the whole corps was secured. The
crowd was speedily driven from the different quarters of
the palace, which they were already beginning to pillage;
and the royal family ventured to shew themselves at a
balcony. A few voices now exclaimed, " The King to
Paris!" The shout soon became general ; and the King,
after consulting with La Fayette, declared himself willing
VOL. II. . c to

18 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

to take up his residence at Paris, if he were accompanied
by his Queen and children. The Assembly, on this
proposal, expressed much satisfaction, ordered a deputa-
tion of 100 members to attend the King thither, and
voted the National Assembly inseparable from the King.
He set out at two o'clock, in custody of the mob. Two
gentlemen were selected from his body guard, and, with
all the parade of an execution, beheaded in the court of
his palace. Their heads were stuck upon spears, and
led the procession; whilst the royal captives, who fol-
lowed in the train, and beheld this spectacle, were con-
ducted so slowly, that a short journey of twelve miles
was protracted to six hours. The city was illuminated,
and the evening spent in tiiumph by the Parisians.

The higher order of nobles considered this event as
ruinous to their cause; and the Duke of Orleans, being
suspected of having fomented the late disturbances, went
by La Fayette's advice to London, where he resided for
several months. On the 19th of October 17S0, the
National Assembly held its first session in Paris. The
peace of the capital was secured by a severe law being
passed, authorizing the magistrates to act by military
force against any multitude of persons that should refuse
to disperse; but in the country no small degree of con-
fusion still subsisted. The suspicions which had pre-
vailed at Paris agitated the provinces with the dread of
plots and monopolies of grain. The noblesse in the
country were not satisfied with the liberality with which
their representatives had, on the 4th of August, voted
away their privileges and their property. This produced
violent jealousies between the peasants and their lords,
and conveyed to every corner of the kingdom the poli-
tical ferment which had commenced at Paris.

The National Assembly being now, however, in
tolerable security, proceeded in the arduous attempt of
forming a free constitution for the kingdom. The Abbe
Sieyes presented apian for dividing the kingdom into S3
departments, of about 324 square leagues, and each de-
partment into several districts, and each district was sub-
divided into cantons of four square leagues in extent ;
and the whole ancient divisions were abolished. An at-
tempt was also made to simplify the relative situations of
individuals in civil life^ by a decree, which put an end to

all

KING OF FRANCE. 19

all distinct!' liS of orders and immunities, so far as any
privilege was conteined. At the same time, the w lole
of the lands beloufcing to the church were coufiscaLed,
to supply the exigencies of the state; and assigns is, or
assignments, were issued upon them. A decree was next
passed, suspending the parliaments from the ex> rcise of
their functions ; the Chalelet,'however, being retained for
trying royalists.

On the 4th of February 1790, the King suddenly ap-
peared in the National Assembly, where he complained
of the attempts tiiat had been made to shake the new
constitution, and declared that he would defend the con-
stitutional liberty of the state, and, in conjunction with
the Queen, would early form the sentiments of his son
for thac new order of things which the circumstances of
the nation had introduced.

On the 13ch of February, monastic establishments
were suppressed, and their lands confiscated; but the
friars and nuns were allowed pension? f"or their subsist-
ence. In consequence of the evacuation oi the monas-
teries about this time, the Breton committee assumed
the appellation of the Jacobin Club, ^>om the hall in
which their meetings were held at Paris having belonged
to the Jacobin friars.

The preparations for war, in which England and Spain
were engaged, brought forward, on the l4th of May, the
constitutional question in the National Assembly, " Who
ought to possess the power of declaring peace and war?"
when it was decreed, that the French nation renounced
for ever all idea of conquest, confining itself entirely to^
defensive war ; and that peace and war should be de-
clared by the King and the legislative body in conjunc-
tion. A decree was also passed, abolishmg all here-
ditary titles, and suppressing all armorial bearings.

During this, the capital was entirely engrossed b)^ hurry
and bustle, a plan having been adopted for commemo-
rating the anniversary of the taking of the Bastille. The
army had been much disorganized; and it was resolved
to attempt to unite all its branches, as well as all the
departments of the state, in one common attachment to
the new order of things, by collecting into one place
deputations for the purpose of swearing fidelity to the
new constitution-. This confederation, as it was called,
c 2 was

20 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

was decreed to take place on the 14th of July 1790. The
Champ de Mars, so famous for havmg been the rendezvous
of the troops which, in the preceding year, were intended
to overawe the capital, was chosen for this solemnity.
In the centre of the plain an altar was erected, at which
the civic oath, or oath of fidelity to the nation, was to be
taken. Around the altar an immense amphitheatre, of a
league in circumference, was thrown up, capable of con-
taining 400,000 spectators; 2000 workmen were em-
ployed in this operation: and the people of Paris, fear-
ing lest the plan might not be completed, assisted in the
labour. The entrance was through triumphal arches.
The King's throne was placed under an elegant pavilion
in the middle, and on each side of it were seats for the
members of the National Assembly.

The important I4th of July at length arrived. The
national guards of the departments, distinguished by their
lespective standards, the battalions of infantry, and the
different troops of cavaliy, the marine of France, and the
foreigners who served under its banners, being arranged
in military order, the King and the National Assembly
took a solemn oath to maintain the constitution; and the
armed citizens repeated it, amongst the applauses of
innumerable spectators. They swore to live free, or to
die ; and this oath was taken on the same day through
the whole extent of the kingdom. Te Deum was then
sung. Tlie performance was subhme beyond the powers
of description. Never, perhaps, before was there such
an orchestra, or such an audience: their numbers baffled
the eye to reckon, and their shouts in full chorus rent the
skies. It is impossible to enumerate all the means which
were employed to add splendour to this day. It ended
with a general illumination, and no accident disturbed the
public ppace.

The Assembly now proceeded in the formation of the
constitution with considerable tranquillity ; which, how-
ever, was disturbed by an insurrection among the regi-
ments in garrison at Nancy, occasioned by necessaries
having been denied them, and their pay having been
kept back. Upon a representation made to the National
Assembly, a decree was passed, authorizing the com-
nrander-in-chief of the p;o'ince, M. Bouitle, to reduce
the insurgents by force. Bouille hastened to Nancy, at

the

KING OF FRANCE. gl

the head of all the troops he could suddenly collect ; and,
having put an immense multitude to the sword, took 400
prisoners. The news of these events filled Paris with
indignation. The Assembly afterwards reversed its own
decrees against the insurgents; but Bouille could not
be punished, because he had only acted by authority.

M. Necker's popularity had been gradually declining,
as he was unwilling to go all the lengths that the ruling
party wished. He gave in his resignation on the 4th of
September, and soon after left the kingdom, regretted by
no party.

The Assembly commenced the year 1791 with a
decree, announcing the termination of its session, which
was to take place as soon as it should have finished the
discussion of a list of constitutional articles. In the
mean time, on the side of Germany, Spain, Italy, and
Savoy, hostile appearances began to be exhibited, and
bodies of troops advanced round the French frontiers;
on which the Assembly expressed some alarm, and voted
an augmentation of the national force.

On the 20th of February, the public attention was
roused by a circumstance, that, in any other state of
affairs, would have been accounted unimportant. The
King announced to the Assembly, that his aunts, the
daughters of Louis XV. had that morning left Paris; but
as he did not apprehend that the existing laws laid
them under any restraint in this respect, he had not op-
posed their departure. After some debate, the Assembly
agreed that the King had judged well; and these
princesses were left to pursue their journey to Rome,
which they reached after some delays, occasioned by the
jealousj^ of certain municipalities, through which they
passed. Thus the kingdom was gradually deserted by
every branch of the royal family, excepting the King
and his eldest brother, Monsieur, the present Sovereign of
France.

During this spring, great fear was entertained that
some attempts at a counter-revolution were about to be
made. The emigrant army, assembled on the borders,
was reviewed by the Prince of Cond6. The King was
likewise surrounded by nonjuring priests, and other dis-
affected persons: thus that popular jealousy, which is
characteristic of'all democracies, was kept on the alarm.

On

22 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

On the 18th of April, therefore, when the royal family
was preparing to go to St. Cloud to pass some days, a
report was spread that the King was about to fly from
the" country. The carriages were immediately sur-
rounded by the populace. La Fayette drew out the
national guard, but they refused to act. The King
instantly went to the Assembly, and with much spirit
complained of the insult: he was answered respectfully
by the president, and continued his journey.

As the royal family had enjoyed a considerable degree
of freedom for some time past, which was demonstrated
by the unsuccessful opposition made to this journey,
this opportunity was embraced for intimating to foreign
courts his acceptance of the constitution ; and all ob-
noxious persons were dismissed from his person.

About this time M. Bouill6, to whom the protection
of the frontiers was entrusted, employed every means
in his power to render the country defenceless. The
garrisons were left unprovided ; disunion was spread
among the national troops; they were removed from the
frontiers, and their places supplied by foreigners. The
emigrants abroad, and their friends at home, were lying
in wait for an opportunity to revolt; when suddenly, on
the 21st of June, it was announced from the Thuilleries,
that the King, the Queen, the Dauphin, Louis the pre-
sent King and his Princess, had quitted the palace and
the capital, without leaving any information of their
intention or their route. The emotion excited by this
news among the multitude was a mixture of consterna-
tion and rage. The National Assembly, however, acted
with much coolness; they instantly took upon themselves
the government, and decreed their sittings permanent.
They sent messengers in all directions, to attempt to lay
hold of the fugitives, who had taken different routes.
Louis XVIII. (the King's brother) and Madame arrived
safely at Brussels on the 23d. The King, Queen, and
their children, when they came to a considerable distance
from the capital, were furnished by Bouill^ with a guard
of dragoons, under pretence of protecting treasure for
the pay of the troops. At the distance of 156 miles,
and when only a few leagues from the frontiers, they
were arrested at St. Menehoul by the postmaster, M.
Drouet, formerly a dragoon in the regiment of Conde.

At

KING OF FRANCE, 33

At half past seven, P.M. the carriages stopped to change
horses at his house; he thought that he recollected the
Queen, and imagined that the King's face resembled the
impressions stamped upon the assignats. The escort of
dragoons increased the suspicion. He suffered them to de-
part, at eleven o'clock, without notice; but taking a com-
panion vv^ith him, went by a shorter road to Varennes.
With the assistance of the postmaster there, he gave the
alarm, and overturned a carriage on the bridge, which
detained the royal travellers till the national guard of
the place had assembled. The arrest was effected
without bloodshed; and they were brought back to Paris
by a deputation from the Assembly. The King, at his
departure, had imprudently left behind him a memorial,
in which he protested against every thing that he had
been compelled to do during his captivit\\

This journey was highly instrumental in producing
fatal effects to the monarch. His flight seemed a signal
for emigration. Many of the aristocratic party sent in
resignations of their seats in the Assembly : troops were
levied on the frontiers in the King's name; who, how-
ever, disavowed any connexion with such a procedure.
Bouille emigrated, and afterwards sent a threatening
letter, which was but the forerunner of the manifesto of
the sovereigns of Europe.

A considerable calm throughout France followed these
events. Towards the close of the summer, however, a
convention took place at Pilnitz, in Saxony, between the
Emperor Leopold and the King of Prussia; which has
been understood by many to have been intended for the
purpose of concluding a league for the invasion of
France, the new modelling its government, and the par-
tition of some of its fairest provinces.

The new constitution was presented to the King on
the 3d of September 1791, who on the 13th signitied his
acceptance of it in writing; and the following day he
appeared in the Assembly, introduced by a deputation
of sixty members, and solemnly consecrated the assent
which he had already given, and concluded with an oath
of fidelity to it. He then withdrew, and was attended
back to the Thuilleries by the whole Assembly, with the
president at their head.

On the SOth of September, this National Assembly,

since

24. LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

since known b}' the name of the Constituent Assembly,
dissolved itself, and gave place to the succeeding Legis-
lative National Assembly, which had been elected ac-
cording to the rules {)rcscribed by the new constitution.
This Assembly was opened by the King on the 7th of
October, with much apparent union on all sides: it was
chiefly composed of country gentlemen, of principles
highly democratic, or of men of letters, who had pub-
lished popular books, or conducted periodical publica-
tions. The members of the Constituent Assembly had
been excluded by their own decree from holding seats
in the new legislature, so that the new members had
little regard for a constitution which they themselves
had not framed. When this Assembly first met, it
shevved a trifling attention to formalities, and a scru-
pulous jealousy of the mmisters of the crown.

The treaty of Pilnitz, mentioned above, began now to
be rumoured abroad, which, together with the dubious
and undecided conduct of the Emperor, and the refuge
and protection found in the German empire by the
emigrant princes, excited France to vigorous resolutions;
and a celebrated manifesto, addressed to all states and
nations, made its appearance. The forcible measures
pursued had the effect of intimidating the German
princes; and the emigrants were constrained to an igno-
minious dispersion from the frontiers. But the protec-
tion of the Emperor and the Prussian King afforded
asylums more remote and less obtrusive. Irresolution
seemed to preside in the councils of the Emperor: he
had acknowledged the national flag, he had declared that
he regarded the King of France as absolutely free, while
the league of Pilnitz (which, as was avowed by the court
of Vienna, was not only intended to secure Germany
from such a revolution as France had experienced, but
even to extinguish the dreaded source), and the protection
afforded to the emigrants, were infallible proofs that the
Emperor could not be regarded as a friend. His sudden
death, on the 1st of March 1793, excited great consterna-
tion among the aristocrats, and aflbrded exultation to the
supporters of the constitution. Another event, no less
unexpected, happened in the assassination of the Swedish
monarch, on the 29th of the same month, which we have
already noticed in ouu Memoirs of the Crown Prince of

Sweden ;

KING OF FRANCE. 25

Sweden; Iresli spirits were infused through the nation;
and the superstitious vulgar imagined that they beheld the
peculiar protection of heaven lu the removal of the tviro
chief foes of France in one month.

The sudden fall, however, of these two enemies rather
accelerated than retarded the meditated hostilities; for,
in. the progress of the negotiations between the National
Assembly and the Court of Vienna, the young king of
Hungar}', who succeeded to the empire, made no secret
either of his own intentions or of the existence of a con-
cert of princes against France; and, excited by the in-
fluence of Prussia, began to exhibit more enmity, and
severer terms. M. Dumourier was now at the head of
the war^office; M. Holland was minister of the interior;
and M. Claviere minister of finance. The Jacobins were
all-powerful; and the court gave way to the torrent. The
property of the emigrants was confiscated, reserving the
rights of creditors. At length, on the 5th of April, M.
de Noailles, in his dispatches to the French minister for
foreign affairs, explained the propositions of the Impe-
rial Court: that satisfaction should be given to the Ger-
man Princes, proprietors of Alsace; that Avignon, which
had been appropriated by France, should be restored to
the Pope; and that the internal government of France
should be invested with adequate efficiency, that the other
powers might have no apprehensions of being troubled
by France. On receiving these demands, the King pro-
posed a declaration of war, which was decreed by the
National Assembly on the 20th of April, against Francis I.
king of Hungary and Bohemia,

The French immediately began the war, by attacking,
in three different columns, the Austrian Netherlands.
The first movement, however, of the French was stained
with defeat, and with the unpropitious murder of Theo-
bald Dillon, their leader, who fell a prey to the suspicious
and savage ferocity of some of the soldiers, who fled from
the enemy, but attacked their general.

In the mean time, matters were hastening in Paris
towards a violent^ crisis. Two parties, both of which
were hostile to the new constitution, had gradually been
formed in the state. The one wished to give more ef-
fectual support to. the royal authority, by establishing a
senate or two chambers, to prevent the King's vote from

VOL. II. D being

5^6 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

being the sole' check upon popular enthusiasm. The
other party wished to set aside royalty altogether, and
to hazard the bold experiment of converting France into
a republic. These last were supported by the Jacobin
Club, which hatd contrived to concentrate in itself an im-
mense mass of influence. Innumerable popular societies
were established in every town and village throughout the
departments ; with these a regular correspondence was
kept up. Thus schemes and notions were instantaneously
propagated through a great empire : but the more im-
mediate engine of the republican party consisted of the
immense population of the metropolis, whom they endea-
voured to keep in constant alarm. New decrees were now
made against the refractory clergy ; but these the King re-
fused to sanction. A proposal was also made, and decreed
in the Assembly, to form a camp of 20,000 men under the
walls of Paris : to this decree likewise the King gave his
negative ; and, at this time, seems to have resolved to
stand out against the Jacobins, to whom he had for some
time yielded. The ministry were therefore dismissed,
excepting Dumourier, who afterwards resigned, and join-
ed the army. All means were used to render the King
odious, by inflammatory writings and harangues; in both
of which the noted incendiary Marat took the lead. On
the 20th of June, Roederer, the procureur general syndic,
informed the National Assembly, that, contrary to law,
formidable bodies of armed men were preparing to pre-
sent petitions to the King and to the Assembly. A part
of them speedily appeared with St. Huruge and Santerre,
a brewer, at their head. Having marched through the
hall in a procession that lasted two hours, at four P.M.
to the number of about 40,000, they surrounded the Thu-
illeries : the gates were thrown open; and, on an attempt
to break the door of the apartment where the King then
was, he ordered them to be admitted. His sister, the
Princess Elizabeth, never departed from his side during
the four or five hours that he was surrounded by the mul-
titude^ and compelled to listen to every indignity. All
this while Petion, the Mayor of Paris, was unaccountably
absent. He at length, however, arrived, and also a de-
putation from the Assembly. The Queen, with her chil-
dren and the Princess Lamballe, were, in the mean time,
in the council-chamber, where, though protected from

violence.

KING OF FRANCE. 97

violence, they were exposed to much insult. At last, in
consequence of the approach of evening, and of the en-
treaties of Petion, the multitude gradual ly dispersed. The
indignities sutJered this day by the royal family were
not unfavourable to their cause; for a great number of
the most respectable inhabitants, both of the capital as
well as the departments, complained of them severely in
petitions to the Assembly. The directory of the depart-
ment of Paris published also a declaration, disapproving
of the conduct of the Mayor and Procureur of the Com-
mune, whom they suspended from their office, although
they were restored by the Assembly. La Fayette also,
leaving his army suddenly, appeared on the 26th at the
bar of the National Assembly, and declared that he came
to express the indignation which the whole army felt on
account of the events of the 20th : he called upon the
Assembly to punish the promoters of these events, and to
dissolve the factious clubs. This sudden appearance
of La Fayette threw the Jacobins into consternation; and
from that period they never ceased to calumniate him.

On the 1st of July, the Assembly ordered a proclama-
tion to be made, that the country was in danger; and on
the 6th, the King gave intimation that the King of Prussia
was marching with 50,000 men to co-operate against
France. The French arms were somewhat successful at
this time in the Austrian Netherlands; but the cabinet
speedily thought it necessary to order the armies to re-
treat: a measure that was afterwards publicly censured
by Marshal Luckner.

On the 25th of July, the Duke of Brunswick issued, at
Coblentz, his celebrated manifesto, which declared the
purpose of the intended invasion of France to be the re-
storation of the French king to full authority. It declared
the national guard of France responsible for the preser-
vation of tranquillity ; and threatened with the punishn'.ent
of death, as rebels to their king, those who should appear
in arms against the allied powers. All men holding civil
or military offices were threatened in the same manner,
as well as the inhabitants of all cities. The city of Paris
in particular, and the National Assembly, were declared
responsible for every insult which might be offered to the
royal family. It was declared, that if they were not im-
mediately placed in safety, the allies were resolved to
D 9 inflict

28 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

inflict " on those who should deserve it, the most exem.-
plary and ever-memorable avenging punishments, by givr
ing up the city of Paris to military execuiion, and exposing
it to total destruction; and the rebels who should be
guilty of illegal resistance should sutler the punishments
which they should have deserved." This sanguinary and
imprudent manifesto operated as a warrant for the destruc-
tion of the unfortunate Louis XVL leaving no middle
party in the nation. All who wished to preserve freedom
in any form, and all who loved the independence of their
country, were instantly united. At the same time, the
reproaches cast on the King by the Jacobins now gained
universal credit. The Kings of Prussia and of Hungary
likewise told the French nation, that their monarch was
secretly hostile to the constitution ; and that the restoration
of him and his family to despotic power was made the
sole pretence for a bloody and dangerous war.

The republican party, seeing the advantage they had
now gained, resolved upon the deposition of the King,
The chief engine intended to be employed in this service
consisted of about 1500 men, who had come to Paris at
the period of the confederation, on the I4th of July, and
were therefore called Feederes, and sometimes Marseillois,
from the place whence they came. Great dependence
was likewise placed on the populace of the suburbs of
Paris. The designs of the republicans were not un-
known to the court ; and both parties were forming plans
of operation. On the 3d of August, Petion, the Mayor,
at the head of a deputation from the sections of Paris,
appeared at the bar of the National Assembly, and in a
solemn speech demanded the deposition of the King.
But the republican party, despairing of carrying their
.point by a vote of the Assembly, resolved to have recourse
to insurrection and violence. On the evening of the 9th
of August, about 1500 gentlemen, officers of the army,
and others, repaired to the palace, resolved to protect
the royal famdy, or to die in their defence: added to
these were 700 Swiss guards, with a body of cavalry,
amounting to about 1000. Mandat, the comn)ander of
the national guards, a man who was firmly attached to
the constitution, bad procured 2400 of that body, and
twelve pieces gf cannon. With such a force, it has been
generally supposed that, by vigorous and steady councils,

the

KING OF FRANCE. 29

the palace, which is a kind of castle, might have been suc-
cesst'uily defended. Meanwiiile the Assembly declared
its sittings permanent. Petion was at the palace late in
the evening of the 9th. Some apprehensions were pre-
tended to be entertained for his safety, and a deputation
from the Assembly brought him away. At midnight
the toscin was sounded, and the drums beat to arms
through the city. At this instant a number of the most
active leaders of the republican party assembled, and
elected a new common council, or commup.e. The per-
sons thus irregularly chosen immediately took possession
of the common hall, and drove out the lawful members,
who readily gave place to the usurpers. The new com-
mune sent repeated messages to M. Mandat, requiring his
attendance upon important business. He was occupied
in arranging the troops around the palace ; but, suspect-
ing nothing, went to the common hall, and was there
astonislied to find a different assembly from what he ex-
pected. He was abruptly accused of a plot to massacre
the people, and ordered to prison ; but, as he descended
the stairs, he was shot with a pistol, and Santerre was ap-
pointed to command the national guard in his stead. On
this eventful night no person in the palace retired to rest.
About six o'clock in the morning of the 10th, the King
descended into the gardens, to review the troops, and was
received with shouts of Vive le Roil excepting from the
artillery, who shouted Vive la Nation! The King re-
turned to the palace, the multitude continued to collect,
and the national guard assembled in divisions near the
palace. Towards eight o'clock, Roederer procured ad-
mittance to the palace, and acquainted the King, that
armed multitudes were assembling in a hostile manner
around the Thuilleries; that the national guard was not
to be depended upon; and that, in case of resistance, the
whole royal family would most certainly be massacred.
He, therefore, advised the Kmg to seek protection in the
hall of the National Assembly. With this advice the
King was ready to comply; but the Queen opposed the
humiliatmg proposal with vehemence. Becoming, hovv-
ever, alarmed for the safety of her children, she yave
her consent; and the King and Queen, the Princess
Elizabeth, with the Prince and Princess Royal, went oii
foot to the hall of the Assembly. " I am come hither,"

said

3b LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

said his Majesty, " to prevent a great crime. Among
you, gentlemen, I believe myself in safety." As the
Assembly, by an article of the constitution, could not
deliberate in the presence of the King, the royal family
were therefore placed in a narrow box, separated from
the hall by a railing, where they remained for fourteen
hours, without any place to which they could retire for
refreshment, excepting a very small closet adjoining:
here they sat listening to debates, in which the royal
character and office were treated with every mark of
insult.

On the King's leaving the palace of the Thuilleries,
he unfortunately forgot to order it to be surrendered.
He recollected this as soon as he reached the Assembly,
and sent orders for this purpose; but it was now too
late, for the insurgents amounted to about 20,000 effec-
tive men. They were drawn up in tolerable order by
Westerman, a Prussian, and had about thirty pieces of
cannon. The gentlemen within the palace, who had aSf
sembled to protect the King, were now dispirited. The
commander of the Swiss, M. Affray, w^as absent, and the
captains knew not how to act; and the national guard
had no leader, in consequence of the death of Mandat.
About nine o'clock, the outer gates were forced open;
the insurgents forming a line in front of the palace.
A bloody combat commenced, chiefly between the Swiss
and the Marseillois ; but, after a brave resistance of about
an hour, the Swiss were overpowered by numbers, and
gave way. All of them that could be found in the
palace were massacred; some even while imploring
quarter on their knees. Others escaped into the city,
and were protected by individuals. Of this brave regi-
ment only 200 survived ; but every human being, even
the most menial servants, were put to death. The Swiss
taken prisoners in various quarters were conducted to the
door of the Assembly, and taken by a decree under the
protection of the state ; but the sanguinary multitude
insisted upon putting them to instant death; and the
Assembly would, in all probability, have been unable
to protect them, had not the Marseillois interfered in
their favour.

The suspension of the royal authority was now de-
creed; and the nation was invited to elect a convention,

to

KING OF FRANCE. 31

to determine the nature of its future government. On
this occasion, all Frenchmen of twenty-one years of age
were declared capable of electing and being elected
deputies to the new national convention. Commissioners
were sent on the same evening to give to the armies a
full and favourable account of these transactions. The
royal family were sent to the old palace of the Temple,
in the midst of the city, to remain there under a strict
guard ; and all persons of rank who had been attached
to them were seized and committed to the different
prisons. To give an idea of the temper of tiK.e populace
of Paris at this time, it may be proper to remark, that,
at the same instant when the multitude, with bloody-
fury, were massacring the menial servants in the palace,
and could scarcely be restrained from murdering the
Swiss prisoners, they would suffer no act of pillage to
pass unpunished: several attempts of this kind being
followed by the instant death of the criminals. The
plate, the jewels, and money, found in the Thuilieries,
were brought to the National Assembly, and thrown
down in the hall : the minds of these men were elevated
by enthusiasm ; and they conceived themselves to be
the champions of freedom, and objects of terror to the
kings of the earth.

At this time the situation of France was extremely
critical. La Fayette had got speedy notice of the events
of the 10th of August. He advised the magistrates of
the town of Sedan to imprison the commissioners from
the National Assembly when they should arrive there,
which was accordingly done. He at the same time pub-
lished an address to his army, calling upon them to
support the King and the Constitution; but, finding that
they were not to be depended upon, on the 19th of
August he left his camp, in the night, accompanied only
by a few servants. They took the route of Rochefort,
in Liege, which was a neutral country, but were met by
a party of the enemy, who took them prisoners ; and
they were detained in Prussian and Austrian dungeons
till autumn 1794, when La Fayette made his escape.
The commissioners were soon set at liberty at Sedan,
and received with applause by the army. General Arthur
Dillon at first entered into the sentiments of La Fayette;
hut Dumourier diverted him from his purpose, and thus

regained

J I

39 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

regained his crc<!it with the Jacohins, and ivas appointed
commander-in-chief. The other generals made no op-
posi'ion to the will of the National Assembly.

Meanwhile the combined armies of Austria and
Prussia had entered France. The Duke of Brunswick's
army was above 50,000 strong. General Clairfait had
joined him with 15,000 Austnans, and a considerable
body of Hessians, along with 20,000 French emigrants;
amounting in ail to 90,000 men. To oppose these,
Dumouner had only 17,000 men, collected near the point
from which the enemy were approaching in Luxem-
bourg. Thus the month of September seemed pregnant
with the total ruin of French freedom ; but the three
following months reversed the scene, and exhibited a
tide of success perhaps unexampled in modern his-
tory.

The news of the approach of the Prussians (who had
already captured two fortified towns) spread an instant
alarm through Paris. It was proposed to raise a volun-
teer army, which should set out immediately to meet
the enemy. The common council, which was now held
by Robespierre, Danton, Marat, and others of the most
sanguinary characters, on the 2d of September ordered
the alarm guns to be fired, and the populace to be sum-
moned to meet in the Champ de Mars, to enrol them-
selves to march against the enemy. The people as-
sembled ; and, either in consequence of a premeditated
plan, or of an instantaneous movement, a number of
voices exclaimed, " that the domestic foes of the nation
ought to be destroyed before its foreign enemies were
attacked." Parties of armed men proceeded without delay
to the prisons, where the nonjuring clergy, the Swiss offi-
cers, and those confined since the 10th of August on
account of practices against the state, were detained in
custody. They took out the prisoners one by one, gave
them a kind of mock trial before a jury of themselves,
acquitted some few, and murdered the rest. Among the
latter was the Princess De Lamballe. She was taken
from her bed before this bloody tribunal, and massacred :
her head was carried by the populace to the Temple, to
be seen by the Queen, whose friend she was. These
massacres lasted two days, and upwards of 1000 persons
were put to death. There is scarcely any thing in his-
tory

KING OF FRANCE. 3Q

to ry that can be represented as parallel to them : they
were committed, it is said, by less tiian 300 men, in the
midst of an immense city, whien heard of them with
horror, and in the vicinity of the National Assembly,
which, by going in a body, coujd have put an end to
them. But such was the confusion and dismay of these
two disgraceful days, that no man dared to stir from his
house; and everyone believed that the whole city, ex-
cepting his own strett, was engaged in massacre and
bloodslied. The national guards were all ready at their
respective posts; but no man directed them to act ; and
there is too much reason to suspect that Santerre and the
chiefs of the commune connived, at least, at the trans-
action.

On the 20th of September, the French National Con-
vention assembled. It was found to contain men of all
characters, orders, and ranks. Many distinguished mem-
bers of the Constituent Assembly were elected into it,
and also several that had belonged to the Legislative
Assembly: even foreigners were invited to become
Frencli legislators. Thomas Paine and Dr. Priestly were
elected by certain departments ; but the latter declined
accepting. The general aspect of the new Convention
shewed that the republican party had acquired a decided
'superiority. On the first day of meetmg, the abolition
of royalty in France was decreed by acclamation : and,
the following day, it was ordered that all public acts
should be dated by the year of the French republic; and
all citizens were declared eligible to fdl the vacant offices
and places. It was, however, soon discovered that the
leading republicans had divided into two opposite fac-
tions : the one of these was called Girondists, because
Vergniaud, Gensonne, Guadet, and some others of its
leaders, were members from the department of the Gi-
ronde. The celebrated Condorcet belonged to this party;
and they were sometimes denominated Brissotines, from
JVl. Brissot de Warville, their principal leader. They
supported the ministry then in office, at the head of
which was Holland; and the majority of the Convention
was obviously attached to them. In opposition to these
was the small party of the Mountain, so called from its
members usually sitting in the Convention on the upper
seats of the hall, They were men of less personal re»

VOL, II. E spectability.

34 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

spectability, and fewer literary accomplishments, but of
darmg and sanguinary characters, whom the revolution
had brought into public notice. At the head of this
party were Danton and Robespierre. These two parties
shewed the diversity of their characters by the manner
in which they treated the massacres of the 2d and Sd^of
September. The Brissotines, with the majority of the
Convention, wished to bring the murderers to trial ; but
the question was always eluded by the other party, with -
the assistance of the Jacobin club and of the populace.
On the 9th of October, it was decreed, that all emigrants,
when taken, should suffer death; and, on the 15th of
November, in consequence of an insurrection in the
duchy of Deux Fonts, and an application on the part of
the insurgents to the Convention for aid, the following
decree was passed : " The National Convention declare,
in the name of the French nation, that they will grant fra-
ternity and assistance to all those people who wish to
procure liberty ; and they charge the executive power to
send orders to the generals to give assistance to such
people as have suffered, or are now suffering, in the cause
of liberty." This decree gave great offence to foreign
nations, and no doubt was the immediate cause of that
universal combination against the new republic.

To return to the military affairs. So rapid was the
progress of the French arms, and so great were the dis-
tresses in the combined armies, arising from a scarcity of ^
provisions, from a long rainy season, and from a consi-
derable mortality among the Prussians, by the French
accounts estimated at one half, that the Prussians re-
treated from the dominioi>s of France; and their example
was soon followed by the Austrians.

Even at the very time that Paris was in the greatest
danger, the invasion of Savoy was ordered. On the 21st
of September, General Montesquieu entered the Savoyard
territories, seized on the frontier posts and castles without
resistance, and two days after took Montmelien: Cham-
bery, and all Savoy, soon followed ; but the conquest, not
being resisted, was productive of no military glory. The
imprudence of the National Convention, in permitting
Savoy to incorporate itself with France, has excited won-
der, after the frequent declarations, that the French would
enter into no war with any view to conquest,

Oa

KING OF FRANCE. , 35

On the 29tb, General Anselm, with anoiaer body of
troops, took possession of Nice, and the coaatry a: -and
it. On the 30th, General Custiuts advanced to S; ires,
where he found^the Austrians drawn up in order of battle.
He attacked, and drove them through the city, taking
3000 of them prisoners. The capture of Worms suc-
ceeded that of Spires ; Mentz surrendered by capitula-
tion ; and Frankfort fei,i into the hands of the French on
the 23d. Out of this last place, however, they were after-
wards driven, on the 2d of December.

On the 12th of October, General Dumourier came to
Pans, and was sent to comu.-;nco a winter campaign in
the Netherlands, which he entered on the 1st or 2d of
November, with an army of 40,000 men, which was
afterwards increased, and with a most formidable train of
artillery. Repeated engagements with the Austrian army,
commanded by the Duke of Saxe Tcschen, Governor of
the Austrian Netherlands, and by General Bea'Jtieu,
which, however, did not exceed 20,000, occupied the
first five days, At length, on the 6th of Novembe., a
decisive battle v/as fought at Jemappes, which decided
the fate of the Netherlands. The contest was very gene-
ral: all the points of the enemy's flanks and lines were
attacked at once; all the bodies of the French were in
action; and almost every individual fought personally.
The cannonade began at seven in the morning ; and at
noon the French infantry formed in columns, and rapidly
advanced to decide the affair by the bayonet. After an
obstinate defence, the Austrians, at two o'clocl^^ retired
in the utmost disorder.

Dumourier immediately advanced, and took possession
of the neighbouring town of Mons, where the French
were received as friends. The tidings arriving at Brus^
sels, the court was struck with an indescribable panic, and
instantly fled to Ruremond, whence it was again to be
driven by the arms of Miranda. Tournay surrendere ' to
a detachment on the 8th of November. Dumourier,
having refreshed his troops at Mons, advanced to Brus-
sels; where, after an indecisive engagement between his
van and the Austrian rear, be was received with acclama-
tions on the 14th of that month. Ghent, Charleroi, Ant-
werp, Malines or Mechlin, Louvain, Ostend, Namur, in
abort, all the Austrian Netherlaiids, except Luxembourg,
E 2 successively

36 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

successively followed the example of the capital; the
conquests of Louis XIV. beitjg not more rapid.

No sooner had Antwerp yielded to the French arms,
than, in order to conciliate the Belgians, the openm;? of
the navigatign of the Scheldt, shut up by the treaty of
Munster, 1648, was projected and ordered, notwithstand-
ing that this treaty, so far as respected the shutting up of
the navigation of this river, had been confirmed to the
Dutch in succeeding treaties, guaranteed both by the
courts of Versailles and London. 7'he Dutch regarded
this measure as injurious to their trade, for Antwerp
might prove a dangerous rival to Amsterdam.. The
infraction of this treaty was one of the reasons which
induced the government of Great Britain to oppose the
unwarrantable pretensions of the French.

France .was now in a situation not unusual in the his-
tory of those nations that either are free, or are attempt-
ing to become so; successful in all quarters abroad, but
distracted by factions at home. The two parties in the
Convention were engaged in a struggle, which daily be-
came more implacable. The Mountain party did not
hesitate about the means they were to employ to bring
about the ruin of their antagonists. They were even
suspected of having, through the medium of Packe, the
war minister, retarded the supply of the armies, to ren-
der the ruling party odious by want of success. They
•were for some time, however, unfortunate in this respect;
and the daily news of victories supported with the public
the credit of the Girondists. A new subject was, there-
fore fallen upon, which was tbe question, How the de-
throned King was to be disposed of? The moderate
party wished to save him; and this was a sufficient rea-
son for their antagonists to resolve upon his ruin. A
committee was appointed to give in a report upon his
conduct. A variety of accusations were brought against
him; and the Convention resolved to act the double part
of "both accusers and judges.

On the nth of December, when the ill-fated monarch
was ordered to the har of the Convention, the act of accu-
sation was read, and the King was summoned by the
president, Bai lere, to answer to each separate charge.
The greater part of the accusations brought against hirai
were trifling. Those which seem to be of importance

relate

KING OF FRANCE. 37

relate to conduct authorised by the consritution under
which he acted ; and that constitution declared his per-
son inviolable. Most of the charges the King denied
any Unowledge of; and when the whole had been inves-
tigated, the president, addressing the King, said, " Have
you any thing more to add in your defence ?" " I desire
10 have a copy of the accusation," replied the King," and
of the papers on which it is founded. I also desire to
have a counsel of my own nomination." Barrere informed
him, that his two first requests were already decreed,
and that the determmation respecting the other would
be made known to him in due time. It was accordingly
decreed, that counsel should be alloweXl to the King;
and his choice fell upon Messrs. Tronchet, Lamoignou
Malesherbes, and Deseze; he had previously applied to
M. Target, who excused himself on account of his age
and infirmity. On the 26th of December, the King ap-
peared for the last time at the bar of the Convention; and
M. Dt seze read a defence, which the counsel had pre-
pared, and which was equally admired for solidity of
argument and beauty of composition. When the defence
was finished, the King arose; and, holding a paper in his
hand, said, in a calm manner, and with a firm voice,
" Citizens, you have heard my defence: I now speak to
you, perhaps, for the last time, and declare that my
counsel have asserted nothing but the truth; my con-
science reproaches me with nothing; I never was afraid
of having my conduct investigated ; but I observed, with
great uneasiness, that I was accused of giving orders for
shedding the blood of the people on the 10th of August.
The proofs I have given through my whole life of a con-
trary disposition, I hoped, would have saved me from
such au imputation, which, 1 now^ solemnly declare, is
entirely groundless."

The discussion was fatally closed on the 16th of Janu-
ary. After a sitting of nearly thirty-four hours, the pu-
nishment of death was awarded by a small majority of
the Convention; and several of thrse difFt-re<l in opinion
from the rest, respecting the time when it should be
inflicted; some contending that it should not be put in
execution till after the end of the war, while others pro-
posed to take the sense of the people, by referrin-. the
sentence to the primary assemblies. M. Deseze then

solemnly

3S LOUTS THE EIGHTEENTH,

solemnly invoked the assembly, in the name of his col-
leagues, to consider by what a small majority the punish.-
ment of death was pronounced against the dethroned
monarch. " Do not afflict France," added this eloquent
advocate, •' by a judgment that will appear terrible to
her, when five voices only were presumed sufficient to
carry it." He appealed to eternal justice, and sacred hu-
manity, to induce the Convention to refer their sentence
to the tribunal of the people. " You have either forgotten
or destroyed," said the celebrated M. Tronchet, *' the
lenity which the law allows to criminals, of requiring at
least two-thirds of the voices to constitute a definitive
judgment." But, notwithstanding these remonstrances,
the sentence was ordered to be executed in twenty-four
hours.

The King and his family had been for some time kept
separate from each other; but he was now allowed to
see them, and to choose an ecclesiastic to attend him.
The meeting, and, above all, the separation from his
family, was tender in the extreme.

On Monday, the 2lst of January 1793, at eight o'clock
in the morning, the unfortunate monarch was summoned
to his fate. He ascended the scaffold with a firm air
and step. Raising his voice, he said, " Frenchmen, I die
innocent ; I pardon all my enemies ; and may France — "
At this instant the inhuman Santerre ordered the drums
to beat, and the executioners to perform their office.
When the guillotine descended, the priest exclaimed,
*' Son of St. Louis, ascend to heaven." The bleeding
head was held up, and a few of the populace shouted
Vive la Republique! His body was interred in a grave
that was filled up with quick-lime, and a guard placed
around till it should be consumed.

Thus fell the unfortunate Louis XVL He possessed a
good understanding, which, however, was blunted by the
early indulgencies of a court. He had a strong sense of
justice; and his humanity was, perhaps, extrenle. His
chief defect was a want of resolution andsteadiness. Unam-
bitious, and easily advised, he .was induced to change his
purposes, especially by his Queen, whose connexion with
the house of Austria had always tended to render his
counsels unpopular. Whether he was connected with
the foreign invaders, posterity must, decide ; but all men

of

KING OF FRANCE. 3y

of moderation are convinced that he was murdered by a
band of ruffians. Indeed, a sentence more unjust is not
to be found in the records of history. The severest pu-
nishment that he could incur by law, was deposition;
and therefore, in putting him to death, the French na-
tion broke the social compact which their representatives
had made with him.

The execution of Louis XVI. and the democratic prin-
ciples which now prevailed in France, gave just alarm to
all the European governments, and new foes daily ap-
peared against the republic. After many fruitless nego-
tiations, France declared war against Great Britain and
Holland ; and shortly afterwards hostilities were declared
against Spain : and, in the course of the summer, all Eu-
rope was combined against her, except Switzerland,
Sweden, Denmark, and Turkey. The dangers and diffi-
culties which the new republic was exposed to, were
greatly increased by the defection of General Dumourier;
added to which, immense multitudes of emigrants and
other royalists had assembled, during the winter, in the
departments of La Vendue and the Loire, declaring for
Louis XVII. and professing to act in the name of Mon-
sieur, the present sovereign. About the middle of March
1793, 40,000 of them advanced against Mentz; and, in
the beginning of April, they defeated the republicans in
two pitched battles, and possessed themselves of fifty
leagues of country. Thus the new republic, assaulted
from without by the whole strength of Europe, was
undermined by treachery and faction within.

Whilp France was thus verging upon ruin, parties in
the Convention seemed only anxious for the extermina-
tion of each other. In March, the infamous revolutionary
tribunal was established, for trying crimes committed
against the state; and the Girondist party, the mildness
of whose administration had contributed to increase the
evils of their country, began to see the necessity of adopt-
ing measures of severity: but the public calamities,
which now rapidly followed each other in succession,
were ascribed by their countrymen to their imbecility
and perfidy. This gave to the Mountain party a fatal
advantage.

On the 15th of April, the communes of the forty-
eight sections of Paris presented a petition^ requiring

that

40 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

that the chiefs of the Girondists should be impeached,
and expelled from the Convention. This was followed
up, oij the 1st of May, by another petition from the
suburb of St. Antoine. The Girondist party, in the mean
time, impeached Marat; but he was acquitted by the
jury at his trial.

The Mountain, by the assistance of the Jacobin club,
had now acquired a complete ascendancy -over Paris.
The Brissotiues proposed, therefore, to remove the Con-
vention fron) the capital; but, to prevent this, the Moun-
tain resolved to make the same use of the Parisians
against the Girondists, that they had formerly done
against the King on the 10th of August.

It is unnecessary to detail all the tumults that occurred
either in Paris or in the Convention during the rest of
May. On the 31st, at four in the morning, the tocsin
was sounded, the generale beat, and the alarm guns were
fired. All was commotion and terror. The citizetis
flew to arms, and assembled round the Convention. Some
deputations demanded a decree of accusation against
thirty-five of its members. The day, hovyever, was spent
without decision. In the afternoon of th^ 1st of June, an
armed force made the satne demand. On the 2d of June,
this vvas repeated, the tocsin again sounded, and 100
pieces of cannon surrounded the National Hall. At last
the denounced members were invited to resign volun-
tarily their character of representatives. Some complied, -
and the president attempted to dissolve the sitting ; but
the members were now imprisoned in their own hall.
Henriot, commander of the armed force, compelled them
to remain; and the obnoxious deputies, amounting to
upwards of ninety in number, were put under arrest, and
a decree of denunciation against them signed. Thus
Paris assumed to itself the whole powers of the French
republic; and the nation was no longer governed by the
representatives freely chosen, but by a minority of their
members, whose sentiments the city of Paris and the
Jacobin club had thought fit to approve of.

The Mountain party came into power by preaching
liberty, and by violating its fundamental principles ; they
soon commenced a career of the most terrible energy,
both at home and abroad. The first result of their vic-
tory in the capital was calamitous to the republic. Bris-

sot

KING OF FRANCE. 41

sot and some other deputies escaped, and endeavoured to
kindle the flames of civil war: but the influence of the
Jacobin club, and its various branches, was such, that the
north of France adhered to the convention as it stood ;
though the southern departments were soon in a state of
rebellion. The department of Lyons declared the Moun-
tain party to be outlawed. Marseilles and Toulon fol-
lowed the example of Lyons, and entered into a confede-
racy, which has since been knovvn by the -appellation of
fcederalism. The departments of the Gironde and Cal-
vados broke out into open revolt. In short, all France
was in a violent convulsion. At this time the political
enthusiasm of all orders was such, that even the female
sex did not escape its contagion. A young woman, named
Charlotte Corde, in the beginning of July, came from the
department of Calvados, to devote her life for what she
thought the cause of freedom and of her country. She
requested an interview with Marat, the most obnoxious
of the Mountain party. Having obtained it, and con-
versed with him calmly for some time, she suddenly
plunged a dagger in his breast, and walked carelessly
out of the house. She was immediately seized and con-
demned. At the place of execution she behaved Avith the
most intrepid constancy, shouting Vive la Republique !
The remains of Marat were interred with great splen-
dour, the Convention attending his funeral. His party
derived advantage from the manner of his death, as it
seemed to fasten the odious charge of assassination upon
their antagonists, and gave them the appearance of
«uf}"ering in the cause of liberty.

One of the first acts of the Mountain junto, after their
triumph, was to complete the republican constitution.
Previous to their fall, the Girondists had brought for-
ward the plan of a constitution ; but it was never sanc-
tioned by the Convention, and was too intricate to be
practically useful. The finishing of the constitution,
therefore, procured great applause to the Convention and
the Mountain party. The rapidity with which it was
formed (in a fortnight) seemed to cast a just reproach
wpon the slowness of their antag-onists ; and it was re-
garded as a proof of their being decidedly serious in the
cause of republicanism. The Convention, however, dis-
regarded it, and declared itself permanent: thus assum-

voL. Ji. ' F ing

42 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

ing the whole power of the republic, legislative and
executive.

Such was the multiplicity of events that now occurred
in France, that it is difficult to state them with perspi-
cuity. The department of Calvados was first in arms
against the Convention; but, before the end of July, this
insurrection was quieted. Yet the foederalism of the
cities of Marseilles, Lyons, and Toulon, still remained.
Lyons was attacked on the 8th of August, though it did
not surrender till the Sth of October; when such was the
rage of party zeal, that the walls were ordered to be de-
stroyed, and its name changed to that of Ville Affranchie.
Many hundreds of its citizens were executed for their
resistance ; and the victorious party, wearied by the slow
operation of the guillotine, at last murdered their pri-
soners in multitudes, by grape-shot. On the 24th of
August, the town of Aix was taken, and the Marseillois
submitted. But the leading people of Toulon entered
into a negotiation, and submitted to Lord Hood, under con-
dition that he should preserve the town and shipping for
Louis XVII. and that he should assist in restoring the
constitution of 1789. The allies, however, finding it
impossible to defend the place, in the course of the day
embarked their troops, after having set on fire the arsenal
and ships.

In La Vendue a most bloody war was persisted in by
the royalists, whose mode of warfare usually was, after
going on in their ordinary occupations, suddenly to
assemble in immense bands, insomuch that at one time
they amounted to 150,000 men. The war was incon-
ceivably bloody: neither party gave quarter; and La
Vendee proved a dreadful scene of slaughter. The roy-
alists were often defeated, and seemingly dispersed, but
as often arose in crowds around the astonished repub-
licans; at length, about the middle of October, they
were completely defeated, driven from La Vendue, and
forced to divide into separate bodies. One of these
threw itself into the island of Noirmontier, where they
were subdued; another took the road of Maine and
Britanny, where they maintained the struggle for some
time, but were at last cut to pieces or dispersed. The
Mountain party disgraced their successes by dreadful
cruelties : no age nor sex was spared ; and the execu-
tions

KING OF FRANCE. ^5

tions were performed with every circumstance of wanton
barbarity.

In the mean time, very violent efforts were made at
Paris by the new administration, established under the
auspices of the Jacobin club, and of the party called the
Mountain. The new republican constitution had been
presented to the people in the primary assemblies, and
accepted. The business, therefore, for which the Conven-
tion was called together, that of forming a constitution
for France, was at an end ; and it was proposed that they
should dissolve themselves, and order a new legislative
body to assemble, according to the rules prescribed by
that constitution: but the ruling party considered it as
hazardous to convene a new assembly, possessing only
limited powers, in the distracted state of the country.
It was therefore determined that the Convention should
remain undissolved till the end of the war; and that a
revolutionary government, to be conducted by its mem-
bers, should be established, with uncontrolled powers.
Committees of its own body were selected for the pur-
pose of conducting every department of business. The
chief of these committees was called the Committee of
Public Safety ; it superintended all the rest, and gave to
the administration of France all the secrecy and dispatch
which have been accounted peculiar to a military govern-
ment, with a combination of skill and energy hitherto
unknown among mankind. A correspondence was kept
up with all the Jacobin clubs throughout the kingdom.
Commissioners from the Convention were sent into all
quarters, with unlimited authority over every order of
persons. Thus a government, possessed of infinite vigi-
lance, and more absolute and tyrannical than that of any
single despot, was established ; and the whole transactions
and resources of the state were known to the rulers.

On the 23d of August, the celebrated decree was passed
for placing the whole French nation in a state of requi-
sition for the public service. This decree, which was
expressed in the most pompous terms, also regulated the
organization of this mass: one more tyrannical than
this decree was never made by any eastern despot; and
the effects of it were truly terrible.

In the end of July, General Cusljnes was tried and exe-
cuted, in consequence of various accusations of infidelity
F 2 to

44 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

to his trust. The Queen was next brought to trial before
the revolutionary tribunal, on the 15th of October. The
charges against her were very various ; but the chief ten-
dency of them was to prove that she had always been
hostile to the revolution, and had excited all the efforts
that had been made by the court against it. On the
16th October 1793, this beautiful woman, whom fortune
once placed so high, ended her days on a scaifold, after
a mock trial, in which no regard was paid either to jus-
tice or decency. She behaved with much dignity and
composure, and appeared deeply impressed with a sense
of religion. The members of the Convention, who had
been at the head of the Girondist party, and had either
been detained in prison since the 31st of May, or seized
in the departments to which they had retired, were after-
wards brought to trial ; and on the 30th of October,
twenty-one of them were executed; and seventy-one
were still detained in prison. The Duke of Orleans was
afterwards condemned, on a charge o£ having aspired to
the sovereignty from the beginning of the revolution.
His execution gave satisfaction to all parties. The exe-
cutions of persons of all ranks, particularly of priests and
nobles, became now so common, that it would be in
vain to attempt to give any detail of them. Every per-
son brought before the revolutionary tribunal was con-
demned, as a matter of course. The Jacobins seemed
insatiable in their thirst for blood, and the people at
large appeared to regard their conduct with unaccount-
able indifference.

The religion of France had been gradually losing its
influence ; and, on the 7th of November, Gobet, bishop
of Paris, with a great multitude of »ther ecclesiastics,
came into the hall of the Convention, and solemnly re-
signed their functions, and renounced the Christian
religion. All the clergymen, whether Protestant or
Catholic, who were members of the Convention, followed
this example, excepting only Abbe Gregoire, who was
one of the first priests that joined the Tiers Etat, after
the meeting of the States-General. He had the courage
to profess himself a Christian;' but added, that the
emoluments of his bishopric were at the service of the
republic. With acclamations it was decreed, that the
enly French deities hereafter should be Liberty, Equality,

Reason,

KING OF FRANCE. 45

Reason, &c. and they seem to have consecrated these
as a kind of new objects of worship. The populace,
however, could not at once relinquish entirely the re-
ligion of their fathers. The commune of Paris ordered
the churches to be shut up, but the Convention found it
necessary to annul this order; and Robespierre gained
great popularity by supporting the liberty of religious
worship; but the opposite party hastened their own fall
by their ill-judged contempt of popular opinion. For
now that the republic was successful in all quarters,
when the Mountain party and the Jacobins had no rival
at home, and accounted themselves in no immediate
danger from abroad, they began to split into factions, and
the fiercest jealousies arose.

The Jacobin club was the usual place in which their
contests were carried on; and at this time Robespierre
acted the part of a mediator between all parties. Thirty
committees of the Convention managed the whole business
of the state, without sharing much of the direct execu-
tive government, which rested in the committee of public
safety. These different committees were engaged in the
utniost variety of objects : the ruling party had no com-
petitors for power ; the most extensive plans were there-
fore rapidly carried into effect; and the Convention,
possessmg immense resources, did not hesitate to lavish
them upon their schemes. Every science and every art
was called upon for aid, and the most accomplished men
m every profession were employed in giving splendour
to their country.

During the winter, the dissensions of the Jacobins still
increased: they were divided into two clubs, of which
the one assembled at a hall which once belonged to the
Cordeliers; the leaders of it were Herbert, Rousin
Vmcent, and others: but the old society retained its
ascendancy, and Robespierre was now decidedly its leader.
This extraordinary man had gradually accumulated iri
his own person the confidence of the people and the
direction of the government. As the committees were
above the Convention, so the committee of public' safety
was above the other committees. Robespierre was the
leader of this ruling committee, the other members only
acted a secondary part; they laboured in the state, but
the radical power was with Robespierre. He' sur-
rounded the members of the Convention with spies: he

was

46 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

was jealous and implacable, and set no bounds to the
shedding of blood. On the 25th of March, he brought
to trial several of the raost active Jacobins, who were
condemned and executed on the following day. Not
satisfied with this, on the 2d of April, he brought to trial
nine of those who had been his most vigorous associates,
who were executed on the evening of the 5th.

The revolutionary system of government had now ar-
rived at the highest power, and proceeded without oppo-
sition in its severe and sanguinary measures. On the 10th
of May, Madame Elizabeth, sister to the late King, was
sacrificed, in consequence of a decree of the revolutionary
tribunal. Multitudes of others, of every rank and sex,
were daily sacrificed in a similar manner; the rich ia
particular were the great objects of persecution, because
the confiscation of their property added to the strength
of the ruling faction : but neither were the poor safe
from the bloody vigilance of this new and singular go-
vernment. By the different executions, Robespierre had
destroyed every avowed rival, and his will was irresistible
throughout the republic. He met with no opposition
in the Convention; for that body, no longer the turbulent
popular assembly which it had once appeared, was little
more than a name, employed to give some sort of re-
spectability to such schemes as were proposed to it.
Yet, amidst this accumulation of seemingly irresistible
authority, Robespierre was on the brink of ruin. The
whole of the old Girondist party was indeed subdued,
but many members of the Convention still remained
attached to it. The party of the Mountain, by means of
whom Robespierre had risen to power, found themselves
not only disregarded, but ready at every instant to fall a
sacrifice to that system of terror which they had contri-
buted to erect. Even the Jacobins themselves, though
neither timid nor cautious in the shedding of blood,
began to murmur, when they saw that awful privilege
confined within a few hands, or rather monopolized by
an individual. I?i this state things remained for some
time; but one circumstance tended much to accelerate
the fall of Robespierre. He had procured a decree to be
passed, authorising the committee of public safety to
imprison, at its pleasure, and bring to trial, any member
of the Convention ; the individuals of that body therefore

found

KING OF FRANCE. > 47

found themselves placed by this decree in the hands of a
man, whose severe and suspicious temper they weW
knew. Still, however, they were so much surrounded
by spies, that it was difficult to form a party or plan of
operations, though even the majority of the committee
itself were among the discontented. At length, on the
25th of July 1795, the Convention began to exhibit
signs of agitation. It was understood that, in the course
of a few days, Robespierre would sacrifice a number of
the members to his suspicions. On the 26th, the sitting
was still more tempestuous: and on the 27th, St. Just, a
member of the committee of public safety, in attempting
to defend Robespierre, was repeatedly interrupted ; but
Billaud Varennes enumerated his crimes, and proclaimed
his tyranny. Robespierre in vain attempted to defend
himself; he was silenced by shouts of execration from
every part of the hall. Tallien seconded the accusations
of Varennes; the sitting was declared permanent; and a
decree of arrest was passed againt Robespierre, his
younger brother, St. Just, Couthon, and Lebas. These
men left the Convention, and sought security in the hall
of the commune of Paris, where the municipal officer*
agreed to protect them. The tocsin was sounded ; and
the armed force being under their command, an insur-
rection was attempted; but the sections of Paris refused
their support, and very few of the troops could be
collected. The hall of the commune was therefore
speedily surrendered; and about three o'clock in the
morning of the 28th, Robespierre and his associates were
made prisoners. Having been outlawed, on account of
their resistance, they were ordered for immediate execu-
tion. Sixty of the municipal officers also suffered, for
joining in their rebellion. Thus terminated the career
of one of the most extraordinary men the French revolu-
tion had brought forward; his talents were considerable,
but his boundless ambition set at defiance the ordinary
feelings of humanity.

After the fall of Robespierre, the Convention exhibited
no small change of appearance : instead of that silence
which formerly prevailed, all was bustle and noise; the
members accused each other, but, as there was no longer
any leader, no parties were formed. The reign of terror
was at an end, and a system of moderation succeeded.

The

48 LOUIS The eighteenth.

The committees were re-organized, and their members
ordered to be frequently changed. The correspondence
between the Jacobin clubs was prohibited, and at last
they were altogether abolished ; seventy-one deputies of
the Girondist party, who had been imprisoned since the
Slst of May 1793, were set at liberty, and some of the
agents of Robespierre were punished, particularly Carrier;
but still the Convention appeared disunited and un-
decided.

The fall of Robespierre had been accomplished by two
separate conspiracies. At the head of the one were
Barrere, Billaud Varennes, and CoUot D'Herbois, who
had been members of the committee of public safety.
The other consisted of members of the Convention who
had no immediate share in the administration ; among
these, Tallien, Bourdon de I'Oise, and Lecointre of
Versailles, were conspicuous. The popularity of Robes-
pierre had once been so considerable, and all men had
submitted so tamely to his dominion, that both parties
accounted it necessary to justify to the nation the share
they had taken in accomplishing his ruin; and though
they retained possession of a considerable portion of
power, the current of public opinion ran so strongly
against them, and the restoration to their seats of the
seventy-one members of the Girondist party added so
much to the strength of their antagonists, that they
gradually lost their influence. So early as August 1794,
Lecointre of Versailles had denounced the members of
the old committee in safety: but his accusation produced
little effect: though, towards the end of the year, their
approaching fall became evident. On the' 97th of
December 1794, the committees were ordered to report
upon the conduct of the representatives denounced by
Lecointre and all France. A committee of twenty-one
members was therefore appointed to inquire into the
conduct of Barrere, Billaud Varennes, Collot D'Herbois,
and Vaudier. On the 2d of March 1795, Saladin pre-
ser^ted the report of this commission; in which these
four deputies were accused of having participated in
the tyranny and atrocious measures of Robespierre.
Their trial commenced, before the Convention, on the
22d of the same month; but Vaudier had made his
escape, and the others rested their defence on the ground

' of

KING OF FRANCE. 49

of being unable to resist Robespierre, and that they were
not more culpable, in having acquiesced in his tyranny,
than the other members. This defence, with the ex-
ception of the cruelties committed by CoUot D'Herbois
at Lyons, was not destitute of foundation, and had much
weight with the nation ; not, indeed, as exculpatory of
the three persons accused, but as criminating and degrad-
ing the character of the whole Convention. The Jaco-
bins defended their leaders with considerable ability;
nor were they less active without doors than within. For
some time they had drawn their friends to the capital
from all quarters of the country ; and on the morning of
the 1st of April they commenced an open insurrection.
An immense multitude, who had assembled in the
suburbs, proceeded to the hall of the Convention, where,
taking advantage of a scarcity, real or fictitious, which ex-
isted at this time, they pretended that they came to
petition for bread; this pretence drew numbers along
with them who had no share in their designs. Boissy
D'Anglas, a conspicuous member of the moderate party,
was addressing the Convention on the means of removing
the scarcity, when the insurgents arrived, drove the sen-
tinels from their posts, and suddenly filled the hall,
tumultuously demanding *' Bread, and the constitution !"
The Jacobin party supported the insurgents; and one of
the multitude, in a vehement harangue, exclaimed, " We
are men of the 14th of July, of the 10th of August, and
of the 31st of May." He then demanded that the Con-
vention should change its late measures ; that the people
should no longer be the victims of mercantile rapacity;
and that the accused patriots should not be sacrificed to
the passions of their antagonists. The Convention
ordered the tocsin to be rung, to summon the people of
Paris to arms ; and General Pichegru, being then in Paris,
was appointed to command the military force. The
citizens, remembering with horror the domination of
Robespierre and his adherents, and seeing themselves
menaced with a similar tyranny, assembled by six in the
evening, to the amount of 20,000 men. Till that mo-
ment the Assembly had been under no small disquietude,
surrounded by the insurgents, and listening to the ad-
dresses of their orators, and the speeches of the Jacobin
minority. The majority was now rescued from this state
VOL. II. G ■ of

50 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

of constraint; and it was decreed, that Barrere, Coliot
!D'Herbois, and Billaud Varennes, should be immediately
transported to Guiana. During the following day, the
insurgents were subdued; and the majority, taking ad-
vantage of the victory, decreed the arrest and confine-
ment of several of the most obnoxious of their anta-
gonists in the castle of Ham, in the late province of
Picardy.

The Convention followed up its victory with the popu-
lar measure of preparing for its own dissolution, by
endeavouring to frame a fixed constitution. The con-
stitution of 1793 was considered as impracticable; and,
on the 19th of April, a committee was appointed to
frame a new one, on the subject of which all citizens,
not members of the Convention, were invited to com-
municate their ideas. The Convention fartlier gratified
the nation, by bringing to trial Fouquier Jenville the
president, and fifteen judges and jurors of the late revo-
lutionary tribunal, who were convicted on the 8th of
May, and executed on the 9th, amidst the execrations of
a multitude of spectators.

In the mean time, thq Jacobins were preparing a new
and more extensive insurrection; and the 20th of
May was fixed upon as the season of revolt. Thuriot
and Cambon, Robespierre's late financier, having es-
caped from the castle of Ham, came to Paris, and con-
cealed themselves in the suburb of St. Antoine, whence
they gave advice to their party, and urged it to action.
For some days, the walls of the capital were covered
with accusations against the Convention of withholding
bread from the people. On the morning of the 20th, the
tocsin was rung, and the drums beat to arms in the
suburb of St. Antoine, where the Jacobins possessed the
greatest strength. Upon this alarm, the Convention
assembled; but though the committees of public and
general safety now made a report, wherein they acknow-
ledged their previous knowledge of the conspiracy, no
vigorous measures of precaution had been taken; for it
was only at the instant when the insurgents were ap-
proaching, that General Hoche was appointed to com-
mand the armed force, and sent to assemble the military
and citizens for the defence of the Convention. In the
mean time, the multitude surrounded the hall, over-
powered

KING OF FRANCE. 51

powered the guards, and burst in among the members.
In all the turbulent days of the revolution, the women
of Paris never ftuled to act a conspicuous part. They
augmented the crowd by their numbers, and increased
the tumult by their cries of " Bread, and the constitu-
tion of 1793 1" After some fruitless efforts to restore
tranquillity. Vernier, the president, an old man, resigned
the chair to Boissy D'Anglas, who remained in it with
much firmness during the day. The whole strength of
the insurgents not having arrived at once, a short interval
of tranquillity was obtained-, but the attack was speedily
renewed with double fury by armed men, who entered
the hall with cockades, on which was written, " Bread,
and the constitution of 1793!" In this crisis, a citizen
of the Convention party rashly tore off the hat of one of
the insurgents, and fled towards the president's chair, but
was killed at its side by a musquet-shot. Ferrand, a
member who had attempted to rescue him, was also
killed, and his head brought into the Convention on a
pike. The greater number of the members now de-
parted, and left the insurgents in possession of the hall,
where they acted with some regularity, and decreed a
variety of laws favourable to their party. Their tri-
umph, iiowever, lasted only a few hours; for, towards
the evening, a large body of citizens having joined the
military, they marched to the Convention, where they
overcame the insurgents, and restored the powers of the
majority. The decrees that had been forced upon them
were repealed ; and the deputies who had pro«posed, or
supported them, were arrested.

The citizens of Paris, and even the members of the
Convention, nov/ supposing their victory to be complete,
adopted no adequate measures to prevent a new disturb-
ance. But the Jacobins did not so easily give up their
cause ; for, on the following day, they assembled in the
suburbs, and in the afternoon returned to the attack,
took possession of the Carousel without opposition, and
pointed some pieces of cannon against the hall of the
Convention. This assembly, now unprotected, sent a
deputation to the insurgents, bearing two decrees, passed
at that instant, purporting that bread should abound,
and that Robespierre's constitution of 1793 should im-
mediately be put in force. The insurgents, on their
G 2 ' part.

52 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

part, sent a deputation to the Convention, to express
their satisfaction at the decrees, and to demand the re-
lease of the imprisoned patriots, with the punishment of
those who preferred money to assignats; to all which the
Convention pretended to agree. On the 23d, the citizens
assembled at their sections, whence they hastened to the
Thullleries, to defend the Convention. Considerable
bodies of the military were also collected, and the As-
sembly at last resolved to act upon the offensive. A
decree was passed, declaring, that if the suburb of St.
Antoine did not instantly surrender its arms and cannon,
together with the murderers of Ferrand, it should be
considered as in a state of rebellion; and the Conven-
tional generals were ordered to reduce it by force. The
insurgents, now finding themselves unequal to the con-
test, were compelled to surrender by the inhabitants of
the suburb, who dreaded the destruction of their pro-
perty by military operations. Six members of the
Convention were tried and condemned by a military
commission; of whom three perished by self-slaughter,
and three were executed. The majority of the Conven-
tion, elated at their victory, ordered Collot D'Herbois,
Billaud Varennes, and Barrere, to be brought back to
take their trial; but the two former had sailed before the
arrival of the courier, and Barrere alone was retaken and
imprisoned.

The Jacobins in the south were not less active than
their brethren at Paris; for, on the 20th of May, they
formed a vigorous insurrection at Toulon, which they
took possession of, and then marched towards Marseilles ;
but, being defeated on their way by General Charton,
Toulon was speedily reduced to order.

The party of the Mountain, or violent Jacobins, who
wished to revive the reign of terror, was now very much
reduced, bothJn and out of the Convention: those who
adhered to it were in many places, especially in the
south, exposed to very violent persecutions. Associa-
tions were formed, called " Companies of Jesus and
the Sun," for the purpose of avenging the crimes com-
mitted by them during the period of their power; and
at Lyons, and other places, several of them were mas-
sacred in the prisons.

The decrees for forming and putting in force the new

constitution

KING OF FRANCE. 53

constitution could not decentl}' be recalled; but the
majority of the Convention set about devising means for
rendering them of little importance. On the 23d of
June, the committee appointed to prepare the plan of a
constitution presented their report : it consisted of four-
teen chapters, prefaced, like the former constitutions,
with a declaration of the rights of man. The primary-
assemblies were to possess the right of electing the
members of the electoral assemblies; and the justices of
the peace, and the electoral assemblies, were to nominate
the judges and legislators of the state. The legislature
was divided into two assemblies; the one called the
Council of Ancients ', the other, the Council of Five Hun-
dred. The executive power was entrusted to five per-
sons, styled the Executive Directory. The public func-
tionaries were to receive salaries, and to appear dressed
in appropriate habits. Each article of this constitution
was separately discussed ; and, on the 23d of August,
the whole was declared to be complete, and ordered to
be transmitted to the primary assemblies, for their ap-
probation.

Great confusion now arose respecting a decree, by
which the electors were to be bound to choose two thirds
of the new legislature from among the members of the
Convention. This was opposed by the sections of Paris;
and about 100 of the electors assembled in the hall of the
French theatre, in the suburb of St. Germain, previous
to the day appointed, where they chose Citizen Nivernois
(the gi-devant Duke de Nivernois) for their president,
and began their debates; but a body of the military,
sent by the Convention, soon occasioned them to
disperse.

Notwithstanding this advantage, the sections still re-
garded the Convention with contempt, and the members
themselves entertained some jealousy of the military.
They, therefore, had recourse to a new ally, and be-
sought the aid of those very Jacobins whom they had
almost crushed on the 24th of May. Several hundreds
of them were, therefore, liberated from prison ; and
when the sections of Paris beheld the Convention sur-
rounded by those who had been the unrelenting agents
of Robespierre, they assembled in arms, on the 4th 01
October. The Convention, however, resolved to strike

the

54 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

the first blow ; and, with this view, sent General Menou
to the section of Le Pelletier, where the greatest force
of the citizens was assembled. But this officer, disliking
the service, instead of proceeding to action, began to
negotiate, and spent the evening in fruitless conferences
with the leaders of the section. During the night, Ge-
neral Menou, Rafiet, and some others, were suspended ;
and the command of the troops was given to Barras, who
immediately collected around him a variety of able
Officers, among whom were Generals Le Brun and Buona-
parte, and began to provide for a most vigorous defence.
On the 13th of Vendemiaire (October 5th), from which
day the insurrection was afterwards named, both parties
remained for many hours upon the defensive; till, about
three o'clock in the afternoon, General Danican, who had
been appointed by the sections, proposed an accommoda-
tion ; to which a civil message was returned. But the
Jacobins in the Convention, being now more confident of
victory, and wishing to strengthen themselves by the
defeat and punishment of their antagonists, resolved that
the, dispute should be decided by arms. The armed
Jacobins are most generally understood to have begun
the attack. The combat was extremely obstinate, the
cannon being repeatedly seized by the citizens, and re-
taken by the. troops; nor was it till after a contest of
four hours that the sections were repulsed, and driven to
St. Roche; which post was also taken, after great slaugh-
ter, and the sections were driven to their head-quarters
of Le Pelletier, whither they were pursued by the troops
of the Convention, and by midnight the latter were
masters of the whole city.

This insurrection was ascribed by the victorious party
to the exertions of the royalists; and, indeed, it is pro-
bable that the royalists mingled in a contest which had
for its object the overthrow of the Convention : but the
insurgents in general seem neither to have avowed nor
entertained any farther view than the disarming of the
Jacobins, and the obtaining an immediate election of new
representatives.

The failure of this attempt had the effect of placing
the Mountain party once more at the head of the
state.

On the 27th of October, the Convention terminated

its

KING OF FRANCE. 55

its sittings, and was succeeded by the new legislature.
By its last decree, a general amnesty was granted for all
revolutionary crimes, with the exception of emigrants,
transported priests, and persons concerned in the last
insurrection; so that, in fact, it was merely a pardon
granted by the Mountain party to its own friends, for all
the excesses they had committed. The members of the
Convention, who had been imprisoned since the Jacobin
insurrection of May, were now set at liberty; and those
of the revolutionary committees, and other agents of
Robespierre, were advanced to the most important offices
under the new government.

As soon as the new legislature had divided itself into
two councils, it proceeded to the election of an Executive
Directory, when Sieyes, Barras, Rewbell, La Reveillere
Lepaux, and Letourneur de la Manche, were chosen;
but Sieyes having refused to accept the office, Carnot
was elected in his stead.

The republican government, thus attempted to be
established, promised little tranquillity to the nation:
for the members of the Directory, with the exception of
Reveillere Lepaux, had always belonged to the Jacobins;
and, as they owed their present exaltation to that party,
they employed its members in almost every official de-
partment.

On the 9th of June, the Dauphin, Louis XVIL died
in the prison of the Temple, where he and his sister had
remained confined after the execution of their father,
mother, and aunt. His death excited such a degree of
interest in the French nation, in ftivour of his family,
that the Convention found it expedient to liberate his
sister; and the committee of public safety proposed to
the Emperor to exchange this princess against the depu-
ties whom Dumourier had delivered up, and two am-
bassadors, Simonville and Maret, who had been seized on
their way to Turkey. This proposal was accepted, and
the exchange took place at Basle.

The Mountain party being once more possessed of
power, its members exerted themselves witli their usual
energy. Such, however, was the turbulent character of
these men, that they soon became weary of tlie Direc-
tory, which they themselves had established. They held
clubs in all quarters, and were continually disturbing the

public

56 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH.

public tranquillity. The Directory at length became
alarmed by the numerous complaints against them, and
resolved to desert a set of men who could not be pre*,
vailed upon to act with moderation. The violent Jaco-
bins were in general, therefore, dismissed from the service
of government; and a body of troops amounting to
10,000 men, called the Legion of Police, which had
acted against the Parisians on the 5th of October, and
was now devoted to the Jacobins, was ordered to join the
armies on the frontiers. The violent Jacobins, enraged
at these measures, began to organize a plot for the over-
throw of the Directory ; but they were not prepared foT
action before May 179(3, by which time their designs
had been discovered and counteracted. Among the
leaders of this conspiracy, who were arrested, were
Drouet, the postmaster, who had detained the unfortu-
nate Louis XVL By the connivance of th« Directory,
this man, with some others, escaped ; aad the rest were
removed for trial to the high national court at Vendome,
where they were condemned.

France now held a very elevated rank, and a formi-
dable character, among the nations of Europe. Spain,
Italy, and Holland, were held in dependence; while her
victorious armies had compelled Austria, the last con-
tinental member of the coalition, to accept of peace,
dictated by an army that approached her capital. AH
these external advantages, however, were speedily lost
to the French nation ; whose unhappy destiny it was, to
be constantly deprived of the fruits of all its sufferings
and courage, by the turbulence of domestic factions, and
the profligacy and unprincipled conduct of its rulers.
A serious contest between the executive power and the
legislature was fast approaching. The majority of the
Directory, and of the councils, were in a state of com-
plete hostility : and both parties resolved to violate the
constitution, under the pretence of preserving it. The
one wished to change the Directory before the time pre-
scribed by law ; and the other, to deprive a great number
of the new legislators, elected by the people, of their
seats.

At length the partizans of the contending factions
began to distinguish themselves by their dress, and every
thing presaged an appeal to force. On the 20th of July,

the

KING OF FRANCE.

the councils received intelligence, that a division of the
army of General Hoche had advanced within a few
leagues of Paris; whereas, by the constitution, the
Directory incurred the penalty of ten years' imprison-
ment, if it authorized troops to approach nearer than
twelve leagues to the residence of the legislative body,
without its own consent. The Directory denied that
they had ordered the march, and ascribed it to a mistake
of the officer by whom it was conducted; their explana-
tion was treated with contempt, and much angry debate
took place in the councils. The Directory, however,
having procured an address of adherence from the suburb
of St. Antoine, which, in all the tempestuous days of
the revolution, had been the rallying point of the Moun-
tain, were encouraged to proceed to immediate action;
and General i\.ugereau, who had been sent from Italy
with some Austrian standards, was employed as their
tool. They also commanded the garrison of Paris, and
had brought over to their party the soldiers of the guard
of the two councils.

Before day-break, on the morning of the 4th of
August, Augereau surrounded the Thuilleries with
troops ; the guard of the councils refused to resist ; and
their commander, Ramel, was taken prisoner. On enter-
ing the hall, Augereau found Pichegru, and twelve other
chiefs of the opposite party, in consultation, whom he
sent immediately as prisoners to the Temple, with some
other obnoxious members of the councils; the director
Carnot had escaped on the preceding evening; but Bar-
thelemy remained, and was imprisoned. All this was
done without noise; so that many members of the
councils, when they came to the hall at the usual hour,
were surprised to find the doors sealed. They were in-
vited, however, to the surgeons' hall, and the theatre of the
Odeon, where the Directory had appointed the councils
to assemble. At tlicse places about forty of the Ancients,
and eighty of the other council, assembled about noon,
and sent to demand of the Directory an account of the
proceedings of the morning. They received an answer,
declaring that what had been done was necessary to the
salvation of the republic, and congratulating the councils
on their escape from the machinations of royalists.
Being still at a loss how to act, the council of Five Hun-

VOL. 11. H drcd

58 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

dred appointed a committee of four members to report
upon the measures to be adopted. On the following
day, a report was presented from this committee, an-
nouncing that a vast royalist conspiracy, whose centre
was in the bosom of the councils, had been formed to
overturn the constitution; but that it had been baffled
by the wisdom and activity of the Directory ; and pro-
posed the immediate transportation of the conspirators,
without trial. This proposition was adopted ; and fifty- •
three of their members, and twelve other persons, among
whom were the directors Carnot and Barthelemy, were
voted to be sent to Guiana, in South America. The
council also annulled the elections in forty-nine depart-
ments, repealed the laws lately enacted in favour of the
disaffected clergy and the relations of emigrants, and
put all periodical publications under the inspection of the
police for one year. New taxes were voted without
hesitation; Francis de Neufchateau and Merlin were
elected to fill the vacancies in the Directory ; and affairs
were endeavoured to be placed in their ordinary train.
All this time the city of Paris remained tranquil ; though
it was obvious, that France had passed under the do-
minion of a small faction, at variance with the majority
of the people.

Having brought down our account of the French re-
volution to this period, it will be unnecessary to proceed
further at present, as abundant opportunities will offer
in our Memoirs of Napoleon Buonaparte; it may be
proper to observe, however, that no subsequent alteration
in the government took place, until the revolution which
led to the Consulship, at the head of which was Napo-
leon. We now return to the illustrious subject of our
present biography.

It appears that Louis XVIII. interfered but little
with politics, until the growing discontents of the French
people had prepared them for the revolution we have
just described. His first measures appear to have been
in opposition to the rising liberties of the people, for, in
the first assembly of the Notables, he declared himself
hostile to any interference with the privileges of the
nobility and clergy: he, however, was ^against laying
any additional, taxes upon the people, which it was the
object in assembling the Notables to do; declaring his

conviction

KING OF FRANCE. 59

conviction that, by regularity and economy, every finan-
cial difficulty might be removed. Calonne, who was
the minister at that period, was extremely anxious for
the success of his financial measures, and in his attempts
to bring over Monsieur, went so far as to use the King's
name and authority upon the subject. Monsieur re-
plied in a dignified manner, " My heart is alike my
isrother's and the people's, but my understanding is my
own; as for my head, it is the King's."

In the earlier part of the revolution, Monsieur re-
sided at a distance from the capital; but when this ter-
rible volcano burst out in 1789, he removed to Paris, and
supported, as well as he was able, the tottering fortunes
of his brother. Finding, however, that the calamitous
State of affairs left but little hopes of restoring the fallen
fortunes of his house, he was at last compelled to make
his escape from France, which he was only able to
accomplish by the assistance of Count de Fersen, a
Swede. Previous to this, all the members of the royal
family had gradually withdrawn from the kingdom,
leaving the unfortunate Louis a prey to his implacable
enemies; it is not to be doubted but this gradual de-
sertion (if it may be so called) was the means of bring-
ing affairs to that terrible crisis which afterwards hap-
pened, as it afforded an opportunity to the enemies of
the royal family, of instilling into the minds of the peo-
ple alarms and jealousies, which unhappily there was too
much cause for. Soon after the escape of Monsieur, an
attempt was made by the King and Queen also to emi-
grate, which we have seen was frustrated by the vigi-
lance and sagacity of the postmaster Drouet : this
attempt on the part of their Majesties had been pre-
viously concerted before the flight of Monsieur, and it
is therefore but an act of justice to Louis XVIIL to
exonerate him from the imputation of having deserted
his brother at a time when he most needed the assistance
of his friends.

The exiled members of the royal family were now
placed in military array against the government of
France ; and at Coblentz a powerful emigrant force was
collected under Monsieur, where he was joined by the
Count d'Artois, and the other branches of the house of
Bourbon, except that of Orleans, which had unac-
H 2 countably

60 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

countably deserted the interests of their family, by the
defection of their head, the unprincipled Egalite.

As soon as it was known that Monsieur had emi-
grated, the National Assembly decreed, that he had
forfeited his eventual right to the regency, if he did not
return in two months; he, however, was too wise to
trust himself in the hands of his implacable enemies.
The energy displayed by the French government, and
the enthusiasm of the people in the cause of liberty, left
but little hopes to Louis of being able to effect any good
purpose with the emigrant force which he had collected ;
he accordingly desisted from all attempts to recover his
rights, and determined to await for more propitious
times. He was, however, destined to endure many un-
pleasant mortifications, and few places in Europe were
found capable of sheltering him from the fury and re-
sentment of the republicans.

Having married Maria Josepha Louisa, the daughter
of Victor Amadeus III. King of Sardinia, Louis re-
paired for shelter to that court ; but here he had not been
long, before the successes of the French armies obliged
him to quit the court of Turin. From this place he
repaired to Verona, in the Venetian territory, from
whence he was compelled to retreat by the arrogance
of Buonaparte, who demanded of the Venetian govern-
ment, that Louis should have no protection in their state.

Before he quitted the Venetian territory, Louis (who
had now assumed the title of Count de Lille) demanded
admission to the Golden Book of the senate, which con-
tained the names of all the Venetian nobles. In that book,
his great-grandfather's grandfather, the gallant Kenry IV.
had once inscribed his name, and the name of Bourbon.
These Louis indignantly erased from their records, shew-
ing that even in adversity he had not lost a sense of what
was due to his rank and birth as well as to his misfor-
tunes.

Louis, being now forced to seek some other place of
refuge, accepted an offer from the Emperor Paul of Rus-
sia, of a protection in his dominions. On his journey
through Germany to his new asylum, he appears to have
been still pursued with republican rancour; for, whilst
on his route in the summer of 1797, being at the window
of an inn in an obscure village, a shot was fired at him

which

KING OF FRANCE. 6l

which slightly wounded him in the head. Undismayed
by this attempt on his life, he displayed a magnanimity
which is truly astonishing: he forbade all search to be
made after the assassin, observing, " It must either be a
mistake or a premeditated crime: in the former case it
would be cruel to pursue; and in the latter, as 1 have done
no harm to any human being, the person who would
murder me has punishment enough in his own bosom, and
wants my forgiveness more than I do his death."

The war between Russia and France, in 1798, was
favourable to Louis ; for the usual policy in such cases
was adopted by the Russian Emperor, of countenancing
pretensions to the government of the c6untry with which
he was at war. Paul accordingly offered him an asylum
at Mittau in Livonia, which Louis gladl)' accepted, his
health being considerably impaired by the privations and
fatigues he had undergone. The conduct of the Em-
peror Paul was at first highly magnanimous and gene-
rous : he ordered every demonstration of respect to be
paid to his illustrious guest, and commanded him to be
treated with all the honours due to a sovereign ; he or-
dered a guard of native Russians to attend him, as well as
a corps composed of French noblesse ; he allowed him also
to draw around him as many of his adherents as he pleased,
with whom Louis shared the liberal bounty that had
been appropriated to his use. So anxious, indeed, was
the Russian Emperor for the happiness and comfort, as
well as the security of the Prince, that he actually
placed the governor of Mittau under his orders, and
encouraged Louis to assume the appearance and func-
tions of royalty. He accordingly held regular levees, at
which the nobility of the provinces around attended.

This ephemeral prosperity of Louis was of short dura-
tion ; for the fickle-minded Paul was unable to withstand
the intrigues that were practised by the French repub-
licans, who were extremely jealous of the countenance
that was given to the French monarch. The success of
their intrigues soon became apparent in the conduct of
Paul, whom they persuaded, first, to distress the unhappy
monarch by withholding the payment of his pension, and,
afterwards, to send him orders to quit the Russian do-
minions ; for which he was allowed only a week's pre-
paration.

This

62 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

This conduct of Paul appears to have been instigated
by Buonaparte, the implacable enemy of the House ol
Bourbon. But Louis, with a pride highly honourable to
him, determined not to remain twenty-four hours longer
iu the Russian dominions: he felt not so much for him-
self as for those of his subjects who had adhered to his
fortunes, and who were dependent upon him for sup-
port. It was not for his loyal subjects alone that Louis
felt anxious, his own family claimed his support, and
particularly the amiable Duchess of Angoul^me, who
had long resided with him at Mittau, along with her
young husband. To her Louis had recourse in his present
distressed situation ; and, having explained to her the
circumstances under which he laboured, and assured her
that he had not the means of travelling as he had for-
merly done, and as the small means he possessed vi'ould be
necessary for the daily maintenance of those attached
to him, so he would hir,iself shew them an example how
to bear misfortune, for that the next day he would leave
Mittau on foot. The duty and affection of his niece,
however, would not allow her uncle to be exposed to the
inconvenience and hardships that this mode of travelling
would expose him to; she accordingly sold to a Jew a
valuable box of diamonds, which was presented to her
as a nuptial gift by her imperial relations at Vienna, by
which means she raised a sum that enabled Louis not
only to travel comfortably, but also to provide for the
wants of his loyal subjects who were left at Mittau.

From Mittau, Louis wandered about to different places,
pursued by the hostility of the usurper of his throne;
at last he was permitted to reside at the castle of the
dethroned King of Poland, at Warsaw, where, in more
favourable times, one of his own ancestors, Henry HL
had ruled as a King.

During his residence at Warsaw, Buonaparte, who
was then first consul, had the effrontery to make pro-
posals to Louis to abdicate his throne; and, not content
with the refusal he justly met with, his influence at the
court of Prussia was so great, that the Prussian president,
Meyer, was appointed to urge to his Majesty the same
proposal, and to ofier to him on the part of the first
consul, for the abdication of his crown, an indemnifi-
cation in Poland or Italy, or a considerable bonus in

money.

KING OF FRANCE. 63

money. To these applications his Majesty made the
following reply : —

" I do not confound Monsieur Buonaparte with those
that preceded him. I esteem his talents and military
virtuts, I am. thankful for some acts of his administra-
tion; as the good which shall be done to my people,
will always be dear to me. But he deceives himself if
he hopes to engage me to renounce my duties; so far
from effecting that, he would establish them himself,
could they even have been doubtful, by the step he has
just taken. I am ignorant of the designs of God for
me, and for my people ; but I know the obligations he
has imposed on me. A Christian, I shall fulfil all their
duties to my latest breath; a son of St. Louis, I shall
know how to respect myself even in chains; a successor
of St. Francis I. I desire always to say with him — All is
lost, save horwur."

When the present magnanimous Emperor Alexander
succeeded to the throne, the situation of Louis was much
ameliorated; ample and generous allowances being af-
forded to him and the few followers of his fortune, of
which, however, he was very sparing.

Buonaparte, who had now secured to himself the
throne of the Bourbons, felt himself very insecure whilst
any of the exiled family lived to lay claim to it; he ac-
cordingly, during the King's residence at Warsaw, made
attempts to have him poisoned. This circumstance, and
the manner of carrying the diabolical design into etfect,
is of so curious a nature, that we cannot withhold the
particulars from our readers.

On the 22d of July, the Baron de Milleville, Equerry
to the Queen of France, disclosed to the Due de Pienne,
the plot, as it had been denounced to him by a person
of the name of Coulon, a Frenchman, a native of Lyons,
who, after having been in the service of the said Baron
de Milleville had married a Polish woman, and settled at
Warsaw, where he kept a billiard-table. This man
stated, that on the preceding Friday, the 20th, two per-
sons came to his billiard-room, and made many inquiries
of him, relative to the King, and his own situation; that
the following day they returned, and made fresh inqui-
ries respecting Louis XVIIL They wished, they said,
to know whether his Majesty went out often — by what

number

64 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

number of men he was usually accompanied — and whe-
ther his attendants were armed, or not ? They t^ien
asked Coulon, whether he himself was in debt, and
whether he would not be glad to find an opportunity to
obtain immediately a considerable sum of money for a
particular service? Being answered in the affirmative^
they observed to him that, as he was known to the persons
belonging to the household of the King, he might easily
obtain admission into the kitchen ; and if he consented
to throw, unperceived, into the boiler [la marmite) a
little parcel which would be giveji to him, his fortune
would be made; 400 louis d'ors would be given to him
in the first instance, and 100 more for every individual
of the royal family who might die in the course of a
twelvemonth. They added, that he was not to trouble
himself about his wife, for they would take her safely to
France; and when they were about to part, he heard
them say in Italian, " We have no time to lose ; the day
is come when we ought to strike."

On the following day {Tuesday the 22d), after many
visits from them, another ruffian, whom Coulon had not
before seen, called on him in the evening, and requested
him to take a walk with him, in order that they might
speak more freely on a subject of great concern, which
had been mentioned to him the preceding day. In the
course of their walk, they were met by one of the two
who had first opened the project to Coulon.

Considering him a man discontented with his lot, and
ready to catch at any chance that promised better, they
unfolded to him the secret which was to make his for-
tune. " You are well acquainted," said they, " with the
cook of Louis XVIII. Upon your next visit to him,
about the hour when he is preparing dinner, throw two
carrots which we will give you into the kettle in which
the soup is boiled for the Pretender's table. If he shall
die in a given time after, you shall receive 400 louis
d'ors; but should his wife, with the Duke and Duchess
of Angouleine, share his fate, 1200 louis d'ors shall be
paid to you by Monseiur Boyer, Commercial Commis-
sary to the Emperor of the French in this city. Do not
apprehend any punishment from the success of the at-
tempt. You reside in a country, the sovereign of which
is the steady and sincere friend of Napoleon the First,

and

KING OF FRANCE.

and whose ministers are as much attached to France as
to their own country. As to remorse of conscience, the
fortune that has seated Buonaparte upon the throne of
France will support him there, and shew that he de-
serves it; and Providence and Fortune are the same.
The Bourbon race are proscribed by destiny ; and
therefore, in dispatching them, you serve the Divinity.
You might, perhaps, apprehend the vengeance of other
Bourbons, who reside in England ; but you ought to
know, that their destroyers follow them as their shades;
and, although they are still among the living, the grave
is dug ready to swallow its victims, and they shall only
live to see the day of Buonaparte's coronation. This is
the time appointed by the Eternal for an universal
CHANGE OF DYNASTIES OVER THE WORLD ; and, be-
fore ten years, not a Prince will reign, who was not, ten
years before, an unnoticed subject. The Emperor of
the French can never rule with safety, until fortune and
merit have taken the place of birth-right and preroga-
tives, until all the present sovereigns shall have been
dethroned or annihilated, and individuals like himself
placed upon their thrones. " Do not think" said they,
" that whal v/e promise are the sudden and insignificant
sentiments of men imposed upon, or impostors them-
selves. We are members of Buonaparte's secret police,
whose influence extends to all countries, to all ranks,
who distribute indemnities among the Germans, who
prepared the death of the Duke of Enghien, the disgrace
of Drake, and the elevation of a Parmasan Prince to
the throne of Etruria." In the course of an entertain-
ment, which lasted from three o'clock until nine, these
and other such sentiments were infused into his mind ;
and, with a view to complete by terror what temptation
might leave unfinished, they produced pistols, daggers,
and poison, intimating at the same time, that not only
the suspected traitor, but the man who proved lukewarm
in the cause of the Emperor of the French, should cer-
tainly perish. Their unfortunate guest assented to
every thing they said, as well from policy as from
necessity.

Coulon insisted on receiving some money, on account
of the 400 louis which had been promised him; upon
which one of the ruffians, who was in liquor, said " I

VOL. II. I don't

66 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

don't know whether Boyer" (the name of the commercial
agent at Warsaw) " would consent to give so large a sum."
His companion, condensning this indiscretion, replied,
" Why do you mention Boyer ? he is not in town ; he
will not return these two days." At last they gave him
a ducat to get some wine to drink with the cook, and
made an appointment for the following iiight, when they
were to give him the parcel, which was to be thrown
into the boiler. They parted at one o'clock in the
morning.

The same day (Sunday) Coulon disclosed the plot to
the Baron de Milleville, and the Due de Pienne, by
whom it was communicated to Comte D'Avaray,
Captain of the Guards to Louis XVIII. who hastened to
inform M. de Hoym, president of the chamber, and go-
vernor of the town, of the circumstance, and who
had orders from his Prussian Majesty for superintend-
ing all the concerns and safety of the French royal
family.

At first, the president Hoyra received the information
with the most feeling emotion, and promised to mount
his horse, and repair personally, either to the place of
rendezvous fixed by the ruffians to give the poison to
Coulon, or to the spot appointed for paying him the
money and setting off for France. He also promised to
send persons to secure the whole gang, and Coulon him-
self, in case he should have forged the story in order to
obt«in a reward. The sensibility of the president Hoyra
was highly increased by the alarming reports which were
spread every day, of plots to take away the life of the
King at the eve of his departure for Russia.

The 23d of July, Coulon, being ordered by the Baron
de Milleville, went to the appointed spot, at a place
called the New Village, situated in the middle of the
lines which surround Warsaw; there he was joined by
one of the men, and soon after by another, who was
concealed in a corn field, and who actually delivered him
the parcel, and a bottle of liquor for his own use. They
agreed upon a signal, by which they were to know when
the deed had been effected. They told him, that when it
was executed, he might repair to a place called I^es
Cinq Potences, -where he would be joined by his employ-
ers, and taken to France with his wife ; and in case they

could

KING OF FRANCE. (57

could not meet there, he was to go to Stockayer, where
he would find them at the postmaster's house, and that
he should there receive the 400 louis. Upon his ask-
ing for some money, they gave him only six crowns,
alleging that they had been already cheated more than
once.

The president Hoym, however, afraid of committing
his master with the French Emperor, declined either to
go or send to the appointed spot, contrary to his promise.
Coulon delivered the parcel and the bottle to M. de
Milleville, on the 24th, in the morning. The Comte
D'Avaray went at ten o'clock to M. de Hoym's, and
presented him the parcel, which contained three carrots
charged with arsenic. M. de "Hoym, from excess of fear,
refused to interfere any further in the business, saying,
it should be referred to the police office; and even re-
fused to affix his seal to the parcel, which was sealed
by the Archbishop of Rheims and the Comte D'Avaray.

On that day Louis XVIII. was informed of the plot.
His Majesty expressed the greatest and the most
tender solicitude for his faithful servants, but displayed
an unalterable tranquillity of mind with respect to his
own personal safety. He wrote to the president, Hoym,
who did not wait on his Majesty till the following day,
and then confined himself to vague assurances that the
business should be followed up with activity by the
police officers.

A formal demand was made by the King, that a report
should be made by an assembly of professional men,
respecting the contents of the parcel ; which demand
being answed in an evasive manner, the King ordered
that the parcel should be opened and examined before
his own physician, M.Le Faire, aided by M.Gagaktiewish,
the most eminent and respectable physician of Warsaw,
Dr." Bergenzoni, and Dr. Guteil, an apothecary. One of
the carrots being opened, was found perfectly sound, the
upper part being covered with a kind of mastich or paste,
of a colour similar to that of the root; the middle part
was found to contain a powder, which, after a chemical
operation, was discoved to be a mixture of three different
sorts of arsenic, one white, another yellow, and another
red. The proces verbal was signed by all present, and
the parcel sealed again, and sent to the police olfice with
1 2 ali

68 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

all the necessary documents. Upon application being
made by the King to M. de Tilly, chief magistrate, for
a prosecution to be instituted, that officer, actuated by
the same fears as M. de Hoym, declined to interfere,
or even to order the suspected persons to be appre-
hended, observing, that it did not concern the Tribunal
of Criminal Justice, and that the law of the country did
not permit him to arrest any person who had not actually
been cofivicted of a crime !

The course of events had now assumed so unpromising
an aspect, from the great and decided influence of Buo-
naparte on the continent, and upon the councils of those
powers who were best able to afford protection to Louis,
that the unfortunate monarch was at last compelled to
seek a refuge in England, where he was certain of being
received with all that hospitality which was due to his
misfortunes, and which it became the duty of a great
and magnanimous country to afford him. He accord-
ingly repaired to England, where his reception was of a
nature the most gratifying to his feelings. Here he
resided for some years, gaining by his conduct the esteem
of all who approached his person, and awaiting the time
which Providence had ordained for his restoration to the
throne of his ancestors. During his residence in Eng-
land, Louis made no attempt to recover his throne ; but,
occasionally, that his claims might not be forgotten, and
that mankind might not suppose he had relinquished
them, he issued proclamations to his deluded people.
Unhappily, however, the trammels they were entangled
in by the policy, craft, and power of their great enslaver,
afforded no opportunity of giving effect to the appeals
and calls of their lawful monarch.

The time was now approaching, when the constancy
and misfortunes of this illustrious personage and his
august family were to be rewarded in the fullest mea-
sure their wishes could anticipate. It was not difficult
to foresee, that the boundless ambition of Napoleon, if
it did not suddenly work his destruction, must necessarily
have that tendency; and that his allies, constrained to
adopt his policy, more by terror than inclination, would
seize any opportunity that might be afforded to them of
shaking off their yoke. Affairs however, it was pos-
sible, might bave continued for a long time favourable to

Napoleon,

KING OF FRANCE. 69

Napoleon, and his ill-acquired power might have been
preserved to him, and possibly have been transmitted to
his heirs, had not Providence endowed him with a mind
and disposition which most effectually worked his own
fall. Previous to his attack upon Russia, which was the
immediate forerunner of his own ruin, his power appeared
to be cemented, and to stand upon a foundation which
nothing could shake. The terror of his arms had so
subdued all his external enemies, that he had nothing to
fear from an}'^ hostility abroad. It is true, his affairs in
Spain and Portugal were not of a complexion so favour-
able to him, yet many opportunities presented themselves
to enable him to retire from this conflict with a good
grace, and which he well knew how to cover over with a
specious pretext. If we turned our view to his domestic
empire, what could we find but a most entire submission
to his vi^ill. His great victories and splendid achieve-
ments had no doubt acquired for him the admiration of
a great portion of his subjects; those who were of
opposite sentiments, and devoted to the interests of their
lawful Monarch, were effectually kept under by that
system and force which he had successfully grafted upon
his government. Besides, the army, which is the usual
prop and support of usurpers, vi^as so entirely de-
voted to him, that any combination at home against
his authority must have ended in the entire destruc-
tion of the projectors. He had also so contrived,
by bestowing honours and estates upon those de-
voted to his interests, that a most powerful body was
raised eager to support, as connected with their own
elevation, the fortune of their Imperial Master. How
hopeless then must have been the expectations of Louis I
and how distant the prospect of his ever recovering his
rights, under the unfavourable aspect which every where
presented itself to his view ! No human effort appeared
to be possible to restore him to his throne; and he seemed
destined ever to remain an exile, without even hope to
sweeten the bitterness of his misfortunes. An amazing
revolution was however preparing, which was to restore
to his right this persecuted monarch; and a train of
events, as unexpected as sudden, led to a consummation
which no human foresight could have anticipated — the
restoration of Louis XVIII. to the throne of France.

In

70 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

In the preceding Memoirs which we have given, we
have amply detailed the circumstances which led to this
great event, it will now be our business, in the life of
Louis XVIII. to give the particulars of this memorable
occurrence, which holds, and must ever continue to hold,
the first place in the page of history; and what, in' its
consequences and future effects, must have a powerful
operation on the future destinies of the world.

After the capitulation and fall of Paris, it was easily
foreseen that Napoleon's dynasty would be extinguished;
it was not, however, a matter of so much certainty, what
would be the conduct of the French, when left to them-
selves to elect a new form of government. The allied
monarchs, with a moderation that has no parallel in
history, were resolved not to interfere in their choice.
It is true, they declared they would not treat with
Napoleon, and therefore, in effect, had decreed his de-
thronement. This conduct, however, could not be
considered a departure from that moderation which they
had professed to follow, as they had, no doubt, a right
to prescribe in what manner they would make peace
with France; and this right they fairly exercised in their
declaration, of not treating with their capital enemy.
The French people being thus left to themselves, and the
terror which Napoleon had impressed them with no
longer operating upon their minds, they, without hesita-
tion, determined upon the recall of their lawful sovereign.
On the 1st of April 1814, the Senate met at half past
three, in consequence of an extraordinary convocation,
when the Prince of Benevento (Talleyrand), their presi-
dent, addressed them as follows: —

" Senators — The letter which I have had the honour
of addressing to each of you to inform you of this ex-
traordinary convocation, acquaints you with the object
of it. It is intended to lay proposals before you. This
one word sufficiently points out the liberty which each of
you brings into this assembly. It gives you the means to
give a generous flow [essor] to the sentiments with which
the soul of each of you is filled — the desire of saving
your country, and the resolution of hastening to the
assistance of a fbrsaken people.

*' Senators — Circumstances, however difficult they
may be, cannot be above the firm and enlightened pa-
triotism

KING OF FRANCE. 71

triotism of all the members of this assembly. You have,
doubtless, all equally felt the necessity of a deliberation
which may shut the door against all delay, and which
may not let a day pass without re-establishing the action
of the administration, the first of all wants, for the for-
mation of a government, whose authority, founded on
the necessities of the moment, cannot but re-assure peo-
ple's minds."

After this address, the Senate immediately decreed — •'

" 1st. That there shall be established a Provisional Go-
vernment, charged to provide for the wants of the admi-
nistration, and to present to the Senate the plan of a
Constitution which may suit the French people.

" 2. That the Government shall consist of Five Mem-
bers ; and then proceeding to their nomination, the Senate
elects for members of the Provisional Government, M.
Talleyrand, Prince of Benevento; Count de Bournon-
ville. Senator; Count de Jaucourt, Senator; Duke of
Dalberg, Counsellor of State; M. de Montesquieu, an-
cient member of the Constituent Assembly.

" They are proclaimed in this quality by the Prince
Vice Grand Elector, President."

And further, upon the motion of one of its members,
it was also decreed —

" 1 . That the Senate and Legislative Body are declared
integral parts of the intended Constitution, subject to the
modifications which shall be judged necessary to ensure
the liberty of the suffrages and opinions.

" 2. Tiiat the army, as well as the retired officers and
soldiers, shall retain the ranks, honours, and pensions,
which they enjoy.

" 3. That tiie public debt shall be inviolable.

" 4. That the sale of the national domains shall be irre-
vocably maii'tained.

" 5. That no Frenchman shall be made answerable for
the public opmions which he may have expressed.

" 6. That the liberty of worship and of conscience shall
be maintained and proclaimed, as well as the liberty of
the press, subject to the legal repression of the crimes
which may arise from the abuse of that liberty.

" 7. These different proposals, seconded by several
members, were put to the vote by the Prince Vice Grand
Elector, and adopted by the Senate."

From

79 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

From these early proceedings of the Senate, no doubt
could remain as to the restoration of Louis; and all
France hastened to give in its adhesion to the Provisional
Government that had been just formed.

On the 6th of April the Senate decreed the new Con-
stitution; its acceptance by the King was made a con-
dition of his restoration to tiie throne. It consisted of
the following twenty-nine articles.

" Conservative Seriate.

" The Conservative Senate, deliberating upon the
Plan of Constitution presented to it by the Provisional
Government, in execution of the Act of the Senate of the
1st instant, after having heard the report of a Special
Commission of seven members, decrees as follows :

*' Art. 1. The French Government is monarchical, and
hereditary from male to male, in order of primogeniture.

" 2. The French people call freely to the throne of
France, Louis Stanislaus Xavier de France, brother to the
last King, and after him the other members of the House
of Bourbon, in the ancient order.

" 4. The ancient Nobility resume their titles. The new
preserve their's hereditarily. The Legion of Honour is
maintained with its prerogatives. The King shall fix the
decoration.

** 4. The executive power belongs to the King.

" 5. The King, the Senate, and the Legislative Body,
concur in the making of laws.

** Plans of laws may be equally proposed in the Senate
and in the Legislative Body.

" Those relating to contributions can only be proposed
in the Legislative Body.

" The King can invite equally the'^two Bodies to oc-
cupy themselves upon objects which he deems proper.

" The Sanction of the King is necessary for the com-
pletion of a law.

** 6. There are 150 Senators at least, and 200 at most.

•' Their dignity is immoveable, and hereditary from
male to male, in order of primogeniture. They are
named by the King.

" The present Senators, with the exception of those
who shall renounce the quality of a French citizen, are
maintained, and form part of this number. The actual
endowment of the Senate and the Senatorships belongs

to

KING OF FRANCE. 73

to them. The revenues are equally between them, and
pass to their successors. In case of the death of a Se-
nator without direct male posterity, his portion returns
to the public treasure. The Senators who shall be named
in future cannot partake of this endowment.

** 7. The Princes of the Royal family, and the Princes
of the blood, are by right Members of the Senate.

" The functions of a Senator cannot be exercised
until the person has attained the age of 21 years.

" 8. The Senate decides the cases in which the discus-
sion of objects before them shall be public or secret.

" 9. Each department shall send to the Legislative
Body the same number of deputies it sent thither.

" The Deputies who sat in the Legislative Body at
the period of the last adjournment shall continue to sit
till they are replaced. All preserve their pay.

" In future they shall be chosen immediately by the
Electoral Bodies, which are preserved, with the excep-
tion of the changes that may be made by a law in their
organization.

" The duration of the functions of the Deputies to the
Legislative Body is fixed at five years.

" The new election shall take place for the session of
1815.

" 10. The Legislative Body shall assemble of right
each year on the 1st of October. The King may con-
voke it extraordinarily; he may adjourn it; he may also
dissolve it: but in the latter case another Legislative^
Body must be formed, in three months at the latest, by
the Electoral Colleges.

" 11. The Legislative Body has the right of discussion.
The sittings are public, unless in cases where it chooses
to form itself into a general committee.

" 12. The Senate,lLegislative Body, Electoral Colleges,
and Assemblies of Cantons, elect their President from
among themselves.

" 13. No Member of the Senate, or Legislative Body
can be arrested without the previous authority from the
Body to which he belongs.

" The trial of a Member of the Senate or Legislative
Body belongs exclusively to the Senate.

" 14. The Ministers may be Members either of the
Senate or Legislative Body.

VOL. II. K *' 15. Equality

74? LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

" 15. Equality of proportion in the taxes is of right:
no tax can be imposed or received unless it has been
freely consented to by the Legislative Body and the Se-
nate. The land tax can only be established for a year.
The budget of the following year, and the accounts of
the preceding year, are presented annually to the Legis-
lative Body and the Senate, at the opening of the sitting
of the Legislative Body.

" 16. The lav7 shall fix the mode and amount of the
recruiting of the army.

" 17. The independence of the judicial povper is gua-
ranteed. No one can be removed from his natural
judges.

" The institution of Juries is preserved, as well as the
publicity of trial in criminal matters.

" The penalty of confiscation of goods is abolished.

" The King has the right of pardoning.

" 18. The Courts and ordinary Tribunals existing at
present are preserved; their number cannot be dimi-
nished or increased, but in virtue of a law. The Judges
are for life and irremoveable, except the Justice of the
Peace and the Judges of Commerce. The Commissions
and extraordinary Tribunals are suppressed, and cannot
be re-established.

** 19. The Court of Cassation, the Court of Appeal, and
the Tribunals of the first instance, propose to the King,
three candidates for each of three places of Judge vacant
in their body. The King chooses one of the three. The
King naipes the First Presidents and the Public Mi-
nistry of the Courts and the Tribunals.

" 20. The military on service, the officers and soldiers
on half pay, the widows and pensioned officers, preserve
their ranks, honours, and pensions.

" 21. The person of the King is sacred and inviolable.
All the acts of the Government are signed by a. Minister.
The Ministers are responsible for all which those acts
contain violatory of the laws, public and private liberty,
and the rights of citizens.

" 22. The freedom of worship and conscience is gua-
ranteed. The ministers of worship are treated and pro-
tected alike.

'* S3. The liberty of the press is entire, with the ex-
ception of the legal repression of offences which may-
result

KING OF FRANCE. 75

result from the- abi»se of that liberty. The Senatorial
Commissions of the liberty of the press and indivi-
dual liberty are preserved.

" 24. The public debt is guaranteed.

** The sales of the national domains are irrevocably
maintained.

*' 25. No Frenchman can be prosecuted for opinions
or votes which he has given.

" 26. Every person has the right to address individual
petitions to every constituted authority.

" 27. All Frenchmen are equally admissible to all
civil and military employments.

" 28. All law7s existing at present remain in vigour,
until they are legally repealed. The code of civil laws
shall be entitled Civil Code of the French.

" 29. The present Constitution shall be submitted to
the acceptance of the French people, in the form which
shall be regulated. Louis Stanislaus Xavier shall. be pro-
claimed King of the French, as soon as he shall have
signed and sworn, by an act stating, ' / accept the Con-
stitution; I swear to obsenie it, and cause it to he ob-
served.'

" This oath shall be repeated in the solemnity,
when he shall receive the oath of fidelity of the
French."

Louis made no hesitation in imrnediately acceding to the
new form of government ; he had too much penetration
not to perceive that, in mounting the throne of his ances-
tors, he must govern by different maxims from those of
former times, and that the principles of liberty, which in
their first operation had led to such destructive results, far
from being stifled by the despotism of the Imperial go-
vernment, had taken deep root in France. Besides, his
long residence in England must have strongly inchned
him to submit to a limited authority; which, far from
obscuring the splendour of the throne, he might see,
conferred a lustre upon it, and added strength and
dignity to the government.

When the new revolution which restored Louis to
his right took place, he resided at Hartwell, from whence
he immediately proceeded to London; where he was
received with every demonstration of joy, and every
token of respect was paid to the illustrious stranger by
K 2 aU

LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

all ranks of people. When he arrived at the hotel prepared
for his reception, the Prince Regent, who had met and
accompanied him on his journey, addressed his Majesty
to the following effect:—

Prince Regent — ** Your Majesty will permit me to
offer you my heartiest congratulations upon that great
event, which has always been amongst the warmest of
my wishes, and which must eminently contribute to the
happiness not only of your Majesty's people, but to the
repose and happiness of all other nations. I am sure I
may add, that my own sentiments and feelings are in
unison with those of the universal British nation ; and
that the triumph and transport with which your Ma-
jesty will be received in your own capital, can scarcely
exceed the joy and satisfaction which your Majesty's
restoration to the throne of your ancestors has created in
the capital of the British empire."

King of France.— t" Your Royal Highness will accept
my most sincere and grateful thanks for your Royal
Highness's congratulations, for the invariable kindness
with which I have been treated by your Royal Highness
and by every member of your illustrious House. It is to
your Royal Highness's councils, to this great country, and
to the constancy of its people, that I shall always ascribe,
under Providence, the restoration of our House to the
throne of our ancestors, and that state of affairs which
promises to heal the wounds, to calm the passions,
and to restore the peace, tranquillity, and prosperity of
all nations."

Prince Regent. — " Your Majesty views my conduct
with too partial an eye. I can claim no merit but the
performance of a duty to which inclination and every
consideration prompted me. And surely your Majesty
will allow that the performance of it has been well
rewarded by those events which call forth our present
congratulations. May your Majesty long reign in peace,
happiness, and honour!"

King of France. — " Your Royal Highness must allow
me to add, that I have but feebly expressed all the
grateful feelings of my heart — feelings which I shall
retain to the last mon)ent of my life — for the unabated
kmdness and the generous protection with which your
{loyal Highness and your noble nation have honoured

me

KING OF FRA¥CE. 77

me and all the members of my house, and all those loyal
men attached to it, during our residence in this great and
happy country. — May its greatness and happiness be
eternal !"

His Majesty then, assisted by the Prince de Conde and
the Duke de Bourbon, taking the ribband of the Order
of Saint Esprit from his own shoulder, and the star from
his breast, invested the Prince with it ; declaring his
happiness, that it should be upon his Royal Highness he
should first have the honour of conferring that ancient
order, upon his restoration.

During his short residence in London, Louis received
the congratulations of all the principal nobility and
gentry, the ministers, foreign ambassadors, &c. &c. And
on Saturday the 23d of April, he left the British metro-
polis for his own dominions, carrying with him the
hearty and unfeigned good wishes of every class of
society.

On the 25th of April, a day which must be ever me-
morable in the annals of France, his Majesty landed at
Calais, where it would be impossible to describe the
enthusiasm with which he was received by its loyal
inhabitants. When his Majesty landed, he was received
by the Mayor and Magistrates, General Barbasen the
commandant, M. Tribot the cure of the town, and the
principal inhabitants, who attended him to an open
carriage which had been prepared for his Majesty, and
which was drawn to the church of Notre Dame by his
loyal and affectionate subjects. There mass was per-
formed in a manner truly impressive. After mass, his
Majesty, having taken a slight repose, dined in public.
At his table were admitted, besides the members of his
own family, a considerable number of distinguished
individuals, both French and English.

On his road to the French metropolis, Louis was re-
ceived in all places through which he passed, by demon-
strations of joy, affection, and attachment, which it
would be impossible to describe. On his arrival at Com-
peigne, he was met by the French Marshals, when the
Prince of Neufchatel, in the name of the Marshals of
France, addressed him as follows: —

" Sire — After twenty-five years of uncertainty and
tumult, the French people have again entrusted the care

of

7S LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

of their happiness to that dytiasty which eight ages of
glory have consecrated in the history of the world, as thfe
most ancient that ever existed. As warriors and citi-
zens, the Marshals of France have been led by all the
impulses of their soul to second this rftovenient of the
national wish. Absolute confidence in the future, ad-
miration for greatness under misfortune, all, even to
former recolkctions, concur to excite in our warriors,
always the support of the splendours of the French
armies, these transports which your Majesty has observed
on your passage. Already, Sire, the accounts of their
gratitude have preceded you. How is it possible to paint
the emotion with which they were penetrated On hearit>g
with what touching interestyour Majesty, forgetting your
own misfortunes, seemecl only to be occupied with those
of the French prisoners? ' It is of little importance^/
you said to the magnanimous Alexander, ' under what
banners these 150,000 prisoners have served, they are
unfortunate; I see amongst them only my^ children.' At
these memorable words, which each soldier repeated to
his comrade, what Frenchman could fail to perceive the
blood of the great Henry, who nourished Paris whilst
he besieged it? Like him, his illustrious descendant
comes to unite all Frenchmen in one family. Your
armies. Sire, of which the Marshals are to-day the
organ, consider themselves happy in being called
by their devotion and fidelity to second such generous
efiorts."

The King replied in a most aff"ecting kindness, that he
saw with pleasure the Marshals of France, and that he
relied on the sentiments of fidelity and attachment which
they expressed in ttie name of the French armies. His
Majesty named each of tiie French Marshals himself.
After having spoken to them words as honourable a:s
gracious, the King arose, though suffering under* the
gout, and at the moment when his Grand Officer^ were
approaching to assist him, his Majesty, seizing the arms
of the two Marshals, who were the nearest him, said
with an overflowing heart — " It is on you. Marshals, E
wish always to support myself; approach, and surrourid
me. You have always been good Frenchmeri. I hope
France will no longer have need of your swords. If
ever, which God forbid, we are forced to draw them,-

afflicted

KING OF FRANCE. 79

afflicted as I am with the gout, I will march with
you."

The Marshals replied — " Sire, Be pleased to con-
sider us as the pillars of your Majesty's throne. It is
our wish to be its firmest support."

The King's public entry mto Paris, after so long an ab-
sence, cotdd not fail of impressing on the minds of the
French deep and affecting recollections. Restored to the
throne of his ancestors, after a proscription of so many
years, he was now to re-enter that capital from whence
had sprung all the misfortunes of his family. On the day
preceding his public entrance, Louis issued the following
declaration: —

*' Declaration of the King.
" Louis, by the grace of God, King of France and
Navarre, to all whom these presents shall concern,
greeting.

Recalled by the love of our people to the - throne
of our fathers, enlightened by the misfortunes of the
nation which we are destined to govern, our first object
is to invoke that reciprocal confidence which is so
essential to our peace, and their happiness and pros-
perity.

** After having attentively perused the plan of a Con-
stitution proposed by the Senate in the session of the 6th
of April last, we allow that the bases of it are good; but
observe, at the same time, that a great number of articles,
bearing the impression of the precipitancy with which
they have been drawn up, cannot, in their present form,
become fundamental laws of the state.

" Resolved to adopt a liberal Constitution, desiring
that it be judiciously combined, and not being able to
accept one which will indispensably require revision, we
convoke the Senate and the Legislative Body for the
10th of June, in the present year, pledging ourselves to
place before their eyes the work which we shall have
accomplished with a Select Committee of the members
of these two bodies, and to give lor the basis of that Con-
stitution the following guarantees : —

*' The Representative Government shall be main-
tained, such as it exists at present, divided into two
Bodies, viz. " The Senate, and the Chamber com-
posed of the Deputies of the Departments.

" The

80 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

" The levying of taxes shall be freely agreed to.

'* Public and personal liberty secured,

*' The liberty of the press respected, save and except
the precautions necessary for public tranquillity.

" The freedom of vi'orship guaranteed.

*' Property shall be inviolable and sacred ; the sale of
the national lands, &c. shall remain irrevocable.

" The Ministers being responsible, may be proceeded
against by either of the Legislative Chambers, and judged
by the other.

"The Judges shall not be removeable at pleasure, and
the judicial power independent.

" The public debt shall be secured ; the pensions,
ranks, military honours, shall be preserved, as well as
the titles of the old and new nobility.

" The Legion of Honour, of which we will determine
the decorations, shall be maintained.

" Every Frenchman shall be admissible to civil and
military offices.

" Finally, no man shall be molested for his opinions
or his votes.

(Signed) " Louis.

" Given at St. Ouen, 2d May 1814."

It was on the memorable 3d of May, that the King
entered Paris, where every preparation had been made
to give due solemnity to the scene. On the morning of
that day, his Majesty left St. Ouen, accompanied by the
Members of the Provisional Council of State, the Com-
missaries of the Ministerial Departments, the Marshals
of France, the Generals and Members composing his
Household. A countless multitude of all classes of the
inhabitants of Paris and the surrounding departments
had assembled on the road, greeting with their acclama-
tions their restored sovereign. The procession was
formed in the following order.

A detachment of the cavalry of the National Guards,
and another of the cavaly of the line, came first. Two
carriages for the Provisional Ministers followed.

The Archbishop of Rheims, Grand Almoner of
France; the Due de Durass, First Gentleman of the
King's Chamber; the Comte de Blacas, Grand Master
of the Wardrobe; and the Grand Master of the Ceremo-
nies, were in one coach.

« The

KING OF FRANCE. 81

The King's carriage, in which were his Majesty, the
Duchess of Augouleme, the Prince of Cond6, and the
Due de Bourbon.

Monsieur on horseback, at the right door of the King's
carriage, was accompanied by a part of the Marshals of
France and Colonels-General.

The Due de Berri was also on horseback, at the left
of the carriage, accompanied in like manner by a part of
the Marshals and Colonels-General.

Marshal Berthier preceded the royal carriage, and
Marshal Moncey, as First Inspector- General of the Gen-
darmerie, was behind it. A long file of carriages fol-
lowed, in which were the Ladies of Madame la Duchesse,
the Officers of the Household of the King and Princes.
Detachments of the National Guards and Gendarmerie
closed the procession.

The Prefect of the Seine at the head of the Municipal
Body, and the Prefect of the Police, were stationed at
the barrier; and the keys were carried by the Senior
Mayor of Paris. Baron de Chabrol, Prefect'^of the Seine,
addressed his Majesty in a speech, and presented to him
the keys of the city. His Majesty was pleased to reply
in the most gracious manner —

" I am at last in my good city of Paris, I experience
a lively emotion from the proofs of affection which are
at this moment given me. Nothing could be more agree-
able to my heart than to see erected the statue of him,
the recollection of whom, among all my noble ancestors,
is the most dear to me.

" I touch the keys, and restore them to you; they
could not be in better hands, nor entrusted to magistrates
more worthy of guarding them."

The procession then proceeded to the Cathedral, on
entering which the King was received with the usual
ceremonies. The Domine salvum fac Regem was per-
formed and supported by the vast crowd of spectators
who filled every part of the Church. Te Deum was
afterwards chaunted, that of Neuckomm was chosen for
this occasion, and it was executed by a numerous band
of musicians. After this religious ceremony, the proces-
sion continued in the regular order to the Palace of the
Thuilleries.

It is impossible to describe the effect of this entrance

VOL. II. L of

82 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

of the King into his capital. The immense multitude of
spectators of all ranks, magistrates and citizens, and
general officers, and soldiers of the allies, shewed by
their conduct that they were all animated by one sen-
timent, one wish, one hope — the happiness of the King
and the people of France. The acclamation of Vive le
Roi ! Vivent les Bourbons ! was unanimously and unceas-
ingly repeated.

The situation of Louis, upon his accession to the
throne, was one of considerable difficulty. His capital,
he found, occupied by hostile forces, arousing the jea-
lousy, and mortifying the pride, of his people and his
army. Besides the vexations which this slate of things
was calculated to produce, their continuance in Franc*
could not fail of damping, in a considerable degree, that
warm attachment to his person which every where pre-
vailed. The first cares of Louis and his ministers were,
therefore, directed to this subject; and treaties of peace
between the allied powers and France were speedily con-
cluded : in consequence of which, the foreign troops
were soon withdrawn out of the kingdom.

The Legislative Assembly of France being sumrripned,
met on the 4th of June for the tirst time, when the King
went in grand state to open their sessions. At the en-
trance of his Majesty, the whole Assembly arose, amidst
the loudest acclamations, a thousand times repeated, of
Long live the King ! Long live the Bourbons ! and with an
energy and enthusiasm which it would be impossible to
express or describe. The Assembly being standing and
uncovered, his Majesty sat down, and made a sign to the
members to resume their seats. A profound silence pre-
vailing, the King stood up, and addressed the Assembly
as follows : —

" Gentlemen — Entering for the first time this cham-
ber, and surrounded by the great bodies of the state, -the
representatives of a nation that does not cease to lavish
upon me the most touching marks of its affection, I felici-
tate myself in being the dispenser of those benetits which
Divine Providence deigns to confer upon my people.

" I have made with Austria, Russia, England, and
Prussia, a peace, in which their allies, namely, all the
princes of Christendom, are included. The war was
universal ; the reconciliation is equally so.

" The

KING OF FRANCE. 83

*' The rank which France always held amongst nations,
has not been transferred to any other; and she retains
it without any diminution. Whatever security the other
states require, equally increases her own; and conse-
quently adds to her true pow er. What she does not re-
tain of her conquests ought not, therefore, to be regarded
as a retrenchment of her real force.

" The glory of the French armies has received no stain ;
the monuments of their valour subsist, and the master-
pieces of the arts belong to us for the future, by rights
more stable and more sacred than those of victory.

" The avenues of commerce, so long closed, are going to
be free. The markets of France will not hereafter alone
be open to the productions of her sod and of her industry.
Those which custom has rendered objects of necessity, or
which are useful to the arts which she exercises, will be
furnished by the possessions she recovers. She will be no
more compelled to deprive herself of them, or to ]jrocure
them on the most ruinous terms. Our manufactures will
again flourish; our maritime cities will revive; and
every thing portends that a long state of tranquillity
abroad, and durability of happiness at home, will be the
happy consequences of peace.

" Painful recollections intervene in the mean time to
disturb my joy. I flattered myself I was born to remain
my whole life the most faithful subject of the best of
Kings; and I occupy to-day his place. But, however,
he is not entirely dead ; he revives in this testament,
which he destined for the instruction of the august and
unfortunate child whom I have succeeded ! With my
eyes tixed upon this imniortal work, penetrated with the
sentiments which dictated it; guided by the experience,
and assisted by the councils of several amongst you, I
have drawn up the Constitutional Charter, which shall be
immediately read to you, and which fixes upon a solid
basis the prosperity of the state.

" My Chancellor will communicate to you, more in de-
tail, my paternal intentions."

It would be as difficult to express the profound emo-
tions and the sentiments of tenderness and gratitude with
which the discourse of his Majesty w-as heard, as to give
a just idea of the noble and affecting expression, the pa-
ternal accent, the persuasive tone, and the communicative
L 2 sensibility

Si LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH.

sensibility with which the discourse was pronounced.
Reiterated acclamations of the Assembly, and new cries
of Long live the King / resounded from all sides.

The King ordered the Chancellor of France to make
communication of the Constitutional Charter: upon which
the Sessions assumed another character; the Nation was
going to hear its rights and its d uties. The deepest silence
once more prevailed.

The Chancellor then spoke as follows: —

" Gentlemen Senators, Gentlemen Deputies
FROM THE Departments — You have heard the affect-
ing words and the paternal intention of his Majesty : it
remains for his Ministers to make known the important
communications which flow out of them.

" How magnificent and affecting is the spectacle of a
King, who, in order to secure our respect, has need only
for his virtues; who displays the imposing apparatus of
royalty to bring to his people, exhausted by 25 years*
misfortunes, the blessing so long desired of an honourable
peace, and the not less precious benefit of an ordonnance
of reformation, by which he extinguishes all parties and
maintains the rights of all.

" Many years have elapsed since Divine Providence
called our Sovereign to the throne of his fathers. — At the
epoch of his accession, France, bewildered by false the-
ories, divided by the spirit of intrigue, blinded by vain
appearances of liberty, had become the prey of all factions,
the theatre of every excess, and was given up to the most
horrible convulsions of anarchy. She successively tried
all kinds of government, until the weight of the evils
which overwhelmed her brought her back to that pater-
nal government which, during fourteen centuries, had
been her glory and her happiness.

*f The breath of the Almighty hath overthrown that
formidable colossus of strength, under which all Europe
groaned ; but under the ruins of a gigantic edifice, still
more promptly destroyed than raised, France has at last
recovered the unshakeable foundation of her ancient
Monarchy.

" It is upon this sacred base that we must now raise
a durable edifice, which time and the hand of man shall
ijot be able to destroy.

•* It is the King who becomes more than ever the foun-
dation

KING OF FRANCE. 8i

dation stone ; it is around him that all Frenchmen ought
to rally. And what King ever better deserved their
obedience and fidelity? Recalled to his states by the
unanimous virish of his people, he has conquered them
without an army, subjected them by love, and united all
minds, by gaining all hearts.

*' In full possession of his hereditary rights over this
fine kingdom, he does not wisb to exercise the authority
which he holds from God and from his fathers, but by im-
posing limits himself upon his own power.

" Far from his thoughts, was the idea that the sove-
reignty ought to be stripped of the salutary counter-
checks, which, under various denominations, have con-
stantly existed in our constitution. He substitutes him-
self an establishment of power so combined, that it offers
as many guarantees for the nation as it does safeguards
for royalty. He wishes only to be the supreme head of
the great family, of which he is the father. It is himself
who gives to the French a Constitutional Charter, ap-
propriated to their desires as to their wants, and to the
respective situation of men and things.

" The enthusiasm with which the King has been re-
ceived in his states, 'the spontaneous devotion of all the
civil and military authorities, have convinced his Majesty
of the truth so gratifying to his heart, that France was
monarchical from sentiment, and regarded the honour
of the crown as a tutelary power necessary to its happi-
ness.

*' His Majesty has no fear, therefore, that there will be
any kind of discord between him and his people : insepa-
rably united by the ties of tender love, a mutual confidence
will cement all their reciprocal engagements.

" France must have a royal protecting power, without
the means of becoming oppressive; the King must have
loving and faithful subjects, always free and equal before
the law. Authority ought to have suificieni force to
check all parties, to compress all factions, and to keep
down all the enemies which may threaten the public
welfare and repose.

'* The nation may, at the same time, desire a guaran-
tee against every kind of abuse and excess of power.
The present situation of the kingdom, after so many years
of storms, requires some precaution, perhaps even some

sacrifices

86 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

sacrifices, in order to appease ail jarrings, prevent all re-
currences to old grievances, consolidate all fortunes, and
to bring, in a word, all the French to a general oblivion of
the past, and a general reconciliation.

" Such, Gentlemen, is the truly paternal spirit in which
this great Charter has been drawn up, and which the
King has directed me to lay before the eyes of the old
Senate and the last Legislative Body. If the former of
these bodies has, as it were, ceased to exist with the
power that created it ; if the latter can only have, without
the authority of the King, powers uncertain and already
expired with respect to several of its series, the members
are not less the legimate election of the Notables of the
Kingdom.

" Thus the King has consulted them, by choosing
from among them such members as had been more than
once signalized by the public esteem. He has, as it were,
increased his council, and he owes to their sage obser-
vations several useful additions, several important re-
strictions.

" It is the unanimous labour of the Commission, of
which they form a part, which is to be laid before you,
to be afterwards carried to the two Chambers created by
the Constitution, and sent to all the Tribunals, as well as
to all the MunicipaJities.

" I do not doubt. Gentlemen, that it will excite
among you an enthusiasm of gratitude, which, from the
heart of the capital, will speedily be propagated to the
extremities of the kingdom."

The Constitutional Charter, which consisted of seventy-
six articles, was accompanied by the following decla-
ration of the King:—

" Louis, by the grace of God, King of France and
Navarre, &c. to all those who shall see these presents,
health.

" Divine Providence, in recalling us to our states after
a long absence, has imposed great duties upon us. Peace
being the first want of our subjects, we occupied our-
selves incessantly about it; and that peace, so necessary
for France as well as for the rest of Europe, is signed.
A Constitutional Charter was required by the present
state of the kingdom: we promised it, and we now
publish it.

" We

KING OF FRANCE. 87

" We have considered, that, although in France the
authority rests altogether on the person of the King, our
predecessors had not hesitated to modify the exercise of
it according to the circumstances of the times; that thus
the Commons owed their enfranchisement to Louis the
Fat, the confirmation and extension of their rights to
St. Louis and Philip the Handsome; that the judicial
order was established and developed by the laws of
Louis XL Henry IL and Charles IX.; and, finally, that
Louis XIV. regulated all parts of the public administra-
tion by different ordinances, the wisdom of which nothing
since has surpassed. We have held it our duty, accord-
ii)g to the example of the kings, our ancestors, to appre-
ciate the progress of lights always increasing, and the
new relations which this progress has introduced into
society; the direction which the minds of men have
taken for half a century, and the important alterations
which have resulted. We have ascertained that the desire
of our subjects for a Constitutional Charter was the ex-
pression of a real want; but, in yielding to this wish, we
have taken all precautions to insure that this Charter
shall be worthy of us and of the people which we are
proud to command. Men of wisdom, selected from the
chief bodies of the state, have been associated with com-
missioners from our council in framing this important
work. At the same time that we felt the necessity for
a free monarchical constitution, to fulfd the expectation
of enlightened Europe, we have also held ourselves
bound to recollect, that our first duty towards our people
■was, to preserve, for their own interests, the rights and
prerogatives of the crown. We trust that, instructed by
experience, they are convinced that the supreme autho-
rity alone can give to the institutions which it establishes,
the force, the permanency, and the majesty with which
it is itself clothed ; that thus, when the wisdom of kings
accords freely with the wishes of the people, a Con-
stitutional Charter may be of long duration; but when
violence wrests concessions from the weakness of the
government, public liberty is no less endangered than
the throne itself. We have finally searched for the prin-
ciples of a Constitutional Charter in the French cha-
racter, and in the venerable njonuments of past ages.
Thus we have seen, in the re-establishment of the peer-
age

88 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

age, an institution truly national, which ought to bind
every recollection to every hope, by re-unitine^ the an-
cient with the modern times. We have replaced by the
Chamber of Deputies, those ancient assemblies of the
fields of March and of May, and the Chambers of the
Third Estate, which have so often given at once proofs
of their zeal for the interests of the people, and of
fidelity and respect for the authority of the kings. In
studying thus to jom anew the chain of the times which
lamentable breaches had interrupted, we have effaced
from our recollection, as we wish it was possible to efface
from history, all the evils which have afflicted the coun-
try during our absence. Happy to find ourselves once
more in the bosom of the great family, we know not
how to reply to the love of which we have received so
many testimonies, except by pronouncing words of
peace and consolation. The wish most dear to our
heart is, that all Frenchmen should live as brothers, and
that no bitter recollection may ever disturb the security
to be expected from the solemn deed which we execute
this day. Sure of our intentions, strong in our con-
science,' we pledge ourselves before the Assembly that
hears us, to be faithful to this Constitutional Charter,
reserving to ourselves to swear to maintain it, with a new
solemnity, before the altars of Him who weighs in the
same balance kings and nations. For these reasons, we
have voluntarily, and by the free exercise of our royal
authority granted, and do grant, transfer, and make over
to our subjects, for ourselves, and for our successors, and
for ever, the Constitutional Charter."

The Constitutional Charter which the King thus
solemnly guaranteed, was not an hasty production ; it
was intended to fix upon a firm basis the liberties of
France, and to define with accuracy, the prerogatives
of the crown, as well as the privileges of the people. As
the Constitution of a neighbouring country like France,
must at all times excite the attteutioii of Englishmen;
and as its government, founded upon the basis of
the Constitutional Charter, will probably endure for
ages, and give a tone, a character to the nation, wc
deem it essential in the Memoirs of Louis XVHI. to
present our readers with the articles forming this great
compact. They are as follow : —

KING OF FRANCE. 39

" Public Rights of Frenchmen.

" Art. 1. The French, whatever may be their titles or
rank, are equal in the eye of the law.

" 2. They are to contribute, without distinction,
and in the ratio of their property, to the expences of
the state.

*' 3. They are all equally admissible to civil and
military employments.

" 4. Their individual liberty is equally guaranteed ;
none can be prosecuted or arrested, but in cases provided
for by the law, and in the prescribed forms.

" 5. Every one professes his religion with equal li-
berty, and obtains the same protection for his worship.

" 6. However, the Catholic, Apostolical, and Roman
religion, is the religion of the state.

" 7. The Ministers of the Catholic religion, and those
of other Christian worships alone, receive salaries from
the state.

" 8. The French have a right to publish and print
their opinions, in conforming to the laws which are to
repress the abuse of that liberty.

'* 9. All property is inviolable, without excepting
such as are called national, the laws making no distinc-
tion between them.

" 10. The state can require the sacrifice of a property
in favour of the public interest legally ascertained, but
the proprietor must be previously indemnified.

*' 11. All prosecutions for opinions or voles given
before the restoration, are prohibited. The same oblivion
is binding on the courts of justice, and on citizens.

" 12. The consciiption is abolished. The mode of
recruiting the army and navy is, determined by law.

" For7ns of the Kifig's Government.

" 13. The person of the King is sacred and inviolable.
His Ministei-s are responsible. To the King alone apper-
tains the executive power.

" 14. The King is supreme head of the state; com-
mands the forces by land and sea; declares war; makes
treaties of peace, alliance, and commerce; appoints to
all offices of public administration; and makes the
necessary regulations and ordinances for the execution
of the laws, and the security of the state.

VOL. II. M ** 15. The

90 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

" 15. The legislative power is collectively exerciseci
by the King, the Chamber of Peers, and the Chamber of
the Deputies of the Departments.

*' 16. The King proposes the law.

*' 17. The proposition of the law is carried, at the
desire of the King, to the Chamber of Peers, or to that
of the Deputies, except the law of taxation, which
must be addressed first to the Chamber of Deputies.

" 18. Every law must be freely discussed, and voted
by the majority of each of the two Chambers.

*' 19. The Chambers have the right of supplicating
the King to propose a law upon any object whatsoever,
and to point out what appears to them fit that the law
should contain.

" 20. This demand may be made by each of the two
Chambers, but after having been discussed in secret
committee.

" It shall not be sent to the other Chamber by that
which has proposed it, but after a period of ten days.

" 21. If the proposition is adopted by the other Cham-
ber, it will be placed under the e\'es of tli* King; if
it be rejected, it cannot be resumed during that ses-
sion.

" 22. The King alone sanctions and promulgates the
laws.

" 23. The Civil List is fixed for the entire reign, by
the first Legislature that assembles after the accession of
the King.

" Of the Chamber of Peers.

** 24. The Chamber of Peers is an essential portion
of the legislative power.

" 25. If convoked by the King at the same time as
the Chamber of the Deputies of Departments, the ses-
sions of both commence and finish at the same time.

*' 26. Every meeting of the Chamber of Peers, which
may be held at a time there is no session of the Chamber
of Deputies, is illicit and legally null.

" 27. The nomination of the Peers of France be-
longs to the King. Their number is not limited ; he may
vary the dignities, appoint them for life, or render them
hereditary, according to his will.

*' 28. The Peers have entrance into the Chamber at

the

KING OF FRANCE. 91

the age of 25, and a deliberative voice at the age of 30
only.

" 29. The Chamber of Peers is presided by the Chan-
cellor of France; and, in his absence, by a Peer nomi-
nated by the King.

" 30. The members of the Royal Family and the
Princes of the Blood are Peers by the right of their birth ;
they sit immediately after the President, but they have
not a deliberate voice till the age of 25.

*' 31. The Princes cannot sit in the Chamber, but by
the order of the King, expressed, for each session, by
message, under the pain of annulling every thing which
may be done in their presence.

" 32. Ali the deliberations of the Chamber of Peers are
secret.

" 33. The Chamber of Peers takes cognizance of
crimes of high treason, and attempts against the security
of the state, which shall be defined by law.

" 34. No Peer can be arrested but by the authority
of the Chamber, or judged but by it in criminal cases.

** Of the Chamber of the Deputies of the Departments.

" 35. The Chamber of Deputies will be composed
of Deputies chosen by the Electoral Colleges, whose
organization shall be determined by particular laws.

" 36. Every department shall have the same number
of Deputies it has had hitherto.

" 37- The Deputies are to be elected for five years,
and in such a manner that the Chamber may be renewed
one-fifth every year.

" 38. No Deputy can be admitted into the Chamber,
unless "he has attained the age of 40 years, and pays a
direct contribution of 1000 francs.

" 39. Should there, however, not be 50 persons in
the Department, of the age indicated, paying at least
1000 francs of direct taxes, their number will be com-
pleted by those who are taxed most under 1000 francs ;
but these cannot be elected in concurrence with the
former.

" 40. The Electors who concur in the nomination of
Deputies, cannot have right of vote, unless they pay
direct taxes to the amount of 300 francs, or if they be
under the age of 30.

M 2 " 41. The

92 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

" 41. The Presidents of the Electoral Colleges will
be nominated by the King, and be by right Members of
the College.

" 42. Half, at least, of the Deputies must be chosen
from the persons eligible who have their political resi-
dence in the department.

" 43. The President of the Chamber of Deputies is
nominated by the King from a list of five Members
presented by the Chamber.

" 44. The sittings pf the Chamber are public; but
the demand of five Members suffices to form it into a
Secret Committee.

" 45. The Chamber divides into committees, in
order to discuss the projects presented on the part of
the King.

" 46. No amendment can be made in a law, unless it
has been proposed in a committee by the King, and
unless it has been sent to, and discussed in, the com-
mittees.

" 47. The Chamber of Deputies receives all proposi-
tions respecting taxes; until they are admitted, they
cannot be sent to the Chamber of Peers.

" 48. No tax can be established or raised, till it has
received the consent of both Houses, and the sanction of
the King.

" 49. The land-tax cannot pass for more than one
year. Indirect taxes may be passed for several years.

" 50. The King convokes annually the two Chambers;
he prorogues them, and can dissolve that of the Deputies
of the Departments; but in that case he must convoke
another within the space of three months.

*' 51. No bodily constraint can be exercised against
a Member of the Chamber during the sessions, and dur-
ing the six weeks which precede and follow.

" 52. No Member of the Chamber, during the dura-
tion of the session, can be prosecuted or arrested for
criminal cases, unless taken in the very fact, until the
Chamber has consented to his prosecution.

" 53. Every petition to both Chambers must be sent
in writing. The law prohibits bringing it in person to
the bar.

** Of the Ministers.

** 54. The Ministers may be Members of the Cham-
ber

KING OF FRANCE. 93

ber of Peers, or of the Chamber of Deputies, They
have beside an entrance to both Chambers, and must be
heard when they require it.

** 55. The Chamber of Deputies has a right to im-
peach Ministers, and to deliver them up to the Cham-
ber of Peers, which has alone the right of judging
them.

" 56. They can only be accused of treason and ex-
tortion. Special laws shall particularize the description
of crimes, and fix the mode of prosecution."

Articles 57 to 68 relate to the judicial power. The
Judges are appointed by the King, and are irremoveable.
The present Courts and Tribunals are preserved. The
Judges of Peace are equally preserved ; but they are
removeable, though nominated by the King. None can
be deprived of his natural judge. No extraordinary
tribunals or commissions can be created. The trials
are to be public, except in such cases as may ofl'end
public morals and decency, and then the Court declares
it by judgment. The institution of Juries is preserved;
such changes as experience may recommend as neces-
sary, can only be effected by law. The pain of confis-
cation of property is abolished for ever. The King has
the right of pardon and commutation of punishment.

Articles 69 to 74 inclusive, refer to particular rights
guaranteed by the state. The military in active service,
officers and soldiers on half pay, widows, officers and
soldiers who have pensions, retain their ranks, honours,
and pensions. The public debt is guaranteed. The
ancient Nobility resume their titles, the new pre-
serve their's. The King gives titles of Nobility, but
they confer no exemption from the duties and burdens
of the state. The Legion of Honour is maintained ; the
King to determine the regulations and decoration. The
Colonies are to be governed by particular laws and regu-
lations. The King and his successors, at their corona-
tion, swear to observe faithfully the present Constitu-
tional Charter.

Articles 75 and 76 under the head of " Transitory
Jirticles" determine, that the Deputies of- the Depart-
ments who had a seat in the Legislative Body, at the last
adjournment, are to continue their functions till replaced.
The first renewal of a fifth of the Chamber is to take

place

94, LOUIS THE EIGHtEENTH,

place in the year 1816, according to the prescribed
form.

It is here that we intend to close our Memoirs of Louis
XVIII. In contemplating his life, the mind is forcibly
struck with that vicissitude of fortune which has attended
him, and which has so happily closed in his restoration
to the throne of France. Brought up in a court distin-
guished for its refinement and voluptuousness, Louis, it
may be imagined, was but ill prepared to meet the
misfortunes which he had to encounter, and to brave the
perils which overwhelmed his family. Yet do we find
that, in all the adversities which attended him, he was
never forsaken by that fortitude of mind by which he is
so much distinguished ; nor did he ever forget, in all his ca-
lamities, what was due to him as a monarch. His faith-
ful followers and adherents were a constant source of
uneasiness to him ; and he felt more for their situation
than for his own. When his restoration to the throne
of his ancestors took place, Louis must have suffered
considerable anguish in beholding many of his most
loyal adherents deprived of their ancient patrimony,
without a hope of ever recovering it. His situation in this
respect is an unavoidable consequence of his long pro-
scription, and the deep root which the new institutions-
had taken in France. The revolution had most com-
pletely swept away every trace of the monarchical
government; and such was the zeal of the republicans
in obliterating every recollection of monarchy, that
nothing which had the least appearance of antiquity,
either in church or state, was suflered to exist. No
wonder, therefore, that the fortunes and estates of the
royalists who had emigrated with their sovereign should
fall an early sacrifice to the wants and avarice of
the republicans; and time, which often sanctions the
most flagrant injustice, and which even confirms usurpa-
tion, has made it impossible, without violating the most
solemn compact, of restoring to their rights a most loyal
and persecuted set of men. From necessity, Louis was
obliged to employ in all the chief offices of his govern-
ment the very men who had been his most bitter ene-
mies, and who had most zealously supported the former
government. These men, from their long habits of
business, and from the influence they bad acquired in

France,

KING OF FRANCE. 95

France, were the only persons who could give effect to
his restored authority. Besides which, it was to them he
owed, in a great measure, his restoration to his throne,
and to them he must still be considerably indebted for a
firm establishment of it. He had therefore no oppor-
tunity of rewarding the fidelity of his faithful adherents,
or of recompensing them in any manner adequate to their
claims, or to the losses which they had suffered in his
cause and that of his family.

The situation of France on the restoration of Louis
was such, that it will require all the industry and atten-
tion of the King and his ministers to heal the deep
wounds which the ambition and policy of Napoleon had
inflicted on her. Posterity can have no idea of the state
of France at the restoration of Louis ; nor can the pre-
sent age form, a proper conception of that mass of
human misery which pervaded every part of the French
empire. The first Exposi of the state of France which
Louis exhibited to his people, presents a most melan-
choly picture of the country ; and though the statements
it contains are no doubt overcharged, yet is there suf-
ficient to believe that the ambitious Napoleon was too
regardless of her blood and treasure, and that he was
ready to make every sacrifice in order %o obtain his un-
just and unprincipled views. With this Expose, so im-
portant to a just view of the situation of France upon
the accession of Louis, we shall close our present Me-
moir. It appears to have been ably drawn up, and was
presented to the Chamber of Deputies soon after the
King's restoration, by M. I'Abb^ de Montesquiou, who
addressed them to the following effect: —

" Gentlbmen — His Majesty, on resuming the reigns
of government, was desirous to make known to his
people the state in which he found France. - The cause
of misfortunes which weighed down our country has dis-
appeared, but its effects still remain; and for a long
time, under a government which will devote itself solely
to the reparation, France will suffer under the wounds
inflicted by a government which gave itself up to the
business of destruction. It is necessary, therefore, that
the nation should be informed of the extent and the
cause of its misfortunes, in order to be able to set a due
value upon, and to second, the cares which are to soothe

and

95 LOUIS TIi£ EIGHTEENTH,

and retrieve them. Thus enlightened upon the extent and
nature of the mischief, it will in future be required only
to participate in the labours and exertions of the King,
to re-establish what has been destroyed, not by him, to
heai wounds not inflicted by him, and to repair wrongs to
which he is a stranger. War, without doubt, has been
the principal cause of the ills of France. History pre-
sented hitherto no example of a great nation incessantly
precipitated against its will into enterprises constantly
increasing in hazard and distress. The world has now
seen, with astonishment mingled with terror, a civilized
people compelled to exchange its happiness and repose
for the wandering life of barbarous hordes ; the ties of
families have been broken ; fathers have grown old far
from their children ; and children have been hurried off
to die 400 leagues from their fathers. No hope of
retura soothed this frightful separation; habit had
caused it to be regarded as eternal ; and the peasants of
Brittany, after conducting their sons to the place of
separation, have been seen to return to their churches to
put up for them by anticipation the prayers for the
dead !

" It is impossible to estimate the horrible consumption
of men by the late government ; fatigue and sickness
carried off as many as battles. The enterprises were so
vast and so rapid, that every thing was sacrificed to the
desire of insuring success; there was no regularity in
the service of the hospitals — none in providing subsist-
ence on the marches; the brave soldiers, whose valour
constituted the glory of France, and who gave inces-
santly new proofs of their energy and patience, sustaining
the national honour with so much brilliancy, saw them-
selves deserted amidst their sufferings, and abandoned,
without resource, to calamities which they were unable
to support. The goodness of the French was insufficient
to supply this cruel negligence; and levies of men,
which, under other circumstances, would have formed
great armies, disappeared in this manner, without taking
part in any engagement. Hence arose the necessity
of multiplying levies without number, to replace inces-
santly, by new armies, the almost total annihilation of
the armies preceding. The amount of the calls ordered
since the end of the Russian campaisrn is frightful —

*' 11th

KING OF FRANCE. 97

'* 11th January 1813 350,000

*' 3d April— Guards of Honour 10,000

First draught of National Guards 80,000

Guards for the coasts 00,000

" 24th August— Army of Spain 30,000

" 9th October — Conscription of 1814 and

preceding years 120,000

*' Conscription of 1816 160,000

*' 15th Nov.— Recall of years 1811 to 1814 300,000
" Jan. 1813 — Officers of cavalry equipped . 17,000
" 1814 — Levies en masse organized .... 143,000

1,300,000
" Fortunately these last levies could not be fully exe-
cuted. The war had not time to cut off all those who
had joined the standards. But this simple statement of
the requisitions enforced on the population during an
interval of from fourteen to fifteen months, suffices to
give an idea of what the losses of the nation must have
been during the last twenty-two years. Many causes
contributed, however, to repair these losses; the im-
provement of the condition of the inhabitants of the
country by the division of the great landed properties,
the equal distribution of inheritances, and the progress
of vaccination, were the most powerful. It was by
means of the influence of these causes, and by exagge-
rating their success, that efforts were made to hide from
the nation the extent of its sacrifices. The greater tile
number of men that were snatched away from France,
the more studiously was it endeavoured to prove that she
courted this frightful destruction. But even if the ac-
counts placed under view had been correct, the only result
would have been, that the number of births should cause
the number of deaths to be regarded with indifference!
But another argument was, to point out in the conscription
itself a source of increasing population, which introduced
disorder and immorality into marriages concluded with
precipitation and imprudence. Hence a multitude of
unfortunate families of ridiculous or indecent connexions,
so that even many men of the lower orders soon became
weary of what they had embraced only to shelter them-
selves from the conscription, threw themselves once
more in the way of the dangers they had sought to avoid,
VOL. 11. N and

98 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH.

and offered themselves as substitutes, to escape a misery
which they had not foreseen, or to break ties so ill as-
sorted.

" How could they, besides, overlook the reflection, that,
although by multiplying these deplorable marriages, the
conscription should have increased the number of births,
it took annually away from France a great number of
those full-grown men, who constitute the real strength
of a nation. The facts prove clearly the truth of so
natural a consequence. The population under the age
of twenty years increased, but fell off above that age.
Thus, while the government attacked the sources of the
national prosperity, it displayed incessantly in pompous
array those remnants of resources that maintained a
struggle against its wasteful measures ; it studied to con-
ceal the evil which it did, under the good, not of its
production, which Avas yet undestroyed. Master of a
country where long labours had amassed great treasures,
wh&re civilization had made the happiest progress, where
industry and commerce had, for the sixty previous years,
made a wonderful progress, it seized all the fruits of the
industry of so many generations, and of the experience
of so many ages, at one time to promote its lamentable
designs, and at another to cover the sad effects of its
influence. The simple account of the present state of
the realm will immediately exhibit the inherent pros-
p>erity of the nation struggling against a destroying prin-
ciple, incessantly attacked, often struck with terrible
, wounds, and perpetually drawing from itself resources
always insufficient.

" Ministry of the Interior.
•' Agriculture in France has made a real progress.
This progress began before the revolution; but since
that period its march has been accelerated by causes
which would have produced the most important effects,
if that influence had not been destroyed or diminished
by government. The propagation of good modes of
cultivation by learned societies— the residence of a num-
ber of rich proprietors in the country, and their experi-
ments, instruction and example — lastly, the creation of
Veterinary Schools, which have taught the mode of
preserving domestic animals from contagious diseases,

bave

KING OF FRANCE. 99

have all been productive of the most fortunate results in
rural economy. The continental system, occasioned
enormous losses to the proprietors Qf vineyards. In the
south of France many vineyards were rootea up; and
this species of cultivation haa been generally discouraged
by the low price of wines and brandy The experi-
mental farm of Rambouiliet began, in 17*85, the introiusc-
tion of Merinos into France; similar undertakings v\ -re
commenced by a great number of proprietors; in 1799,
the farm of Perpignon was established, which was fol-
lowed, several years afterwards, by seven similar esta-
blishments. The number of Merinos continued to in-
crease, and the breed was increasing every day; but the
head of the government, who wished to subject the
march of nature to his restless ambition, persuaded him-
self that this amelioration was neither sufficiently exten-
sive, nor sufficiently rapid ; and, by a decree of the 8th of
March 1811, he ordered the creation of five hundred
depots of two hundred Merino tups each, and subjected
the proprietors of particular flocks to an insupportable
inspection. Discouraged by so many injunctions and
prohibitions, the proprietors gave up their flocks; and
the breed, instead of a more rapid amelioratiou, soon de-
generated. The expence of war prevented the govern-
ment from appropriating sufficient sums for its own
flocks; and this imprudent measure cost France more
than twenty millions. The establishment of studs has
been attended with more success. Formed by the old
government, they were destroyed by the Revolution, and
were not completely re-established till 1806, when there
were organized six studs [haras], thirty depots of stal-
lions, and experimental studs. Towards the end of 1813
these establishments contained 13!i4 stallions; but ni
the course of that year 80,000 horses were required
without discrimination, and the loss in horses from the
1st of January 1812 has been estimated at 230,000. The
refitting cost the government in general from 400 to 450
francs per horse, which makes the loss in money nearly
105,200,000 francs. The mines have received a great
augmentation. Our territory now. contains 47S mines of
ail sorts, which employ 17,000 workmen, and yield a
gross produce of 2(),800,000 francs, and a revenue of
251,000 francs. This revenue was set apart for the
N 2 admiuistratiou

100 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

administration of the mines, but it has been applied by
the late government towards the war, to the great detri-
ment of the mining bodies, who remained without
salaries. Amidst these continual vexations, this chang-
ing and tyrannical legislation, this general poverty, our
fields have been cultivated, our mines wrought, and our
flocks partly preserved and ameliorated. Nothing can
be a stronger proof of the industry of our nation and
its qualifications for the first of all arts, than the progress
of its agriculture under an oppressive government. Posr
terity will not believe, that we have seen one man create
himself into an absolute master of our properties and
subsistence, condemn us to carry them to places from
which he chose to seize on them; that a whole popula-
tion left their homes with their oxen, their horses, and
their grain, to yield up their fortunes and their resources
to this new master, fortunate when his agents did not add
an infamous traffic to our other wretchedness. But let
us throw a veil over these indignities, and forget the
excess of the tyranny in an admiration of the gifts of
the Author of Nature. What other country could have
resisted so many calamities? But such is the superiority
of our soil, and the industry of our cultivators, that
agriculture will rise with splendour from its ruins, and
will appear more brilliant than ever, under the paternal
government which has come to put an end to our
misery,

" The manufacturing interest is in want of the same
industry ; the improvements in mechanics and chemistry,
applied to the arts, were productive of a rapid progress.
The continental system, by forcing the manufacturers to
derive from our own territory resources hitherto un-
known, has been productive of some useful results; but
the obstacles which it has opposed to the importation of
a great number of raw materials, and the want of com-
petition, the consequence of it, have raised the price of
most articles of French manufacture to an excessive
height, and given a grievous blow to the rights and in-
terests of consumers. Several of these obstacles have
already ceased ; reasonable laws respecting importation
and exportation will hereafter conciliate the interests of
consumers and manufacturers, which can never properly
be opposed to each other. According to the account*

of

KING OF FRANCE. 101

of the manufacturers, the cotton manufacture at present
maintains 400,000 hands and a capital of an iumdred
millions. The manufactories of Rouen have already
resumed a great activity. The manufactures of Laval
and Brittany have suffered greatly from the war with
Spain, vifhere they found their principal market. Those
of silk experienced the same fate. Their produce also
passed through Spain to America, and the colonies; but
that channel was soon closed ; Italy alone remained for
them. But what may we not hope to gain in this branch,
by the renewal of our communications with all Europe?
In 17S7, the manufactures at Lyons kept at work 15,000
looms; during the late war, that number was reduced
to 8000; but Lyons has already received considerable
orders, and promises to regain its former prosperity. The
manufactures of woollens, leather, &c. suffered in an
equal degree from the fatal influence of the continental
system, the absurdity of which they strikingly evinced.
If, in place of consuming themselves in continual efforts
to diminish the effects of bad laws, our manufacturing
industry had been at full liberty, what might not have
been expected from it?

" Commerce.
" The prohibitory laws have done still more mischief
to commerce than to industry. If the difficulty of
foreign communication narrowed the market of our ma-
nufactures, at least in that which remained open their
goods had no foreign competition to fear; and if this
want of competition was hurtful to the interest of con-
sumers, a certain class of citizens was, however, benefited
by it. But commerce requires a wider and freer field. Re-
duced to limited and disadvantageous speculations, when-
ever it endeavoured to extend them, it was subjected to
the uncertain measures of a government which wished
to submit every thing to its caprices and its calculations,.
The iicensmg system has ruined or discouraged a great
number of merchants, by abusing them with hopes
which were destroyed in an instant by the will which
gave rise to them. Speculations necessarily hazardous
require the assistance of fixed and certain laws; and this
rude and continual transition from the licensing system
to the prohibitory system, has caused an immense loss to

commerce.

102 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

commerce. Besides, what tranquillity could merchanis
have, who see in the government a rival equally covetous
and powerful, always attentive to reserve to itself the
monopoly of the domain prohibited to them? Along
peace and a stable reign will give commercial men
sufficient confidence to carry on their useful occupations.
If we pass from thence to objects depending immediately
on the government, their situation will appear still more
frightful.

" General Administrotion of the Interior.
'• The budget of the Minister of the Interior, that is
to say, the re-union of all the funds applicable to the
difterent services of that minister, amounted

" In 1811 to 143 milliotts

1812 150 millions

1813 140 millions.

" The public treasury never contributed to this mass
of revenue more than 58, 59, or 60 millions; the surplus
arose from special duties and levies, established to meet
this or that expenditure successively rejected from the
state budget, or which were rendered necessary by
View wants which had not beenforcsten in this budget.

*' During the consular government, nearly all the go-
vernment expences were included in the general results
of the budgets submitted to the Legislative Body ; but,
from the various wars afterwards undertaken, it became
so difficult to meet these expences, notwithstanding the
enormous augmentation of contributions, that ministers
had no other resource but a recurrence to special levies,
to cover those expences for which the credit assigned
on the general revenue of the state was insufficient.
Hence several departments have been obliged to pay, on
an average, 45, 62, and even as high as 72 centimes per
franc additional duty. A table of the annual produce
of these extraordinary contributions, including what has
only been regularly consented to by the government, will
shew their extent.

" Administration of the Communes, or Corporations, and
Hospitals.

" The desire of knowing and watching over all the re-
venues of France, for the purpose of one day seizing on

them,

KING OF FRANCE. 103

them, were the principal cause of the mode adopted in
the admiuistratioos of corporation property. By an arret
of the year 10, all communes were divided into two
classes; the first included all the revenues above 20,000
francs, and the second those below that sum : and budgets,
in which all the revenue and expenditure were arranged
beforehand, were laid, by the first class before the ministry
of the interior, and by the second class before the prefects.
A new decree subjected all the budgets of the first class
to the regulation of government; hence the most fatal
delays in the municipal administrations; new charges
incessantly imposed on the communes also added to the
embarrassment. Hence this mode of administration,
which, if confined within just limits, would have had the
advantage of introducing more regularity and exactness
into the municipal administration, has introduced into it
interminable delays. Besides, the budgets of the com-
munes, which ought only to have been charged with
municipal expences, have been successively charged with
expences belonging to the state or the departments, such
as the salaries of commissaries of police, military build-
ings and beds, depots of mendicity, prisons, &c. Hence
an augmentation of the tarifs of octroi, which has ren-
dered their collection vexatious; at an average they
amount to 7 francs 24 centimes for every inhabitant, in
. some towns they even amount to 17 francs. Lastly, the
decree of the 30th March 1S13 ordered the sale of all
the property let in lease by the communes. It is of
great importance to liquidate the annual revenue which
ought to be paid to them from this sale.

" The administration of hospitals is in a situation still
more disorderly. This administration in 1789 received
ameliorations of the greatest importance ; but in IS 11 the
state of the finances prevented the government from
assignmg the sums to this service which were consecrated,
toit. The decree of the IQlh of January 1811 granted it
only four millions for the expence of foundlings through-
out the whole kingdom, while the annual expence
is nine mil'ions. The hospitals of Paris in the beginning
of 1813 had a deficit of about 210,000 francs ; and this
deficit has since prodigiously increased by the placing of
military patients in the civil hospitals, and the non-pay-
ment for these patients. The ministry of war owes the

hospitals

104 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

hospitals of Paris on this account aloue a sum of
1,395,365 francs. The magazines, medical chests, &c.
are exhausted ; the funds of reserve of the establishments
of furniture, linen, &c. are worn out or lost; the value
of these losses has never yet been calculated, but it
amounts to several millions.

•' Public Works.
" After this view of the general administration, the
public works should occupy our attention. Great enter-
prises had been formed ; some through ideas of true utility,
others through motives of ostentation, and from views
not connected with the happiness of France. While
magnificent roads were opened on the frontiers, those of
the interior were neglected ; and the cross-roads espe-
cially, being abandoned to the communes, who were not
rich enough to keep them up, have grown much worse.
The special sums voted by the departments for the works
of the roads have been diverted from their purpose; for
example, 15,500,000 francs deposited for this purpose in
the Caisse d" Amortissement. There is an arrear of more
than 28,000,000 in the department of bridges and roads ;
and it will be charged, besides, with the repairing the
devastations of the late war. Thirty principal bridges
have been broken down or burnt; a temporar}^ repair of
them in wood only will cost 1,800,000 francs. There is
no knowing the extent of mischief done to the roads ; but
the expence of repairing them must be great. The
canals are in a better state, but many of them are not
finished. The Rhone and Rhine junction canal has alrea-
dy cost 12,000,000 of francs, and will yet cost 5,000,000
to complete it. This undertaking, as well as the canal of
Quintin, is praiseworthy. The canal of Ourcq, under-
taken on too expensive a plan, will cost 18,000,000 to
complete it. The works at Paris were the object of the
particular care of the government, because it could there
display its magnificence, and render itself popular. Some
of these works, however, have been very useful; among
others, the hall for wine, and the markets. Other works,
though not so directly useful, and designed for embel-
lishment only, should not be abandoned. The estimate of
the total expence of them was 55,510,000 francs: the
expence already incurred is 24, ly 1,000, of which
5,000,000 is not paid; 31,319,000 francs, therefore, re-
mains

KING OF FRANCE. [qs

mains to be expended, but part of this expence may be
dispensed with or deferred.

*' The public treasury scarcely ever concurred in these
immense undertakings. The government merely autho-
rized the departments to impose additional duties ; and
when they granted them aids, they were stolen from the
corporations out of the produce of their wood, or from
their funds deposited in the caisse (Tamortissement. Thus
11,000,000 have beon furnished for the ])risoi.s, 5,000,000
for poor-houses [depots de mendicite). This last uistitu-
tion requires yet 8,800,000 francs in order to complete
it. From this rough and imperfect sketch, the situation
of the ministry of the interior in its diti'erent branches
will be seen. The arrear cannot be estimated with exact-
ness, as all the reports from the prefects are not yet
returned. A general estimate fixes it at between 40 and
50,000,000 of francs. To complete the undertakings
which had been begun, but now suspended, it would
require a much larger sum. Great reforms have been
already commenced; but while the melancholy etfects of
the last government are felt to their full extent, the salu-
tary results of the new operations, were necessarily slow
in their developement.

" Ministry of War.

" We can present only approximations on the subject
of this department, which we cannot warrant to be exact.
In this was the principle of evil: hence arose that dis-
order which extended itself to all branches of the admi-
nistration ; thus the evil was uecessarily greatest in this
department, which was its centre and its source. The
disasters of the three last campaigns have plunged this
administration, before complicated, into a chaos. Com-
missaries have been directed to examine the losses of
these campaigns, and the debts arising from them; but all
the necessary materials have not been yet found, and
they can only be supplied by calculations more or less
uncertain.

" The army of France in last May amounted to 520,000
men, including gens-d'armerie, veterans, invalids, and
the fencibles [cannoniers garde-cotes). Besides this force
there are 122,597 soldiers, of all ranks, on pensions, or
reduced pay.

VOL. II. o " Am

106 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

"^ An hundred and sixty thousand prisoners return to
us from Prussia, Austria, England, and Russia.

" The staff of the army, comprising the corps of inge-
nienrs, geographers, of inspectors, and commissaries, is
composed of 1874 persons.
" The full pay, with the rations and allow-
ances of all kinds, for the private sol-
diers, will amount for 1814, to . . . 202,000,000 fr.
" Half-pay, and pensions 54,000,000

Total 256,000,000 fr.

" The war of 1812 and 1813 has destroyed in artillery
and warlike stores, a capital of 250,000,000 of francs.

" Since 1804, the expence of keeping up fortified
places in Old France has been 55,000,000, and in places
now given up 115,000,000.

" The budget of the ministry of war, properly so
called, had been fixed at 360,000,000, for all branches of
the service in the year 1814. It is known, that for some
years the ministry of war has been divided into two
parts, the ministry of war, and that of the adininistration
of the war. The expences of this last ministry have
amounted,

" In 1812 to 238,000,000 fr.

1813 to 374,000,000

1814 they will amount to ... . 380,000,000
which will make for the year 1814, between the two
ministries of war, an expence of 740,000,000.

** The arrears also of these two ministries are enor-
mous. That of the ministry of war, according to the
accounts presented, amounts to 104,000,000, and that
of the administration of war to 157,000,000, in all
261,000,000 francs. But these accouuts are not com-
plete : the arrears of the armies during the years 1811,
12, 13, and 14, are yet unknown. Besides, this arrear
does not comprise more than 100,000,000, which have
been settled between the two ministries.

" We must add, also, to the expences occasioned by
the war, the requisitions which we have already men-
tioned, and many other articles, which, though not
charged on the public treasury, have not the less heavily
pressed upon the nation: for example, the expence of the
Guards of Honour, and the officers of Cavaliers mounted

and

KING OF FRANCE. 107

and iquipped — expenccs which amounted for the depart-
ments of Old Fiar-e to 15,611,941 francs.
" Ministry of the Marine.
t' The navy has, during 14 years, been weakened, by
the ^-ery n.eans which have been taken to give it the
appearance of strength. To make on all our coasts the
diisplay of a factitious power — to appear to meditate
gigantic projects, while the means of accomphshing
them were insuiiicient, even through their exaggeration —
to look on our seamen as recruits for the armies, was
the system of the late government : a system which has
led to the annihilation of the population of our coasts,
and the complete exhaustion of our arsenals. The re-
monstrances of the most enlightened men, and of the
most experienced mariners, and the evidence of facts,
were incapable of checking those foolish enterprises,
those violent measures, which belonged to a plan of do-
mination oppressive in all its parts. Thus in 1804 the
projected invasion of England was pompously announced.
Ports which had never yet been entered, except by
fishing-boats and packets, were immediately converted
into vast maritime arsenals ; immense works were com-
menced on a beach, which the wimis and tides were
incessantly covering with sand ; forts, batteries, maga-
zines, workshops, were erected ; thousands of ships
were built^ and bought up on all the coasts of the ocean,
and in the interior of the rivers, without considering
how they should get to the place of rendezvous. Paris
itself saw a dock-yard formed witliin its walls; and the
most valuable materials were employed in the construc-
tion of these vessels, which were not even fit for their
destination. And what now remains of all these arma-
ments? The wreck of some of the vessels, and accounts
which prove, that for the successive creation and destruc-
tion of this monstrous and useless flotilla, upwards of
150,000,000 have been sacrificed since 1.803. Ail that
could be done by the talents of the engineers and the
perseverance of the sailors, was done on the Scheldt.
A numerous squadron manoeuvred safely to this river,
which wa9 thought inaccessible to large ships of war;
but this success would not satisiy the pride of power.
The sides of the Scheldt were inanediately covered with
dock-yards, which all the neighbouring forests would not
o 2 have

108 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

have supplied if the building had been carried on with
the activity with which it began. It was in vain repre-
sented, that a severe winter would change the position of
the sand banks, and make the river impassable to ships
of the first class; that, at the approach of the ice, the
crews would be shut in the basins, where all that the
most skilful ofticers could teach them in the summer,
would be forgotten. Nothing was listened to, and the
treasure of France was lavished on an object which it
was impossible to accomplish. It is known, by expe-
rience, that the use of stores is most economical where
vessels of ail sizes are built in one place ; yet, under pre-
tence of giving employ to naval artificers, and of work-
ing the wood on the spot where it was procured, ships
were built in ports without any roads or safe anchorage,
exposed during the winter to danger from the floats of
ice, or having bars which could not be passed without
difficulty and danger; from these ill-judged prospects,
the expence of the superintending officers was necessarily
increased.

" The great works at Cherbourg, and the fine squadron
at Toulon, are the only good results from a system, in
which, besides, there was nothing but weakness and im-
providence. All our arsenals are completely dilapidated;
the immense naval stores collected by Louis XVI. are
squandered; and, during the last fifteen years, France
has lost, in ill-judged expeditions, 43 ships of the line,
82 frigates, 76 corvettes, and 62 transports and packets,
which could not be re-placed at an expence of 200 mil-
lions. The port of Brest, the finest and best in Europe,
and where there were vast and magnificent establishments,
has been entirely neglected. Not only are the arsenals ex-
hausted, and unprovided with stores, but the ships are
still more unprovided with good sailors. The loss of
our colonies, the measures which oppressed commerce,
the reverses experienced by our fleets, and the vexations
exercised on our fisheries, would of themselves have suf-
ficed to extinguish our maritime population ; but the
measure by which the last government gave the crews of
ships the organization of regiments, pronounced the sen-
tence of its absolute destruction. Many of these bodies
su'< ported, in the plains of Germany, and the mountains
of Astjrias, the iustre of the French arms; but they losl

in

KING OF FRANCE. 109

in the field the habits of the sea. Though the desire ot
glory might reconcile the olficers to it, this method ot
life was most repugnant to the habits and taste of the
sailors ; and, above all, tended to keep them in a celibacy
most destructive to the maritime force of the kingdom.
It is therefore absolutely necessary to put an end to
this system. The total debt of the marine is 61,300,000
francs.

*' Ministry of Finance.
" The Expose of this department is an explanation of
the situation of the other ministries. Before we give the
general results, we shall explain by what means the old
government contrived to hide them. The old system
bears at first the appearance of order and exactness. Be-
fore the commencement of each year, the Minister of
Finance collected the demands of the other ministers for
the expences of the year, to form his budget of Expences.
On the other hand, from the state of the produce of the
taxes he formed the budget of Receipts. These two
tables being balanced against one another, composed the
general budget of the state, and seemed to promise, that
by realizing all the revenues, all the expences might be
provided for. But this equilibrium was fictitious, both
budgets being distorted by inexactness and falsehood.
The funds which were termed special, amounting to
above 100,000,000 of francs yearly, were not put in the
budget; and many extraordinary expences were not
placed under the head of any ministry. The expence of
the War was estimated much below its real amount. One
conscription or more was raised in the course of the
year; equipments, stores, or works, were ordered, with-
out a proportional augmentation in the supplies. The
receipts became thus insufficient, and considerable arrears
were created. The estimated produce of the taxes, as
stated in the budget, was for the most part eventual or
exaggerated. Thus the budgets of 1812 and 1813 pre-
sent a deficit of 312,032,000 francs. The head of the
government was not ignorant of these deficits; but he
was always in the hope of covering it either by those
foreign tributes, which were the fruit of his first cam-
paigns, or by drawing from the resources of the Special
Fund in the Domaines Extraordinaires, in the Caisse
cCAmortissement, in the Caisse de Service, &c. Thus is

it

11 0 LOUIS THE EIGHTEENTH,

it that all the funds not destined to the service of the
war have been, in fact, employed in it. Thence proceeds
that arrear in the finances, which we shall ptoceed to
detail.

Francs.
" 1. There has been taken from the Special
Funds, and employed in the service of

the budget 53,580,000

" 2. There has been anticipated in the

Caisses du Domaine et de la Couronne 237,550,000
" 3. The Caisse de Service has advanced and

consumed 169,014,000

" 4. There has been abstracted from the

Caisse d' Amortissement 273,825,000

" 5. Add to these sums the arrears existing
in the expences,at the particular charge
of the Ministry of Finance, since the
payment had been delayed or refused
only because their funds had been other-
wise emj)loyed. This arrear, comprising
twelve millionsof francs of half- pay, due
and not paid, amounts to 77,500,000

" Thus the total of anticipations and misap-
plication of funds by the old govern-
ment amounts to 805,4(59,000

If we add to this sum the arrears of the different minis-
tries which are not yet exactly known, but which may
be taken at 500,000,000 francs, the sum total of antici-
pations and arrears is 1,305,469,000 francs.

*' If we also add the creation of 17,000,000 of perpetual
rents, representing a capital of 340,000,000, of which
half indeed was applied to the payment of debts anterior
to the year S, there will result as the total of the increase
of the debts of the state in the course of thirteen years,
the sum of 1,645,469,000 francs.

" This calculation is doubtless terrifying, but we must
not look on the evil as irremediable. The Minister of
Finances will explain to you what are the sums imme-
diately requisite, those to be required at distant periods,
and those which resolve themselves into a charge of
interest only.

" For us, called on simply to present you the Expose

of

KING OF FRANCE. m

of the present situation of the kingdom, we have con-
fined ourselves to fhis painful task, we have dissembled
nothing. The details will shew you at once the evil and
its remedy. You will see the force of life always active,
which has supported France amidst all its losses; you
will see the resources which have struggled against dis-
asters ever springing up anew ; and you will wonder to
behold so fertile, and so well cultivated, those fields
which have so long been exposed to all kinds of devasta-
tion. Though terrified by the debt of the government,
you will see in the hands of individuals capitals ready
for useful undertakings; and, far from despairing of the
prosperity of France, you will see, from what she has
supported in calamity, the flourishing state to be ex-
pected under a beneficent government.

•* But the cares of the government will not be confined
to the re-establishment of a prosperity purely material.
Other sources of happiness and glory have been cruelly
attacked. Morality, more than public wealth, has not
escaped from the fatal influence of a bad government.
That which has just been put an end to, completed the
evils which the revolution had caused; it re-established
religion merely to make it an instrument for its own
purposes.

•' Public instruction, submitted to the same depend-
ence, was not answerable to the efforts of the respectable
body which directed it. Tiiese efforts were opposed by
a despotism which wished to rule the minds of all, in
order to enslave their bodit^s without resistance. The
national education must take a more liberal course, to
maintain itself on a level with the information common
in Europe, by returning to principles now long forgotten
amongst us.

Why cannot we also restore immediately to France
those moral habits and that public spirit which cruel
misfortunes and a long oppression have almost annihil-
ated ? Noble sentiments have been oppressed ; generous
ideas have been stifled. Not content with condemning to
inaction the virtues which it dreaded, the government
excited and fomented the passions of service to it; to
extinguish public spirit, it called in the aid of personal
interest; it offered its favours to ambition to silence the
voice of conscience ; it left no other career open but that

of

112 LOUIS THE EIGHTEETnTH.

of saving it, no other hope but that which it could
realize; no ambition was indiscreet, no pretension seemed
exaggerated. Hence the continual war of all interests
and all desires; hence the instability in situations which
allowed to no man the virtues of his office, because all
were thinking of leaving it; hence the incessant attacks
against every kind of probity, by seductions, from which
the most generous characters could with difficulty defend
themselves.

" Such are the sad effects of the corrupting system
which we have now to combat; let us not conceal their
extent: there are periods when nations as well askings
require to be told the truth, however disagreeable and
severe it may appear ; we have not feared to tell it to
you. The embarrassments of the moment are painful,
the difficulties are great; much is to be expected from
time ; the nation will feel that the concurrence of its
zeal is necessary to hasten the return of its own happi-
ness; its confidence in the intentions of its King, the in-
formation and wisdom of the two Chambers, Will render
the task of the government less long and more eas}^ If
any thing could prevent these hopes from being promptly-
realized, it would be that restless turbulence which wishes
to enjoy immediately the good which it foresees; but
from this your prudence vj/ill preserve us.

" If the imposts were not paid, the debts- would in-
crease, and the insufficiency of the resources would not
permit the contributions to be diminished. If the general
union did not second the beneficent views of our King,
useful enterprises would be put a stop to, important ame-
liorations would be suspended, and the impossibility of
doing good would increase the existing evil.

" In regretting the good which we have yet to wait
for, let us enjoy that which is already within our reach;
already peace has opened our ports ; liberty restores the
merchant to his speculations, and the workman to his
labours; a principle of life circulates through all the
members of the body politic : every one sees the end
of his evils, and foresees a better destiny. Can we be
indifferent to this future repose, after living so long in
torment and inquietude? You will not be insensible.
Gentlemen ; the King confides equally on his people and
their Deputies, and France expects every thing from

their

KING OF FRANCE. H^

their generous agreement. What more fortunate circuln-
stance than that of an Assembly which has deserved so
well of its country, and a King who is desirous of being
its father. Enjoy, Gentlemen, this fortunate re-union;
see what France expects from it, what you have already
done for it. Let these happy commencements encourage
you in your career; and may the gratitude of yotir latest
descendants be at once your emulation, your glory, and
your recompence."

This interesting Expose of the state of France upon
the King's accession will be read with particular
interest, as exhibiting, in a most forcible manner, the
effects of tyranny upon the moral and physical resources
of a great and prosperous nation. The French them-
selves were, without doubt, ignorant of the real state of
things, which the ambitious policy of Napoleon had
created ; and, had it not been for the vigorous coali-
tion which hurled him from his throne, they would have
found out, when too late, that, for the empty glory of
foreign conquest, they had exchanged the best and
dearest interests of their country. To this communi-
cation of the King, the Chamber of Deputies addressed
his Majesty as follows : —

" Sire — In ordering to be presented to the two
Chambers the Expose of the situation of the kingdom,
and in thus inviting the representatives of the nation
to concur in repairing so many calamities, your Ma-
jesty placed a just confidence in your people; your faith-
ful subjects of the Chamber of Deputies thank you
for not having despaired of the safety of France.

" That picture, melancholy as it is, did not surprise
us. When every power was confounded, every right
disregarded, every access to truth choaked up, only the
excess of calamity could bring a remedy.

" Under a just and pacific King, that picture causes
us no fear. Encouraged by the generous proceedings
of your Majesty, by institutions the work of your
wisdom, and by your impartial tenderness towards all
your children — the French will zealously make every
sacrifice that is necessary for the public good. Sire,
there are no irremediable evils in France, when the
monarch, the great public bodies, and the people, breathe
only one common wish, for the security of the throne,
and the welfare of the country.

VOL. II. r " Hereafter,

1 1 4 LOUIS THE EIG HTEENTH, &<

" Hereafter, free and happy, your subjects will find
in the resources of their industry, the means of sup-
plying the wants of the state. Their first care will be
agriculture; but, to render their labours successful, they
expect from your Majesty the aids which manufactures
and commerce furnish. In bringing back peace to our
colonies, we shall receive in return an increase of riches,
which the new genius of France will apply to the amelio-
ration of the interior.

" The neighbouring powers expect, Sire, to see the
spirit of the nation directed to these great objects; and
their confidence will revive, when they see the hands of
a warlike people employed in the arts of peace. They
are well aware that your Majesty aspires only to that
share of those common advantages, which Providence
has allotted to our geographical situation.

•' Thus industry will communicate new life to all
the branches of public economy, and to all classes of
the people comfort and the practice of virtue. This
happiness will be the result of the meditations of your
Majesty, and the concurrence of the whole nation in
seconding your paternal views.

" The Chamber of Deputies also will tiot disappoint
the expectations of the throne, or the hopes of the
people. They will unite their efforts to those of their
King, to extinguish, if possible, every trace of our mis-
fortunes."

Louis XVIir. has no children : he will be succeeded,
in his title, by his brother Monsieur. In his person he
is extremely corpulent. His manners are affalile, easy,
and condescending; and his features marked with dignity.
He has for some time been subject to severe attacks of
the gout, which has greatly impaired his constitution.
His Queen died a few years ago, and her remains were
deposited in Westminster Abbey, from whence they will
be conveyed to France, to be entombed amongst her
illustrious ancestors.

j^em0its

GyK^^^^i^'Ti/ QAJ^^^^Ja/i^l/^

J\ibUshedJ(m^'24f2<Sio by^MTielher. Witrnfck Sqiiaie.

i^emoirsi of tl)t public Eife

OF

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE,

LATE EMPEROR OF FRANCE.

lyAPOLEON BUONAPARTE, the subject of our
-•-^ present biography, ranks, unquestionably, the first
amongst the public characters of Europe, and is one of
the most extraordinary individuals that history records.
Like many others of the great men which the French
revolution has produced, Napoleon cannot boast of his
high birth or an illustrious ancestry; but, being endowed
with a profound genius, aided by an excellent education,
he had succeeded in raising himself to a pitch of emi-
nence and grandeur, that baffled all the calculations of
his cotemporaries, and which must excite the astonish-
ment of posterity. Having obtained the supreme autho-
rity in France, he appeared to have fixed it upon an
immoveable basis; and had it not been for that un-
quenchable thirst of dominion, and that passion for
military glory, which form so striking a feature in his
character, and which led him into enterprises beyond
his means to accomplish, he would, without doubt, have
secured and transmitted to his son and heir the full and
absolute sovereignty of the French empire. So firm and
established was his power and authority, and so skilfully
was it wielded, that it required all the energies and
power of Europe combined to overthrow it: nor would
this great consummation have taken place, had Napoleon
possessed a common share of moderation, or known
how to lower his pretensions with the decline of his
fortune. He had abundant opportunities of accepting
the terms and Conditions which his enemies offered to
him, and which they deemed so necessary ibr their own
security as well as to the repose of the world. Their
offers were neither degrading nor dishonourable; bjt,
trusting too much to that fortune which had always been
so constant to him. Napoleon blindly rejected them all,
p 2 and

116 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

and resolved rather to encounter the whole world, than
submit to the least diminution of his power.

In writing the life of this extraordinary individual,
andof one who has been the subject of so much adula-
tion on the one hand, and unqualified abuse on the other,
it will be difficult for us to form a proper and just esti-
mate of his character, or to give a true colouring to the
events of his life. His actions, however, are too con-
spicuous to be misrepresented; and as they will properly
form the subject of our pen, we shall have little to fear
from the charge of partiality.

Napoleon Buonaparte was born at Ajaccio, a small
town in the Island of Corsica, in the Mediterranean, on
the 15th of August 1769. He was the second son of
Carlo Buonaparte, a lawyer, of Italian extraction, by his
wife Letitia Raniolini ; and it is affirmed that the cele-
brated General Paoli was his godfather. Many impu-
tations upon his birth have been hazarded by his enemies;
but it would be foreign to our business to notice them.
He was very early patronized by Count Marbceuf, the
military governor of Corsica; and this circumstance has
given rise to assertions that Napoleon was the fruit of an
illicit connexion between his patron and his mother.
Be this as it may, it appears, so early as the tenth year of
his age, through the mterest of his patron, the young
Buonaparte was placed in the Military School at
Brienne;* which was one of those instituted in dif-
ferent

* The School at Brienne was one of the thirteen Koyal Military
Schools, or Colleges, which were established in various provinces of the
kingdom of France, and they were particularly patronized by the two
last sovereigns of the Bourbon family, Louis XV. and XVI. These
establishments were magnificently endowed, and the pupils enjoyed
every advantage which was essential to their domestic convenience.
The most able masters superintended their education; and they were
principally encouraged to acquire a competent knowledge of the an-
cient and modern languages, geography, history, the mathematics, and
every branch of military science. These pursuits were, however, en-
livened by the charms of elegant literature; the utile and the dulce
were occasionally blended; and the fatigue of mind arising from ab-
struse inquiries was succeeded by an indulgence in studies that were
less elaborate. The pupils were also expected to partake in sucli
amusements as inure the constitution to toils which men trained to the
military service are likely to experience. The rules of these schools
put in requisition all the talents and activity of the pupils, directed

their

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. li-

ferent parts of France, as preparatory to the Ecole
Royale Militaire at Paris. It was at this place, wiiere
he entered in the year 1779, that he laid the foundation
of that military knowledge, which he so successfully
practised against his enemies, and by which he raised
to himself a monument of glory that will endure for
ever.

Every anecdote of this celebrated individual has been
carefully preserved; and his actions and employ nients
when at the Military School at Brienne have been, in
particular, the object of notice of his biographers. It
appears, even at this early age, he discovered a peculiar
tem[)er of mind: he avoided the juvenile sports and
amusements of the other pupils, and courted solicude and
gloom; withdrawing himself from their mirth, he de-
voted his attention to sedentary rather than active em-
ployments, and appeared wholly engaged in his own
individual pursuits. He often prosecuted his solitary
studies in a little lonely garden, for the enlarging of
which he contrived to oblige some of his comrades to
give up to him the part allotted to them, and which he
sought to separate more and more from the little posses-
sions of his companions, by planting it thick with trees,
and surrounding it with pallisades.

It does not appear that, on his first entrance at school,
any extraordinary acquirements of learning marked an
inordinate desire of instruction, or intenseness of appli-

their curiosity to subjects the most likely to display their ingenuity
in discussing them, and, by exercising their minds and bodies, happily
attempered the corporeal and mental faculties to the advantage' ot
iheir country.

L' Ecole Koyule Militaire at Paris was at the head of the other mili-
tary schools in the provinces, and it was to this school that not only
subordination was acknowledged by the pupils of the others, but to
which they looked forward as the haven of all the youths of pre-
eminent genius that the military schools of the provinces had educated.
Examinations were annually held in tlie presence of a Royal Inspector,
who was most commonly a general officer, and of two members of the
French Academy; and such pupils, whose proficiency in study qualified
them for candidates, and whose good reputation in the school wa'^ veri-
fied by the testimony of the regents, were then selected and admitted
pupils of the Royal Military School at Paris. Here their studies were
completed, and from hence they were honourably dismissed, and im-
mediately attached to some regiment, or appointed to some military
employment.

cation ;

lis NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

cation; he seems to have neglected, if not altogether
rejected, in his early years, the attainmeni ot tne Latin
language. He soon, however, appiied marstif with ear-
nestness to the mathematics, the rudm>ents of which he
was taught by Father Patrault, a minim at Bnenne.
Fortification, and all the other branches of military
science and tactics, he studied with increasing ardour;
and these, with the reading of history, prmcipally of
ancient Rome and Greece, were his most delightful
occupations.

During the period which he continued at Brienne, a
library was formed for the amusement and instruction of
the pupils, and which was to be under their entire direc-
tion. To give them proper notions of arrangement and
order, their superiors left the distribution of the books
and other affairs to the management of two of the
boarders, chosen by their comrades. The calls of
Buonaparte on one of these who was appointed librarian,
were so often and so much more fi-equent than the
applications of his companions, that the young man
considered him tiresome, and sometimes lost his temper;
Buonaparte was not more patient, nor less positive, and
on these occasions extorted submission by blows.

The hours of vacation between his attendance on the
preceptors of the school were spent in his garden, which
he cultivated so assiduously, as to preserve its interior in
a state of order and cleanliness. Its boundaries became
impervious, and inclosed a retreat that might have been
coveted by a religious recluse. Here, when his hor-
ticultural labours were ended, he retired to its ar-
bours, with his mathematical and scientific works ; and,
surrounded by these and other books, chiefly on historical
subjects, he meditated the reduction of the principles
he had imbibed to practice. He planned the attack and
defence of fortified places, the arrangement of hostile
corps in order of battle, calculated the chances of success
on the one part, and of defeat on the other, altered their
position, and formed charges and victories upon paper,
and on the ground, which he afterwards realized with
success when directing the evolutions of the French
armies. His military ardour was increased by his his-
torical reading; his enthusiasm was excited by the lives
of those ancient legislators, heroes, and warriors, which

are

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. Hg

are recorded by the venerable Plutarch, the splendour of
whose actions have eclipsed the injustice at which they
sometimes aimed, and which more frequently originated
in the daring purposes of the factious partisan, or in
the desperate policy of the bold-faced tyrant, than in
the laudable design of the intrepid patriot to free his
country from despotism, or than in the resolution of
the chief of a free people to preserve their independ-
ence and secure their government from treachery. The
life of the Marshal Prince of Saxony was also a fre-
quent recreation to Buonaparte after "a close application
to the mathematics.

The belles lettres were not any source of his enter-
tainment; his sole and undivided attention was to mi-
litary acquirements, and a proficiency in the studies
which form the habits of a warrior. Polite or liberal
accomplishments, he appeared to consider that a soldier
should disdain. He had, doubtless, heard of the achieve-
ments of Marlborough in the iield, and perhaps that he
had also studied the art of pleasing, " that by it he
gained whoever he had a mind to gain ; and he had a
mind to gain every body because he knew that every
body was, more or less, worth gaining." But it was not by
gracefulness of demeanour that Buonaparte designed to
win what he could not gain by mere force; he never
sought to attain, by a display of any endeavour to please;
what he could not possess by his power, he never relin-
quished the pursuit of, but acquired it by stratagem, in
which there was no seeing of his influence. He scorned
the arts of a courtier, nor even employed them where it
might have been supposed that no other attempt would
succeed. All other means, which power and the inge-
nuity of an uncultivated mind would have devised, he
used without hesitation. His comrades called him the
Spartan, aud he retained the name until he quitted
Brienne.

Buonaparte's attachment to Corsica was almost pro-
verbial, and has evinced itself on many occasions. It
was usual for the boys to receive the communion and be
confirmed on the same day, and the ceremony was per-
formed at the Military School by the Archbishop: when
he came to Buonaparte, he asked him, like the rest, his
Christian name; Buonaparte answered aloud, " Napo-
leon,"

150 NAPOLEON BUONAPARl^.

leon." This name, being uncommon, escaped the Arch-
bishop, who desired him to repeat it, which Buonaparte
did, with an appearance of impatience. The minister who
assisted, remarked ro the prelate — " Napoleon ! I do
not kno\v that saint." — " Parbleu! I believe it," observed
Buonaparte ; " that saint is a Corsican."

His fellow-pupils frequently irritated him by calling
him a French vassal : he retorted eagerly, and with
bitterness. He sometimes declared a belief that his
destiny was to deliver Corsica from its dependence on
France. The name of Paoli he never mentioned but
with reverence, and he aspired to the honour of achieving
the design which the plans of that officer could not
accomplish. Genoa had added to the calamity of his
country, by surrendering it to France, and thus exposed
it to a subjection which it gallantly resisted, but to which
superior force compelled submission. 7^o the Genoese
his hatred was inveterate and eternal. One of his school-
fellows, in order to play upon him, presented to him a
young Corsican as a Genoese, knowing his antipathy to
the latter ; the gloom of his countenance was instantly
kindled into rage, he darted upon the lad with vehe-
mence, twisted his hands in his hair, and was only pre-
vented using further violence by the immediate inter-
ference of the stronger boys, who dragged the lad away
from his resentment.

Buonaparte was always desirous of hearing accounts
of the public transactions in Corsica. He revered his
country, and never mentioned its resistance to France
but with enthusiasm. He listened with the most lively
interest to the various successes of the Corsican patriots
in arms. Some of the French officers who had served
in Corsica, would frequently go to the school at Brienne,
and the conversation often turned upon the Corsican
war. They would sometimes exaggerate their advan-
tages over the Corsicans: Buonaparte allowed them to
talk quietly on, occasionally however asking a shrewd
question ; but, when he was certain they had falsified
a fact, he would eagerly exclaim, " Are you not
ashamed, for a momentary gratification of vanity, to
calumniate a whole nation." At one time an officer
was describing a victory, that, he said, had been ob-
fained by six hundred of the French; Buonaparte ex-
claimed.

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 121

claimed, " You say there were six hundred of you in
the engagement ; I know you were six thousand, and
that you were opposed only by a few wretched Corsican
peasants." He then opened his journals and maps, and,
referring to them, declaimed agains-t the vain-glorious
boastings of the French officers.

His manners, whilst at this seminary, were very re-
markable: pride was the prominent feature of his
character; his conduct was austere ; if he committed an
error,it was not the fault of a boy, it was the result of
deliheration, and what would, in maturer age, have been
deemed-a crime. His severity never forgave tlie offences
of his companions. His resolves were immoveable, and
his firmness in trifles tinctured his behaviour with ob-
stinacy and eccentricity. Frequently engaged in quarrels,
he was often the greatest sufferer, as he generally con-
tended on the weakest side; and though he was mostly
singled out as an object of revenge, he never complained
to his superiors of ill-treatment. He meditated retalia-
tion in silence; and if he could not inflict a punishment
himself, be disdained appealing to an authority that
could enforce it.

The boys of the school were, however, gradually fa-
miliarized to his temper ; he would not bend to them, and
they were contented to concede to him. He accepted
this acknowledgment of his superiority, without any
appearance of self-gratulation ; and although they could
not esteem him for any of the milder virtues, they feared
his inflexible nature, and allowed him either to indulge
in seclusion, or to associate with themselves as he might
please. The insurrections of the scholars against their
masters were frequent; and Buonaparte was either at the
head of each rebellion, or was selected to advocate their
complaints. He was therefore generally selected as the
leader, and suffered severe chastisement. He often
vindicated his conduct, but never entreated pardon. He
listened to reproach and reproof, to promises and to
threats, without emotions of fear or surprise. He was
never humiliated by those punishments that were in-
tended to disgrace him ; and the raillery of an ungenerous
comrade, or a powerful superior, was equally received in
sullen silence. He neither courted good-will nor feared
resentment.

VOL. II. Q The

1«$ NAPOLfiON BUONAPARTE.

The meetruffs of" the boys were on the plan of a
military estahlshmetit. They formed then»sehes into
coiiip;i!iies, ea«.h un ler the comiiiiind ot a captain and
other otiicers; and the whole < oniposed a battalion, with
a colonel at its head. I^ie officers were chosen by the
boys, and decorated by the ornaments usually attached
to the French unit'oim. These distinctions of rank,
being coiiferreil by the lads, were mostly the reward of
some pre-eminent virtue or ability; they were, there-
fore, considered by those who were so tort<inate as to
obtain ihi m, as honourable insi^j^via of merit. Buona-
parte was unanimo isly chostn, and held the rank of,
captain. He, iiovi'evt-r, by no means (ourted their ap-
probation; for he was soon afterwards summoned be-
fore a court martial, which was called with all due
formality, and, on cltarp^es beins: proved against him,
declared unworthy to command those comrades whose
good-will hedispised. The sentence disgraced him to
the lowest rai'k in the battalion; he was stripped of the
distinguished marks of his command, but disdained to
shew that he was afl^ected by the disgrace.

The yoiing( r boys, however, were partial to Buona-
parte's manners, for he sometimes encouraged them in
their s|.'orts, and occasionally pf)inted out some advan-
tage which in their warlike plays had been omitted to be
occupied ; hence he associated with them, and they voted
him, by acclamation, the director of their diversions.
Thus, if he felt regret for the loss of his juvenile military
rank, he was now recompensed by becoming the leader
of the lads who submitted to his authority — an authority
they had bestowed on him, and which soon extended it-
self overall the youths in the school. Without being re-
stricted to observe the rules which areessential to modern
military duty, he could now bring his forces into the
field, and direct all their operations. He availed himself
of this new command, and he disciplined his comrades
to a new mode of warfare.

Buonaparte divided his youthful comrades into two
parties; they were alternately the Romans and the
Carthaginians, the Greeks and the Persians. To re-
present the mode of fighting of the ancients in the
open fields, was more easy for these lads than to imitate
the movements of an army of modern times. They

were

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 123

wtfi^ destitute of artilit-ry, whix:li in Euiopeau buttles
is soiiietirues more decisive ot ttie late of tlie day than
any weapous of individual use. In sham lights, indeed,
the niusquttt is nioie ofien iistj\, bt'> ause it more oi'tea
happens luat ariillery is not to be (tbtained to heij^htea
the ettect of the contest ; bnt the musqutt, which is the
only wtapon in tile iiands of the soldier, is insufficient
to j)icture in a siiani tight its effects in an actual ent;age-
ment, which is otiener decided by tlie bayonet th;m by
fire-arms. Buonaparte therefore instituted and encou-
raged the practice of the ancient warfare; he excited
the enthusiasm of his youthful soldiery by his speeches
and his actions; lie led on one party against atiother,
and the victory was often disputed w.th an obstinacy
that would have honoured a more important struggle.
If his troops fled, he recalled them by his reproaches;
by ex|)os'ng himself to dangers he revived their ardour,
and supported their intrepid. ty by his ovn bravery.
These conflicts were often repeated, and the field of
battle disputed with more firmness on evtry occasion.
At length the games, which commenced in sport, seldom
closed until the wounds of the combatants proved the
earnestness with which they contended. Tiie superiors
of the college interfered ; they reprimanded tiie young
General Buonaparte, and a renewal of these battles was
prohibited.

His activity repressed in the only exercise to which
he was attached, Bnonaparte retired to his favourite
garden, resumed his former occupations, and appeared
no more among his comrades until the winter of the year
1783. The severity of the weather had driven him from
his retreat, the snow had lain tliick upon the ground, and
a hard frost had set in. Buonaparte, ever feiti.e in expe-
dients, determined to open a winter campaign upon a new
plan. The moilern art of war succee«lp(i to the anci. nt.
Having been deeply engaged in the study of f<;rt!lication,
it was natural that he should be desirous of rei'ucmi:;' its
theory to practice. He called his fedow pupils around
him; and, collecting their gardening unpleihents, he jjut
himself at their head, and they proeeided to procure
large quantities of snow, which were brought to parti-
cular spots in the great court of the school, ys he diiected.
Whilst they were thus occupied, be was busied in tracing
Q 2 tha

124 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

the boundaries of an extensive fortification ; they soon
formed entrenchments, and afterwards eagerly engaged
in erecting forts, bastions, and redoubts of snow. They
laboured with activity, and Buonaparte superintended
their exertions.

The whole of these works were soon completed, ac-
cording to the exact rules of art. The curiosity of the
people of Brienne, and even strangers, was excited by
the reports of their extent and scientific construction,
and they went in crowds during the winter to admire
them. Buonaparte, by turns, headed the assailants and
the opponents; he united address with courage, and
directed the operations with great applause. The wea-
pons of the contending parties were snow-balls, and he
continually kept up the interest by some military man-
oeuvre, which always surprised, if it did not astonish.
The encounters were equally earnest with those of the
summer campaign, but the arms were different. The
superiors now encouraged these games of the boys, by
praising those who distinguished themselves. The sports
continued throughout the winter, and it was not until the
sun of the month of March 1784 liquefied the fortress,
that it was declared no longer tenable.

The rudeness of manners which Buonaparte displayed,
and the violence of temper to which he was subject,
were not at all softened or subdued previous to his quit-
ting Brienne : his paroxysms of passion had sometimes
amounted even to fury; and his anger was often so sudden
and so uncontrollable, that few of his comrades would
venture to hazard his displeasure. The following instance
may be adduced of his extraordinary disposition.

The pupils of the Military School were permitted every
year, on the day of St. Louis (the 25th of August), to
give themselves up to pleasure, and the most noisy de-
monstrations of joy, almost without restraint. All pu-
nishment was suspended, all subordination ceased, and
generally some accident occurred before the day con-
cluded.

Such pupils as had attained fourteen years of age, an
old custom of the college had allowed the privilege
of purchasing a certain quantity of gunpowder; and,
far a long ti-me before the, day arrived, these youths
would assemble to prepare their fire-works. They

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 125

were also permitted to discharge small cannon, mus-
quets, and other fire-arms, when and as often as they
thought proper.

It was on St. Louis's day, in 1781, the last year of
Buonaparte's remaining at the school, that he alfected an
entire inditierence to the means which his comrades
used for its celebration. They were all animation and
hilarity, activity and spirit. He was all gloom and
taciturnity, thought, and reflection. Retired the whole
day in h'S garden, he not only did not participate in the
general rejoicing, but pretended to continue his usual
study and occupations, without being disturbed by the
noise. His comrades were too much engaged in their
amusements, to think of interrupting him, and would
only have laughed at his strange behaviour, if an uncom-
mon circun>stance had not drawn upon him their general
attention and resentment.

Towards nine o'clock, in the evening, about twenty of
the young people were assembled in that garden which
adjoined to his, in which the proprietor had promised to
entertain them with a show. It consisted of a pyramid,
composed of various fire-works ; a light was applied ; and,
unfortunately, a box containing several pounds of gun-
powder had been forgotten to be removed. While the
youths were admiring the effect of the fire-works, a spark
entered the box, which instantly exploded ; some legs
and arms were broken, two or three faces miserably
burned, and several paces of wall thrown down. The
confusion was very great, and some of the lads, in their
alarm, endeavoured to escape through the adjoining
fence; they broke the pallisades, and Buonaparte was
seen, stationed on the other side, armed with a pick-axe,
and pushing those back into the fire who had burst the
fence. The blows which he bestowed on the unhappy
fugitives increased the number of the wounded.

Such is the character that has been drawn of this ex-
traordinary man, when at the school of Brienne: whether
all the anecdotes that have been related of him at this
place are true or false, may be a matter of doubt; but
we are strongly inclined to think, that most of them are
true and authentic. The industry of his cotemporaries
would, no doubt, be exercised to discover every trait in
his character; and nothing is so natural as to view him in

his

if 5 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

his earlier days, when tlvose marks of genius that gene-
rally distinguisl) and raise one man above anoiher, are
to be Ibiimi displaynig tliemselves, amongst his youthful
companions.

His proticiency in his studies, by his indefatigable appli..
cation at this pla<;e, tiad now fitted huu ior an examinatioa
previous to his being reii:oved to U Ecole Roya/e MUitaire
at Paris. M. le Chevalier de Renoult, was ihe Royal In-
spector-General, who had owed his own promotion to his
talents and industry, and tlierefore was the more disposed
to encourage those qualities in oth-rs. He found Buona-
parte perfectly master of those sciences which were
necessary to be learnt previous to the pupils being sent
to the Military College; he, accordnigly, notwithstanding
some opposition from the masters at Bi lenne, who repre-
sented several occurrences unfavourable to his pron^o-
tion, adjudged him fit to be sent to this superior st hool.
He was, therefore, after five years continuance at Brienne,
promoted to the Royal Military College, where he ar-
rived on the 17th of October 1784.

Napoleon being now removed to the Military College
at Paris, pursued his studies with the same unremitted
zeal and ardour, as had marked his conduct at Brienne,
insomuch that he soon acquired a thorough knowledge
of those sciences connected with his future profession.
At this seminary he was under the superintendance of
the celebrated Monge, as well as of other able masters.
No wonder, therefore, aided by an excellent capacity,
he should n)ake such considerable progress.

At this college there were about three hundred pupils;
and, from amongst thern, he selected Laurision, a youth
of a phlegmatic temper, and Dupont, a daiing and fearless
young man, for his associates. He had made one friend-
ship at Brienne, but which he never allowed to interrupt
his professional avocations; tiiis was with Faucalet dc
Bourienne, who was, like himself, a student of the mathe-
matics, but of remarkably placid manners.

The leisure hours of Buonaparte at the college at
Paris, were usually spent in one of the bastions of a
small fort, called " Lieu Brune," which had been
erected for the use of the pupils. It was there i^hat he
was often seen, with the works of Vauban, Muller, Cohorn,
and Folard, open before hlra, drawing plans for the attack

and

NAPOLtON BUONAPAtltE. 1^7

and defence of this littte fort, according to th6 rales of
the military art.

Moiige had so well qualified Buonaparte by his card
and information, that, on his tirst examination, he passed
With praist^, imd was allowed to enter the regiment of
artiiierv De la Fere, in garrison at Auxone, as Lieutenant,
in the montli of July 1165, and he immediately pro-
cee<lfd to jom the ngiment. His attention to the theory
of his profession was as unremitting as ever; he d. voted
part ot the night to the study of military details, and
passed most ot" the day in contemplating and examining
the fortitications of the garrison. In his occasional con-
versations with the oiKcers ot the reginienf, he expressed
opinions which were then considered as factious, both
by those of the higher or-iers and those who werft
the partisans of royally. His ili-hiimour was seldom
concealed against any regulations that abridged the pri-
vileges or checked the licentiousness of the people ; and
whether those regulations affected the indeleasible right
of an individual, or a public body, he was equally adverse
to the controlling power. His opposition to the govern-
ment was uniform, and unchangeable by any endeavours
to reason against its inconsistency or injustice.

Buonaparte had hitlierto been supported by his patrori
Count MarbiEut'; but this officer having paid the debt of
nature in the yfear 17S0 (about wliich time his own father
also died), he was left destitute, ex<ept the scanty pay
which h's commission afforded. He therefore repaired
to his mother in the Island of Corsica, where, for some
time, he prosecuted with his usual ardour his military
Studies.

Some occurrences now took place in that island which
Seem to have suited his disposition; for a tebellioa having
taldng plare, or rather a revolution, similar to that in
France, Bnon;iparte was appointed comninnder of a bat-
talion (a petty oibcer, say oiheis) in the National Guar Is
at Ajaccio. This situation he did not, however, hold for
any lengih of time; for, fron» some cause or other, he
was soon dismissed from his post. Some accounts
indeed say, that Paoii dreaded his talents, and feared he
Jnig'it stand in the way of his own interest, and for that
reason, and for that only, expelled him' and his whole
faiiidy ; along with whom he arrived at Marseilles, in the

year

128 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

year 1793, the party consisting of his mother and sisters.
Another account of his disgrace at Corsica, however,
differs materially from this. It appears that, of the two
battalions raised as National Guards in the island, one
was commanded by Buonaparte, and was in actual ser-
vice at Ajaccio. It was quartered in that town; and a
large building, which had formerly been a seminary for
the education of the young clergy, was allotted for its
quarters, Ajaccio being a fortified town, a regiment
of the line was stationed there as a garrison. The officers
of this regiment, as well as the governor of the town,
were zealously attached to the old system; and saw,
with a jealous eye, a measure adopted so much at vari-
ance with all their ideas, as the establishment of a
national militia, such as that decreed hy the Constituent
Assembly in 1791. The troop, as well as its young com-
mander, became in consequence extremely obnoxious
to them ; and an order was sent by the commanding
officer to Napoleon, to quit the town immediately with
his battalion. With this order he refused to comply,
alleging that he was not under the General's command,
but under that of the nation, and his obedience was only
due to the representatives of that nation, under whose
orders he acted. The General, extremely incensed at
finding his orders set at defiance, prepared to expel the
militia by force from the town; whilst the young com-
mander (always resolute in whatever he undertook) de-
clared that he and his troops would defend themselves in
their post to the last extremity: and he began to make
his preparations for defence accordingly.

On this occasion it is evident, however, that he trusted
to the republican principles which had already began to
operate powerfully upon the soldiery ; and the French
General had now a most severe mortification to undergo,
for when the obedience of his own troops was put to
the test, he did not find it so implicit as he expected.
Indeed they soon shewed him, that they were strongly
infected by an inclination for the new order of things iu
France; to which also they had been stimulated, by'an
address circulated among them, representing in strong
terms the danger that would accrue to them by obeying
the orders of the General, as they would thereby render
themselves the instruments of destroying that liberty,

which

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 129

which they were bound to support. This address urged
also, in most forcible colours, that their obedience must
ultimately lead to the most deplorable of all calamities—
that of bringing brother soldiers to fight agamst each
other: and, it having been read b\' one of the soldiers of
the regiment to all the rest, it produced such an effect
upon them that they immediately sent a deputation to
their commander, stating, that they should always be
ready to obey his orders in every thing conibrmable
to the new system of things, but that they could not
serve against it, nor fight against brother soldiers, who
had been raised expressly for its support ; whilst at the
same time they sent another deputation to the new
militia and their commander, assuring them that they
would never fight against those whom they considered
as tlieir brothers in arms.

Whether cowardice or patriotism were the most
powerful agents upon this occasion, we will not pretend
to say ; but the French commander, though extremely
mortified and exasperated at a procedure which shewed
how little his authority was regarded, yet seeing that it
was in vain to attempt urging his troops further, and
that such a step would only tend to unite them more
strongly with the opposite party, reluctantly abandoned
his design. Buonaparte became, however, still more
the object of his jealousy and aversion, as he considered
him to have been the author of the address; he there-
fore obtained a copy of it, determined to use it as an
instrument of vengeance. The power of the old go-
vernment was still sufficiently strong for his purpose,
and he ordered NapoU on to be anested, in order to bring
him to a court martial ; but it turned out, that the ac-
tual writer of this address was the ofl^icer who com-
manded the other patriotic battalion, and who, as his
battalion was not called out into actual service, was
not then amenable to a military tribunal. This person
happened to meet the officer who was dispatched to
arrest Buonaparte ; and learning that the latter was the
supposed author of the address, he immediately pro-
duced the original froni his own pocket, and declared
himself the writer of it. This was compared with the
one in the General's possession, and the smjilarity of the
liand-writing convinced the French commander that no

VOL. II. R further

130 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

further steps could with propriety be taken in the
affair.

The residence which Buonaparte, his mother, and
sisters, took up on their arrival ui France, was at Mar-
seilles ; where, it appears, he met with one of his cousins
of the name of Arena (and brother to Arena, the deputy
who was charged with attempting to stop Buonaparte at
the time he dissolved the Council of Five Hundred). This
person was then an officer in the French artillery, and
had sufficient interest with Barras and Freron, then pro-
consuls of Marseilles, to obtain from then) an officer's
coinniission in the same corps for Napoleon.

Soon after this appointment, his regiment was ordered
to Toulon, to take a part in the siege of that place; and
here it was, he laid the foundation of his future great-
ness. The National Convention of France had deter-
mined to reduce this naval depot to their authority, let
the sacrifice be what it might. For a long time the
deputies of the Convention were at a loss for a proper
officer to conduct the engineering department; at last,
Buonaparte was recommended to their notice by hi»
countryman Salicetti, the deputy from Corsica to the Con-
vention, and one of the national commissioners to the
army before Toulon. Barras accordingly promoted him to
the rank of General, and gave him the command of the
artillery destined for the reduction of the place : this
appointment gave him the opportunity of displaying his
great talents, and was the principal cause of the speedy
fall of the town.

His first military operation was decisive of success.
Seeing that the possession of Malbousquet, one of the
principal outposts of Toulon, would enable him to bom-
bard the town and arsenal, he opened a strong battery
of heavy cannon and mortars on the height of Arenes,
which annoyed that position exceedmgly, by means of
an incessant fire of shot and shells. Governor O'Hara,
observing the necessity of taking immediate and etfec-
tual measures for the security of so important a post,
determined to destroy the new works, which were
termed the Convention Battery, and carry oft^ the ar-
tillery.

Having procured a reinforcement of seamen from the
fleet, to defend a post from which he proposed to with-

dravT

NAPOLEON feUONAPARTE. 131

draw some British soldiers; at five o'clock in the morn-
ing of the 30th of November, a corps of 400 British,
300 Sardinians, 600 Neapolitans, 600 Spaniards, and 400
French, marched from the town, under the command of
Sir David Dunihis. Notwithstanding they were obliged
to cross the new river on one bridge only, to divide after-
wards into four columns, to march across olive grounds
intersected by stone walls, and to ascend a very consider-
able height, cut into vine terraces, they succeeded in
surprising the redoubt; but, instead of forming upon
and occupying the long and narrow summit of the hill,
agreeable to orders and military prudence, after having
etfected all the objects of the expedition, they im-
petuously followed the French troops, descended the
heights, ascended other distant heights, and at length
were compelled to retreat, by the French, who suddenly
profited by their disorder, and obliged them to relinquish
the advantages they had at first obtained. General
O'Hara, who had ascended the battery as soon as the
French were dispossessed, and when he supposed the
object of the day had been obtained, arrived in time to
Avitness the sudden reverse, and to be wounded and made
prisoner by the French. His wound, though not danger-
ous, had bled much ; and, added to the exertions he had
before made, he was so far weakened that he could not
retire many paces with the troops, but insisted on being
left by two soldiers who were conducting him, and
whom he ordered to proceed and save themselves.

The expectations of the besiegers were much raised
by this event: they began to make nearer approaches to
the town ; and, by means of their batteries, not only at-
tacked several important posts, but threatened a general
assault. The garrison was in a very alarming situation.
The French army, which amounted to near 40,000 men,
was constantly increasing, and commanded by an intrepid
and able general ; and their batteries were managed
under the direction of Buonaparte, who, though a mere
youth, displayed the most cool and dauntless courage.
The allied troops never exceeded 12,000 rank and file,
and were now greatly diminished by disease and death.
They were composed ol' the natives of five different
nations, from whom an entire and firm co-operation
could not, from the diflerence of their language and other
R 2 obvious

132 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

obvious causes, be expected. These had to defend a
circumference of fifteen miles, including eight principal
Bind intermediate posts, which alone required 9000
jnen.

The siege was now pursued with increased vigour.
The French relieved such of their troops as were fa-
tigued, and at two o'clock in the morning of the 17th of
December, opened two new batteries on Fort Mulgrave;
and from these, and three former ones, continued a very
heavy cannonade and bombardment, which killed many
of the troops and destroyed the works. The weather
proving rainy, they secretly assembled a large body of
forces, with which they stormed the fortification, and
entered with screwed bayonets, on the side defended
by the Spaniards: upon which the British and other
tioops were obliged to retire towards the shore of Ba-
laquier.

At day-break another attack took place on all the
posts occupied by the garrison on the mountain of Faron.
They were repulsed, however, on the east side, by about
700 men, commanded by Colonel Jermagnan, a Pied-
montcse officer, who peristied on the occasion; but they
found means to penetrate by the back of the mountain,
although 1800 feet high, and deemed inaccessible, so as
to occupy the side which overlooks Toulon. In this
day's fight, the English troops conducted themselves
with great bravery; while the French, invigorated by
their enthusiasm, and trusting to their numbers, charged
with unusual intrepidity and success. The Deputy
Arena, who was a Corsican, headed one of their columns ;
and General Cervoni, a subject of the King of' Sardinia,
particularly distinsuished himself. Buonaparte signa-
lized himself on several occasions by a prompitude of
exertion which marked him for one of tiie ablest can-
didates for military glory and renown. It is stated, that,
in the midst of the engagement, Barras found fault with
the direction of a gun, which had been pointed under
the order of Buonaparte. The young General requested
he would attend to his duty as a National Commissioner;
*' I will do my duty," said he, " according to my own
judgment, and be answerable for the consequences with
my head."

The British commander called a council of flag and

general

NAfOLEON BUONAPARTE. 133

general officers, who deemed it impracticable to regain
tiie posts ihat had been talcen : and, as the town was not
tenable, while they remained in possession of the enemy,
it was determined that TouiOn should l)e evacuated. The
troops were accordintilv withdrawn; and, m the course
of the eveninj; of the i7th ot December, the combined
fleet occupied a new station in the outer road. E-n\y
next morning, the sick and wounded, and the British fi- id
artdlery, were sent otT; the Neapolitans having; aban-
doned their post, without orders, embarked at noon ; and
measures were taken to withdraw the Britisii, Pied-
montese, and Spaniards, amounting to about 7000 men,
during the night.

It was necessary that the retreat should be effected as
soon as possible, for the enemy not only commanded the
town by their shot and shells, but also some of the ships.
The allies removed their shipping beyond the reach of
the shot and shells with which they were assailed by the
enemy without intermission, till ten o'clock at night, of
the 19th of December, when the town was set fire to in
different places by the allies, as well as part of the
shipping, after which they began a precipitate retreat;
and the republicans took possession next morning at
three o'clock. The haste with which the place was
abandoned, left much property and a number of vessels
an easy prey to the conquerors, but left the inhabitants
in a situation truly melancholy and deplorable. When
they perceived that flight was resolved on, they repaired
in multitudes to the shores, and requested the protection,
from their greatest enemies, which the crown of Britain
had pledged itself to grant them. It must indeed be
acknowledged, that several efforts were made to convey
thousands of them to the ships, yet it was found impos-
sible not to leave multitudes behind to suffer the incal-
culable tortures which would, no doubt, be inflicted on
them by their incensed countrymen. Numbers of them
were beheld to take away their own lives, deeming that
a more lenient method of terminating existence than
what they had to expect from the republicans; while
others threw themselves into the water, making many
fruitless efforts to come at the British vessels. The
flames continued to spread with astonishing rapidity; and
the ships, previously set on fire, were every moment in

danger

134 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

dane;er of blowing up, and burying every thing around
them in irretrievable destruction.

But if the land exhibited such a scene of borror, the
spectacle was no less dreadful on board the ships. These
were filled with a motley group of all descriptions, men,
"women, and children, old and young, and of various
nations. To add to their calamities, they had on board
;the sick from all the hospitals; and the festering wounds
.of those who were yet undrest, became extremely otien-
jsive as well as dangerous. A sight so horrible was per-
haps only exceeded by the dolorous complaints and
mournful cries of multitudes for their husbands, fathers,
or children, who had been unavoidably left on shore.
JCo colouring of language could do justice to this tre-
mendous scene.

In addition to all the miseries already mentioned, they
had to struggle with an almost real famine, as the food
on board was not near sufficient for such an immense
multitude, and almost unlit for use. 1 he British found
thirty-one ships of the line at Toulon, thirteen of which
were lett behind, nine burnt in the harbour, and one at
Leghorn, besides four more which Lord Hood had sent ^
to Brest and Rochfort, with 5000 seamen belonging to
France, whom he was under considerable apprehensions
it would be dangerous to confide in. It appears there-
fore, that Great Britain acquired by this sanguinary and
expensive expedition to Toulon, no more than three
ships of the line and five frigates. The French gained
from the allies more than an hundred pieces of cannon,
four hundred oxen, sheep, and hogs, together with vast
quantities of forage, and every species of provision.

Thus, after a siege of about three months, and an inces-
sant assault for five successive days and nights, Toulon
was restored to P'rance. The besieging army had pro-*
vided 4000 ladders for an assault; but, on the evacuation
of the place, they entered it at seven o'clock in the morn-
ing of the 19th of December 1703.

Some of the inhabitants who had favoured the allies,
remained behind, and perished, either by their own hands
or the guillotine. On the royalists at l^oulon, as well as
at Marseilles, the most cruel punishments were inflicted ;
and the victory of the conquerors was sullied by a ter-
rible and indiscriminate carnage. The population became

daily

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 135

daily and visibly decreased by the continual butchery of
the people. The principal habitations were destroyed
by workmen, who were invited from the neighbouring
department to demolish the town. The name of Toulon
was changed for that of Port de la Montagne; and a
grand festival was celebrated at Pans, in honour of the
event, to which the members of the Convention went in
procession.

Thus ended the siege of Toulon: its progress had
etiiinentiy contributed to raise the military character of
Buonaparte; but the cruelties which were exercised
upon the defenceless inhabitants, after the surrender, will
tarnish tlie glory otherwise belonging to him.

After the siege of Toulon, Napoleon was appointed
General of Brigade, and was sent to Nice. Here he,
was arrested by Btffroy, the Deputy of the Convention,
on the charge of being a terrorist, and of exercising un-
necessary cruelties after the taking of Toulon. Whe-
ther those atrocities are to be imputed alone to him,
would perhaps be difficult to find out ; if we are to trust
to the assertions of his enemies, no doubt would remain
but that he deeply partook of them ; and, indeed, it being
made one of the charges of his arrest, seems to counte-
nance their assertions.* He was soon released from hii

arrest;

* The atrocities which followed the surrender of Toulon, are almost
too dreadful to be related.

No sooner was the town evacuated by the English and Spaniards, and
occupied by the republicans, than all the principal Toulonese citizens'
were ordered to repair to the market-place, where they were surrounded
by a great military force.

At this time, in the prison of Toulon was a Frenchman who had been
committed for some heinous offence, but he was liberated by the
French agents in consequence of his undertaking to select those of the
inhabitants who had in any manner favoured the capitulation of the
place, or who had shewn any hospitality to the English whilst they
were in possession of it.

This miscreant passed before the citizens, who were drawn out in
lines, amounting to near 3000: amongst whom be pointed out about
1400 persons to the fury of tiie republican bloodhounds, Without any
evidence, or further examination, these were all immediately adjudged
to be shot; for which purpose a suitable number of soldiers were
drawn out. The unhappy victims were then marched out to their de-
struction upon the quay, in sets of 300, and there inhumanly butchered.
The carnage was dreadful. In the last of these unfortunate groupt
were two gentlemen of great respectability, who received no wound

' from

136 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

arrest; but his command in the artillery was taken from
him, althoucflTr he was not wholly dismissed the service,
for a command in the iniantry was offered to him, which
he refused to ac< ept.

During his: stay at Nice, he was almost constantly
employed, and spent many hours of the night in study.
One of his fnends, on a very particular occasion, went to
his apartments, long before day, and not doubting but
he was ui bed, knocked softly at the door, for fear of
disturbing him too abruptly; but, upon entering his
chamber, he was surprised to find Buonaparte dressed,
as in the day, with plans, maps, and numerous books
lying around him. " What!" said his friend, " not yet
in bed?" " In bed," answered Napoleon, "I am al-
ready risen." " Indeed," observed his friend, " what so
early?" "Yes, so early, two or three hours are enough
for sleep."

- Soon after he was forced from his arrest, he went
tO' Paris in order to complain ' of the injustice done
to him. Aubry, who was then at the head oi" the mili-
tary department of the Committee of Public Safety,
refused him every thing, except the commission in the

from the fire, but, to preserve themselves, dropped with the rest, and
exhibited all the appearances of having participated in the genera! fate.
This execution took place in the evening. Immediately after its
close, the soldiers, fatigued, and sick with cold-blooded slaughter,
inarched back to their quarters, without examining whether every per-
son upon whom they had fired, had fallen a victim to tlie munlerous
bullet. Soon after the soldiers had retired, tlie women of Toulon,
allured by plunder, proceeded to the fatal spot. Mounted upon the
bodies of the fallen, they stripped the dead and dying. The night was
etonnv. The moon emerging from dark clouds, occasionally shed its
pale lustre upon this horrible scene. When the plunderers had aban-
doned their prey, during an interval of deep darkness, in the dead of
the night, when all was silent, unconscious of each other's intentions,
the two citizeijs who had escaped the general carnage, disencumbered
themselves from the dead under whom they were buried ; ciiillcd, and
naked, in an agony of mind not to be described, they at the same mo-
ment attempted to escape. In tlieir agitation they rushed against each
other. Expressions of terror and surfjrise dropped from each of ihero.
" Oh! God! it is my father!" — " My son! my son! my son!" ex-
claimed the other, clasping him in his arms. la fact, they were father
and son, who had thus miraculously escaped, and met in this extra-
ordinary manner. Their lives thus saved they were fortunately en-
abled to enjoy, and about two years aftervii;ard5 they re-settled at
Toulon.

infantry

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 137

infantry, which had been before olFered to him. Buona-
parte then demanded his discharge, which was refused.
He then required permission to go to Constantinople,
no doubt with a view of offering his services to the
Sublime Porte; which was also refused.

He, however, obtained, in the year 1794, the command
of an expedition vvhicii w^s fitted out against Ajaccio,
his native town ; but he v/as repulsed in the attempt by
one of his ovyn relations, nampd IVIastefia, who was then
in the British service, and had served under General
Elliot at the siege of Gibraltar.

'I'he expedition having failed, Napoleon returned to
France. From this time he remained in great obscurity,
and was subject to con.siderable distresses, arising from
the slenderntss of his resources: he was indebted to the
bounty of his friends tbj- support, and no prospect ap-
peared of calling his talents into exertjon.

The events, however, tb,at happened at, Paris at the
end of the year 1795, occasioned him to be again em-
ployed, vyhere he. acted a distinguished pait. Y(e have
briefly noticed the^e occuj'renci;S in pur jNiemoirs of
Louis XVni.; t^ut it will b,e necessary here to giye
them more in detail, as the, part that Napoleqn a.cted '\n
them fomis a conspicuous feature in bis life. . , '■

The nevy constitution of France, which was voted 4ft?r
the fall of Rob.espiene, was cordially approved of, ex-
cept that part which eng,cted that two-thirds of the
Convention, should be re-elected, and, in default of tl^e
departments not returning tvvo-lhirds, that t;he Conyep-
tion shouiil then supply the defect; by its own nomination.
This was^ certainly an assuniption of power on the paj't
of the National Convention, that laid prostrate every
principle .ot.liberty, •4nd seemed calculated to perpetuate
for ever their authority. It was accordingly rtsisted by
the people, which occasioned one of the most bloody
civil contests that had occurred during the whole of
this sanguinary revolution.

The Parisians, exasperated at this singular stretch of
power, were resolved to resist it; and the opposition,
which at'tir^t seemed hut feeble,.soon grew up to a formi-
dable appearance. The boldness of the Parisians in
their opposition to the measures of the Convention was
met by corresponding firmness on the part of that body;

VOL. II. ' s and

ISS NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

and they refused to admit any deputation from the peo-
ple to their sittings. On the 2()th of September they
decreed, that those presidents and secretaries of the .
primary assemblies, who should put to the vote or sign
any resolution foreign to the object of their convocation,
would be guilty of an attack upon the safety of the re-
public. This decree was totally disregarded. On the
3d of October it was decreed, that the primary assemblies
of Paris, which had appointed three electors, should be
commanded to separate instantly, and that the electors
should be forbidden to assemble before the period fixed
by the decree. The sections of Paris had passed several
arrets: these were annulled, and the commanders of the
armed force were directed not to obey them.

The Convention declared itself in a state of perma-
nence ; and affairs appeared to be fast approaching to a
crisis. At seven o'clock in the evening, Etienne Dupin,
secretary of the department of the Seine, appeared, with
six dragoons and two trumpeters, on the Place de The-
atre Francois, to proclaim the decree ; and whilst reading,
a numerous crowd rushing from the theatre, increased
the crowd without, and hissings and hootings interrupted
the entire announcement of the decree. One of the
heralds was assaulted, and the flambeau he held, by
the light of which the decree was being read, was extin-
guished. The Convention ordered the deputies, charged
with the direction of the armed force, to secure the
electors assembled in the place of meeting of the primary
assembly of the Theatre Fran9ois, who had refused to
obey the law which ordered the closing of the assem-
blies. The electoral body, however, did not wait for
the decree of the Convention to separate; for when
the troops arrived, they found the place of meeting
empty.

On Sunday the 4th of October, the Convention issued
a proclamation, which began by stating, that, ** after
having exhausted all paternal means, they were resolved
to put an end to the scandalous struggle which had taken
place between the general will of the people and a
handful of royalists." — •' Friends to the laws! defenders
of liberty!" it concluded, "listen to the voice of duty,
and as soon as the cry of * Aid to the law .'* shall be
heard, hasten to join the banners of virtue ; at the sight

of

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 139

of you the conspirators will fly, and soon will peace and
happiness be raised upon the ruins of faction."

During these commotions, the Convention continued
to order troops into the metropolis; and they mingled
with them several hundreds of the terrorists who had
been confined in prison, from their well-known and
mortal antipathy against the sections. These men,
though by no means well affected towards the Convention,
were glad to purchase their freedom, for the opportunity
of exterminating the people they denominated Muscadins
and Royalists. Such a guard was vehemently exclaimed
against by the different sections. They conceived it to
be a signal for the return of such a government as that of
Robespierre, and the establishment of revolutionary
tyranny. On the 4th of October, General Menou, who
commanded the military force of Paris, was dispatched
to the principal place where the sections met, which was
Lepelletier, in order to effect their dispersion, or deprive
them of their arms. The deputy who had been chosen
to visit the sections, and General Menou, held long con-
ferences with them, when they declared that they would
cheerfully lay down their arms, if the Convention would
disarm the terrorists; but, as they had no authority to
come to any terms with the sections, the troops for the
present were withdrawn on both sides, which gave the
greatest offence to the Convention, and for which General
Menou was deprived of his command.

The Deputy Barras, who had been charged with the
direction of the armed force, was now appointed in his
room ; and he resolved to avail himself of the assistance of
Buonaparte, who was then at Paris. There was no time,
nor was there any reason, for hesitation; he sent for
Buonaparte, and immediately gave him the second com-
mand of the Conventional troops then in Paris.

In the mean time, the sections beat to arms, and ap-
peared every moment more serious in their military pre-
parations. The inliabitants were awakened at midnight
by the sound of drums, and a knocking at almost every
door, accompanied with the incessant cry of " To armSj
to armSf Citizens! every one to his section — Liberty or
death." This did not produce any material etlect, as the
people in general did not suppose that the intended as-
sault was to be made at night. About noon, however,
s 9 the

lib NAi^OLE'ON BtJONAPARTE.

th'e next d^y, the celebrated 13th of Vendemiaire (5th
October), the people were again in motion, with a view
to march their forces against the Thuilleries.

The troops of the Convention, extended from the Pont
Neuf, along the quays on the right bank of the Seine, to
the Champs Elysees, and were continued to the Boule-
vards: the people occupied the Rue St. Honore, the
Plncede Vendome, St. Roch, and the Place du Palais
Royal. The Convention had deceived the people, during
die morning, in sending messages to the sections, and
ih receiving and discussing propositions for peace, whilst
they gained time for reinforcing their positions, and en-
c^ouraging the troops to fire upon the people when com-
li^anded. The debates in the Convention, and messages
and letters to General Danican, who commanded the
troops of the Parisians, kept the people discussmg instead
of fighting; and, to their great astonishment, the posts
of tne citizens at St. Roch, were suddenly fired upon
from a house in the Cul de Sac Dauphin, and a dreadful
scene of carnage commenced.

During the time that the citizens on the northern side
of the river were engaged in close and terrible combat,
llh'ose who were on the opposite were attemptmg to reach
the Convention by the quay of Voltaire, although the
cannon of the Conventioti, which defended each end of
the bridge, presented to their view a most menacing ap-
pearance. The conflict on the one side of the river was
not of long duration; for the commander of the column
having endeavoured to force the passage, even without
artillery, and but ill provided with ammunition, a dis-
charge of musquetry was made, which instantly dis-
jbersed his followers: the artillery was commanded by
Buonaparte. The battle near the Thuilleries, where the
Convention were sitting, raged with great obstinacy, the
cannon having been frequently seized upon by the insur-
gents, and as often retaken by the national troops.
Though the sectionaries were destitute of artillery, they
made a gallant opposition; and, after many severe rt^pulses,
they still returned to the charge, and did not retreat till
after a bloody conflict, which lasted four hours. In the
space of tvvo hours the firing of the cannon was heard
again, which did not terminate till midnight, when the
troops of the Convention became masters of the field df

battle,

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. Ul

battle, and routed the citizens at every post. The church
of St. Roch, and the Palais d'Egaiitfe, were forced : the
gates were burst open by the cannon, antlthe people who
had taken refuge withm the walls were slaughtered.
During the conflict the few deputies who were in the
Convention remained in their places, with their president
at their head. Many of the other deputies mixed with
the troops who were without. The number of the peo-
ple slain on this memorable day has been stated to have
been 8000.

Barras, on this occasion, having had the chief com-
mand, received all the honours and all the credit that the
Convention attached to the services of the day. The
distinguished share that Buonaparte had in the affair,
was extinguished by the superior pretensions of his su-
perior. The unpopularity of the measure was not by
any means likely to endear him to^the Parisians; but he
acquired notice, and Barras became, at length, so well
satisfied with his conduct, that he took an early oppor-
tunity of rewarding his important achievement on the
ever-to-be-remembered day of Vendemiaire.

After the dreadful struggle which terminated in the
defeat of the Parisians, Napoleon, by the interest of
Barras, was appointed second in command of the army
of the interior; and afterwards, upon the resignation of
his patron, the chief command was entrusted to him.
This appointment gave him considerable weight in the
new republic; and, to a man of his talents, must have
opened to his view projects not quite compatible with
the existence of a republican government.

We have hitherto viewed Napoleon acting in subor-
dinate commands, in which his conduct has been marked
with an energy and decision which could not fail of
attracting the notice of the world. We shall now have
to view him displaying those qualities on a larger theatre
of action, and reducing to practice that study which he
had so sedulously cultivated in his earlier years.

The army of Italy was without a commander-in-chief;
and this important military appointment was destined
to be filled by Buonaparte: his acceptance of it, how-
ever, was with the stipulation of his accepting Madame
Beauharnois as his wife, who, it is affirmed was the mis-
tress of Barras. It appears that this lady, at the age of

twenty-two.

Iii2 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

twenty-two, married the Viscount Alexander de Beau-
harnois, major in a Royal French regiment of infantry;
they were both descended from noble families, both
natives of Martinique, and both educated in France. At
the commencement of the French revolution, M. de
Beauharnois was chosen, by the nobility of the bailiwick
of Blois, a deputy to the States-General; and, in June
1791, he was elected their president, and in that ca-
pacity signed the proclamation to the French people, on
the journey of the King to Varennes. He served under
General Biron in April 1792, and bore the rank of Adju-
tant-General, when the French were defeated near Mons.
He afterwards succeeded Custine in the command of the
army of the Rhine; was suspended by the deputies in
August 1793, and, shortly after, arrested with his wife.
He was consigned to the guillotine on the 23d of July
1790. If Robespierre had not followed him, a few days
after, Madame Beauharnois would also have perished on
the republican scaffold. In one of the thirty-six lists of
persons destined by Fouquier Thionville to supply the
guillotine for thirty-six successive days, appeared the
name of Madame de Beauharnois ; another list contained
the name of Barras. On the 12th of August 1794, she
was released by Legendre. Barras caused the national
seals to be taken off her house, in the Rue de Victoires,
a few weeks after; and continued to honour her with his
protection, by sojourning in her hotel, until October 1795,
when his appointment to the office of Director required
that he should occupy the splendid suite of apartments
assigned him in the palace of the Luxembourg.

Barras, invested with the dignity of one of the chief
magistrates of France, did not find it convenient to con-
tinue his intimacy with Madame Beauharnois. If their
attachment had been mutual, it was either easily subdued,
or it had suddenly subsided ; for the lady agreed to an ar-
rangement, which evinced her obedience to the wishes of
her friend, and the self-command that she had acquired
over her own feelings — she consented to give her hand to
Napoleon Buonaparte, the General of the Interior, if the
General himself could be induced to offer her his vows of
conjugal affection. The plan was formed; and Barras
proceeded to effect its completion, to provide his mistress
with a husband, and his friend with a wife.

The

NAPOLEON BUONA*PARTE. 143

The army of Italy was without a leader. Carnot dis-
placed General Scherer for habitual intoxication. Buo-
naparte having shewn his talents for command as well
as for execution, both al Toulon and on the 13th Vende-
miaire, Barras recommended him to Carnot, as the most
likely man to serve the republic faithfully in Italy. Car-
not's high opinion of the genius of Buonaparte seconded
the nomination. Barras offered to Buonaparte Madame
Beauharnois and 500,000 livres, and Carnot offered him
the army. Barras told him, that the lady and the army
were equally necessary to a youthful and aspiring general.
His friendship, his gallantry, and his ambition, were
roused; and as the terms of the offer implied, that neither
could be gratified without the other, he obliged his friend
Barras, and became the husband of Madame Beauhar-
nois, and commander-in-chief of the army of Italy.

Buonaparte arrived at the head-quarters early in the
spring of 1796, and only awaited the disappearance of
the snow, to commence his operations. In the interim
he lived familiarly with the soldiers, marched on foot
at their head, suffered their hardships and privations, re-
dressed their grievances, and acquired, by attention to
their desires, their esteem and affection. The strength
of his army was very inferior in point of numbers to
that of his enemies. " But, if we are vanquished," said
he, " I shall have too much ; if conquerors, we stand in
need of nothing."

The Austrians and Piedmontese occupied all the
passes and heights of the Alps which command the river
Genoa. The French had their right supported by Sa-
vona, and their left towards Montenotte, while two demi-
brigades were considerably advanced in front of their
right at Voltri.

After some days spent in movements intended to de-
ceive the French, hostilities were commenced by the
Imperialists. Beaulieu ordered 10,000 men, on the 9th
of April 1796, to attack the post of Voltri. General Cer-
voni, with 3000 men retreated, during the night, in great
order, to the church of Our Lady of Savona ; and Buo-
naparte covered his retreat with 1500 men, posted for
that purpose in the avenues of Sospello, and on the
heights of Verraggio. On the 10th, about four in the
morning, Beaulieu, at the head of 15,000 men, attacked

and

144 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

and drove in all the posts which supported the centre of
the French, and presented himself, at one o'clock of the
day, before the redoubt of Montenotte, the last of their
entrenchments. Notwithstanding repeated charges, this
redoubt kept firm, and arrested the progress of the
enemy. The chief of brigade, Rampon, who com-
manded these 1500 men, made his soldiers, in the midst
of the fire, take an oath to perish in the redoubt, and,
during the whole night, kept the enemy at the distance of
pistol-shot. In the night time. General Laharpe, with
all the troops of the right, took post behind the redoubt;
and Buonaparte, followed by the Generals Berthier and
Massena, and the Commissioner Salicetti, brought up the
troops of his centre and his left, at one o'clock in the
morning, by Aitara, orr the flank and rear of the Aus-
trians. On the 11th, at day-break, Beaulieu and La-
harpe attacked and charged each other with vigour and
various success, when Massena appeared scattering death
and terror on the flank rear of the Austro-Sardinians,
where General Argenteau commanded. Soon alter, the
enemy's generals, Roccavina and Argentau, were wound-
ed, and the rout became complete. Fifteen hundred men
were killed, and 2500 made prisoners, of which ()0 were
officers ; several standards were also taken. The French
made themselves masters of Carcara on the 12th, and
also of Cairo.

Beaulieu, although beaten, was still able to send assist-
ance from his right wing to the left of the Austro-Sar-
dinian army. Buonaparte removed his head-quarters to
Carcara on the 12th, and ordered General Laharpe to
march to Sozello, in order to menace tlie eight battalions
of the enemy stationed there, and to repair, on the day
following, by a rapid and concealed march, to the town of
Cairo ; while General Massena was directed to gain the
heights of Dego, at the same time that the Generals
Menaud and Joubert occupied one of the heights of
Biestro, and the other the intt resting position of St. Mar-
guerite. This movement following the battle of Mon-
tenotte, placed the French army on the other side of the
Alps.

On the ISth, at day-break, General Augereau forced
the defiles of Millesimo, while the Generals Menard and
Joubert drove the enemy from all the neighbouring posts,

and

/PT4^^^

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 14.5

and surrounded a corps of 1500 Austrian grenadiers,
commaiided by Lieutenant-General Provera in person, a
knight of the order of Maria Theresa, who gallantly re-
tired to the summit of the mountain of Cossaria, and
entrenched himself in the ruins of an old castle, extremely
strong on account of its position. Augereau ordered his
artillery to advance, when both kept up a cannonade for
several hours. At eleven o'clock of the day, Buona-
parte, vexed at finding his march arrested by a handful
of men, ordered General Provera to be summoned to
surrender: the latter requested to speak with the com-
mander-in-chief; but a lively cannonade commencing on
the right wing of the French prevented him from repair-
ing to Provera, who continued to treat with General
Augereau for several hours. Augereau, at length, formed
his men into four columns, and advanced against the
castle. Already had Joubert entered the enemy's en-
trenchments with seven men, when, being wounded in
the head, he was thrown on the ground; and his soldiers
thinking him dead, the movement of his column relaxed.
The second column, commanded by General Banel, ad-
vanced in silence, when the General was killed at the
foot of the enemy's entrenchments. The third column,
under Adjutant-General Quenin, who was also killed,
was in like manner disconcerted.

Night approaching gave Buonaparte reason to feap
that the enemy would attempt to make their way, sword
in hand : he, therefore, ordered all the battalions to unite,
tpaulments of casks to be formed, and howitzer batteriea
planted within half a musquet-shot of the enemy.

At dawn of day on the 14th, the hostile armies faced
each other: the French left, under Augereau, kept Ge-
neral Provera blockaded. Several of the enemy's regi-
ments, and among others, that of Belgiojoso, attempted
to penetrate the centre of the French, but were vigo-
rously repulsed by General Menard, who was then
directed to lall back on the right wing. Before one
o'clock at noon General Massena extended his line beyond
the enemy's left, which occupied the village of Dego
witli strong entrenchments and vigorous batteries. Tlie
French pushed forward their light troops as far as the
road leading from Dego to Spino. General Laharpe
marched with his division in three close columns: the

VOL. II. T one

146 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

one on his left, commanded by General Causse, crossed
the Bormida under the enemy's fire, with the water up
to their middle, and attacked the right of the enemy's left
wing ; General Cervoni, at the head of the second co-
lumn, also passed the Bormida, under the protection of
one of the French batteries, and advanced immediately
against the enemy; while the third column, under Ad-
jutant-General Boyer, turned a ravin, and cut off their
retreat. The enemy, surrounded on all sides, had not
time to capitulate ; and the French columns, spreading
every where terror and death, put them to the rout.
While the right of the French made the necessary dispo-
sitions for attacking the enemy's left, General Provera, with
the corps he commanded at Cossaria, surrendered pri-
soners of war. By this victory the French acquired from
7 to 9000 prisoners; and the enemy had between 2000
and 2500 killed.

On the 15th at day-break, Beaulieu, with 7000 Aus-
trians, the flower of his army, attacked the village of
Dego with great boldness, aud carried it. Massena, as
soon as he had formed part of his troops, began the
attack, but was repulsed in three different attempts.
General Causse was not more fortunate; having rallied
the 99th demi-brigade, he attacked the enemy, and was
on the point of charging with the bayonet, when he fell
mortally wounded. In this condition, perceiving Ge-
neral Buonaparte, he collected his remaining strength,
and asked him if Dego was retaken. " The posts are
ours!" replied the General. " Then," said Causse, " Vive
la Repuhlique! I die content." The aftair, however,
was not yet decided, and it was already two o'clock of
the afternoon. Buonaparte ordered a demi-brigade to
form in column under General Victor, whilst Adjutant-
General Lanus, rallying a demi-brigade of light infantry,
precipitated himself, at their head, on the enemy's left.
These combined movements carried Dego: the cavalry
completed the rout of the enemy, who left 600 dead and
1400 prisoners. General Rusca had made himself master
of the post of San-Giovanni, which commands the valley
of the Bormida. General Augereau, having dislodged
the enemy from the redoubts of Montezemo, opened a -
communication with the valley of the Tanaro, -which
Serrurier's division bad already occupied.

The

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. U^

The activity with which these measures were executed
cannot be too much remarked. The Directory, in their
letter to Buonaparte, expressed the satsfaction they felt,
in finding the choice they had made of him to conduct
the army of Italy -to victory, justified by the laurels he
had gained. " To-day, General," said tliey, " receive
the tribute of national gratitude ; merit it more and more,
and prove to Europe, that Beaulieu, by changing the
field of battle, has not changed his opponent ; that,
beaten in the north, he shall be constantly defeated by
the brave army of Italy; and that, with such defenders,
liberty shall triumph over the impotent efforts of the
enemies of the Republic."

General Laharpe, and the chief of brigade, Rampon,
also received honourable testimonies of the regard which
the Directory had to their exertions.

The well-directed movements of Generals Augereau,
Bayrand, and Joubert, compelled the enemy to evacuate
the entrenched camp during the night. At day-break,
on the 17th, General Serrurier entered the town of Ceva,
and invested the citadel, in which was a garrison of be-
tween 7 and 800 men. The heavy artillery had not been
able to keep pace with the rapid march of the army in
the mountains, and had not yet arrived. 1 he Piedmon-
tese army, driven from Ceva, took a position at the con-
fluence of the Cursaglia. On the 20th, Serrurier attacked
their right, by the village of St. Michael, and passmg the
bridge, under the fire of the enemy, compelled them,
after three hours fighting, to evacuate the village; but
the Tanaro not being fordable, the division, which
was to attack their left, could harass them only by its
riflemen. General Serrurier was, therefore, obliged to
retreat: the enemy's position was formidable; surround-
ed by two deep and impetuous rivers, they had cut down
all the bridges, and erected strong batteries on the banks.
Both armies spent the whole of the 21st in making dis-
positions, and in reciprocally seeking, by false manceu-
vres, to conceal their real intentions.

At two o'clock in the morning General Massena
crossed the Tanaro, near Ceva, and occupied the village
of Lezegno. Guieux and Fiorella, generals of brigade,
made themselves masters of the bridge of the Torra.
Buonaparte's object was, to bear down on Mondovi, and
T 2 compel

148 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

compel the enemy lo change the field of battle; but
General Colli, fearing the issue of an engagement, which
must have been decisive on so extended a line, retreated.
At day-break, the two armies were in sight of each other,
aiid the engagement began in the village of Vico. Ge-
neral Guieux bore down on the left of Mondovi, while
the Generals Fiorella and Dammartin attacked and car-
ried the redoubt which covered the enemy's centre.;
upon this the Sardinian army abandoned the field of
battle, and the same evening the French entered Mon-
dovi. The enemy's loss amounted to 1800 men, of
whom 1300 were prisoners.

After the battle of Mondovi, the enemy crossed the
Stura, and took a position between Coni and Cherasco.
On the 24th, the French entered the town of Bena.
General Serrurier, on the 25th, marched with his division
to La Trinite, and cannonaded the town of Fossano, the
head-quarters of General Colli. General Massena ad-
vanced against Cherasco, and drove in the enemy's grand
guard. Buonaparte sent General Dujard, and his own
aid-de-camp, Marmont, to reconnoitre the place, and
plant howitzer batteries on purpose to beat down the
pallisades. The enemy, after some discharges of their
artillery, evacuated the town, and repassed the Stura.
The French took 28 pieces of cannon, and very consi-
derable magazines. This victory was of the greatest con-
sequence; for, besides supporting their right wing, it
furnished an ample store of subsistence. The French
threw bridges of boats across the Stura, and Fossano
surrendered to Serrurier. General Angereau marched
against Alba, which surrendered, and threw several
bridges of boats across the Tanaro, to enable the army
to pass the river.

The King of Sardinia was now reduced to the neces-
sity of shutting himself up in Turin: the aged monarch,
fearful that he should receive no reinforcement from
the Austrians, determined to treat for peace. General
Colli, commander-in-chief of his army, upon the 23d of
April, addressed a letter to Buonaparte, stating, that as
his Majesty the King had sent plenipotentiaries to
Genoa, to treat for peace, under the mediation of the
court of Spain ; he was of opinion, the interests of hu-
manity required that hostilities should be suspended on

both

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. UJ)

both sides, during the dependence of the negotiation.
He, therefore, proposed an armistice, eithhr unlimited,
or for a certain time, as the General shonM u.ink proper,
with a view to prevent the useless eiJtision ot iiuman
blood. To this letter Buonaparte replied, that the Exe-
cutive Directory had reserved to itself the right of
treating for peace : it was, therefore, necessary that the
plenipotentiaries of the King should repair to Paris, or
wait at Genoa the arrival of the plenipotentiaries whom
the French government might send thither. He further
observed, that the military position of the two armies
rendered impossible every unqualified suspension of
arms; and although, for his own part, he was convinced
that government was disposed to grant reasonable condi-
tions of peace to his Majesty, yet he could not, on vague
presumptions, arrest his march. There was, however,
he remarked, a way whereby General Colli might attain
his purpose, conformahle to the true interests of his
court, and which would prevent an effusion of blood;
and that was, to put into his possession two of the three
fortresses of Coni, Alexandria, or Tortona: they could
then wait, without further hostilities, the issue of nego-
tiations, which might perhaps be protracted. A peace
was granted to the unfortunate monarch: he surrendered
Exilles, Tortona, Coni, Alexandria, and Chateau Dau-
phin, as the pledges of his faith, and relinquished Savoy
and the county of Nice for ever.

On the 26th, Napoleon published the following ad-
dress to his army : —

*' Soldiers! — In the course of fourteen days you
have acquired six victories, taken 21 stand of colours, 30
pieces of cannon, several strong fortresses, and con-
quered the richest portion of Piedmont: you have taken
1500 prisoners, and killed and wounded more than 10,000
men. You have hitherto, however, fought only for
sterile rocks, rendered famous by your courage, but use-
less to your country : and by your services you have
emulated the conquering army of Holland and the
Rhine. Destitute of every thing, you have supplied
every thing; without cannon you have gained battles;
without bridges you have crossed rivers ; without shoes
you have performed forced marches; without brandy,
and often without bread, you have spent the night in

arms.

150 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

arms. Republican phalanxes! the soldiers of liberty are
alone capable of suffering what you have experienced,
and your grateful country will owe to you a part of its
prosperity. If the recovery of Toulon presaged the im-
mortal campaign of 1793, your present victories augur a
campaign still more glorious. The two armies, that but
lately attacked you with audacity, now fly, in terror,
before you ; and the base men, who ridiculed your mi-
sery, and inwardly rejoiced at the triumph of the foe,
are abashed, and tremble.

" It is, however, not to be dissembled, that you have
effected nothing, while there remains any thing to be
performed. Neither Turin nor Milan are yet in your
possession, and the ashes of the conquerors of the Tar-
quins are still trodden on by the assassins of Basseville.

" At the commencement of the campaign you were
destitute of every thing; to-day you are abundantly sup-
plied ; the magazines, taken from the enemy, are nume-
rous; and the heavy and field artillery have arrived. Your
native land has a right to expect great things from you,
and you will justify its expectation. The greatest ob-
stacles have been surmounted, but you have still battles
to fight, cities to take, and rivers to pass. Is there one
among you whose courage fails? Are there any who
prefer to re-cross the peaks of the Apennines and the
Alps, and patiently submit to the insults of a slavish
soldiery? No: such a one exists not among the con-
querors of Montenotte, of Miliesimo, of Dego, and of
Mondovi : all burn to extend afar the glory of the French
nation; all are eager to humble those arrogant monarchs,
who dared to meditate the slavery of France; all of us
wish to dictate a glorious peace, that will indemnify our
country for the immense sacrifices it has made; and
every one wishes, on returning to his native village, to be
able to assert with pride, that he was of the conquering
army of Italy.

*' This conquest I promise to you, but on a condition
that it is necessary you should swear to observe. This
condition is, to respect the people whom you liberate,
and to repress the dreadful pillage which are only com-
mitted by miscreants. Without the observance of this,
the republican army will not be the deliverers of the peo-
ple, but their scourges; they will not be ihe honour of

the

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. is\

the French nation, but they will be disclaimed by their
country; your victories, your courage, your success, and
the blood ot" your brethren who have fallen in battles-
all, even their honour, and your glory, will be lost. As
to myself, and the generals enjoying the confidence of
the troops, they will blush to command an army without
discipline or restraint, and which recognizes no law, but
that of force. Invested with the national authority, and
rendered strong by justice and the laws, I know how to
compel the few, who are destitute of courage and senti-
ment, to respect the laws of humanity and honour, should
they dare to trample them under foot. I will not suffer
brigands to sully the laurels of the army of Italy; I will
see that every regulation be rigorously executed ; ma-
rauders shall be shot without pity. Already some have
fallen victims to this odious crime; but I remarked,
with pleasure, the eagerness and good conduct which
my brave fellow-soldiers have displayed in executing
their orders.

" I proclaim to the nations of Italy, that the French
army come to break their chains ; that the French peo-
ple are the friends of all nations; and I call on them to
approach with confidence: and I declare, that their pro-
perty, their religion, and usages will be respected ; that
the French troops, in making war, will prove a generous
enemy, and that they are the foes of those tyrants only,
who enslave Italy."

No sooner was the armistice with the King of Sar-
dinia signed, than Napoleon lost no time in marching his
army towards the Po. Massena had already reached
Alexandria, and seized on the magazines. On the 6th
of May, the army of Italy took possession of Tortona,
where they found immense quantities of warlike stores.

By the stipulations in the armistice with the King of
Sardinia, Buonaparte had artfully contrived to deceive
General Beaulieu as to the point where he meant to
pass the Po. In this treaty he had stipulated, that the
town of Valero should be ceded to him; by which it
was thought he meant to pass the river at that point.
Beaulieu, accordingly, made every disposition to oppose
the passage at that place; but Buonaparte had hastened,
by forced marches, to Castel-San-Giovannni, with 5000
grenadiers an^'loOO horse. At eleven at night, An-

dreossi.

159 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

dreossi, chief of a battalion of artillery, and Adjutant-
General Frontin, with 100 dragoons, reconnoitred the
Po as far as Placenza, and seized five boats, loaded with
rice, on board of which were some officers, 500 sick, and
ail the army medicines. On the 7th, at nine in the
morning, Buonaparte reached the Po, opposite Placenza.
Two squadrons of hussars, posted on the other side of
the river, appeared determined to dispute the passage.
The French troops threw themselves into the boats, and
landed on the other side, when, after a few musquet-
shots, the enemy's cavalry retired : the divisions of the
army, which had been drawn up en echelons, at different
distances, passed the river in the course of the day.
Meanwhile, Beaulieu, informed of the march of the
French, was convinced, but when too late, of the inuti-
lity of his entrenchments on the Tesino, and his redoubts
at Pavia.

On the 8th at noon, Buonaparte learned that a division
of the enemy was near: he accordingly advanced, and
found them entrenched in the village of Fombio with
20 pieces of cannon. After a lively cannonade, and a
spirited resistance, the Austrians retreated, and were
pursued as far as the Adda, and lost part of their bag-
gage, 300 horses, and 300 men, killed or taken prisoners,
among whom were several officers.

In the mean time another body of Imperialists reached
Codogna, the head-quarters of General Laharpe, at two
in the morning, and drove in the French videttes. Gene-
ral Laharpe, having mounted" his horse on purpose to
ireconnoitre, ordered a demi-brigade to advance, when
the enemy were beat back and disappeared ; but Laharpe
was killed by a ball. General Berthier repaired imme-
diately to Codogna, pursued the enemy, and took Casal.
with a vast quantity of baggage. The passage of the
Po was a most important operation, and strongly marked
the energy and promptitude of Napoleon. The Dxike
of Parma, who was an eye-witness of the astonishing
successes and rapidity of the republicans, hastened to
make terms with them; but was only able to obtain
them, on promising a large contribution, in money,
horses, and provisions, and also engaging to deliver into
the possession of the French twenty capital paintings to
be selected by the victors; which, together with com-
missaries

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 1^3

xnissaries of peace, were to be instantly sent to Paris, in
order to form a treaty with the republic.

It was on the yth of May, that this arrangentient was
concluded; and the distance between the French and
Austrian arnnies was at this moment so trifling, that
another action seemed inevitable. Defence indeed seems
now to have been the only policy of Beaulieu ; who,
though an intrepid and intelligent officer, could not fail
to be sensible of the consternation with which his troops
must be struck by these rapid advances and successes of
the French. The moment itself was important; for the
road to Milan w:is now open to Napoleon, and it was
evident that if he could once obtain possession of the
capital of Lombardy, the whole slate must fall into his
hands, and the Austrians be totally expelled from Italy.
This, in fact, was now Buonaparte's great aim, as an
achievement of the greatest glory, and one which would,
gratify the thirst of fame and of plunder in his officers and
men, to the utmost of their wishes. Nothing, indeed,
lay between him and that capital of Austrian Italy, but
the shattered remnant of the Imperial army, and which
was scarcely strong enough to risk another battle. This,
however, Beaulieu determined to attempt; and accoS-d-
ingly he took post on the river Adda, over which there
was a very long bridge which he had intended to break
down; but in this he was frustrated by the vigilance
and activity of Napoleon, who prevented its destruction.
The Austrians, however, still had a numerous artillery
to defend the passage of this Bridge of Lodi, near to
which town it was situated.

Major Malcamp, son-in-law to Beaulieu the Austrian
general, had the command of the advanced corps, and
caused several pieces of cannon to be placed at the end
of the bridge, for the purpose of enfilading it; he also
planted some others on the right and left in order to
form a cross fire.' He might, indeed, have destroyed the
bridge; but this he neglected, under an idea that the
French would not even attempt to pass it.

This opinion, though not justified by the result, was not
however an irrational one, as Napoleon did not think of
making the attempt until the arrival of his whole army;
when he assembled his general officers, and communicated
to them his intention of storming the bridge. But this:

▼ OL. II. u his

154 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

his generals disapproved of; so tliat he, still persisting in
his design, actually assembled a council of grenadiers, to
whom he made an animating speech, and, at the same
time, spiritedly stated all the dangers likely to be encoun-
tered in the assault. The grenadiers then answered,
*' Give us some brandy, and we will see what is to be
done." It was given to them ; when 4000 grenadiers
and carabineers, forming themselves into a solid column,
inarched on to the attack.

At nine in the morning of the 10th of May, the battle
began by several attacks on the Austrian posts in front
of Lodi, into which tovi^n they were driven after a vigor-
ous resistance. Even in the town the battle raged for
some lime; but the numerous reinforcements from the
main body of the French soon drove the advanced guard
of the Austrian army across the bridge to their principal
post, where the whole of the Imperialists were drawn up
in order of battle, with formidable batteries on their
right and left flanks, to guard the important passage of
the bridge. On the opposite side a battery was soon
'planted by the orders of Napoleon, when a most violent
cannonade commenced, and was kept up during the great-
est- part of the day, with unceasing obstinacy on both
sides. But now took place that important event which
seems to have stamped the character of Buonaparte, at
that period at least; for, being convinced that, unless he
should succeed in his attempt to pass the bridge, a failure
must ensue, which would be attended with all the ill
consequences of a defeat, he resolved to risk every thing;
and, with a personal promptitude highly honourable to him
as a soldier, instantly formed a corps of chosen troops,
whom he led, in person, to the attack of the bridge, in
the midst of a most murderous fire, both of cannon and
musqetry.

The French had, at this moment, actually been stag-
gered : but the intrepidity displayed by their General, in
some measure, served to confirm their courage, particu-
larly as he was accompanied by all the principal officers
of the army. Thus led on, they rushed to the attack with
irresistible impetuosity ; and, crossing the bridge over
troops of killed and wounded, were, after a long cont<est,
enabled to form in considerable force on the opposite'
side of the rirer, and instantly to break through the line-
♦ u of

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 155

of Austrian artillery. The whole of the Imperialists
now advanced to charge them ; but these were soon put
intp disorder by a charge from the French, and put to
flight on all sides, so that the victory was complete,
though the republicans were notable to improve it to the
utmost, in consequence of the excessive fatigue which
a great part of them had undergone, having marched
upwards of ten leagues that day, previous to the
action.

Night, therefore, put an end to the battle; but not
until the Austrians had lost upwards of, 2000 men, killed,
wounded, and taken prisoners, besides twenty pieces of
cannon; whilst the French themselves sustained a very
serious loss, not only in the general battle, but also in the
mere crossing of the bridge, which cost them upwards of
900 of their best men, who were destroyed on it by the
fire of the Austrian artillery.

Beaulieu, after this defeat, judged it impossible to pre-
vent the advance of the French upon Milan ; h.e there-
fore contented himself with rallying his defeated squa-
drons, and retreating upon Mantua. But even in that
movement he was closely pursued by the French advance,
who having driven him beyond Pizzighitona and Cre-
mona, two places of some strength and importance, took
possession of them both, whilst Napoleon himself, with
the main body, pushed on for Pavia, where he got pos-
session of all the Austrian magazines.

So rapid were these movements, that it was only five
days after the battle of Lodi, the 15th of May, when
Buonaparte reached Milan, a point decisive of the fate of
Lombardy; and at which place he found it necessary,
after a month's hard fighting, to allow his troops a short
time for repose. • <,

His entry into Milan was extremely brilliant. The
National Guard, who were all on duty, lowered their
arms to him, and the nobility and gentry went out to
meet him in their most splendid equipages. The caval-
cade proceeded to the Archducal Palace, where he was
to lodge, attended by several bands of music playing
patriotic marches and symphonies ; and soon after his
arrival, he sat down to a most sumptuous dumer of two
hundred covers. The day was concluded by an elegant
ball, where the ladies vied with each other in expressions
u 2 of

iSf} NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

of patriotism, by wearing French national colours in
every part of their attire. The day following, Buona-
parte received many visits from the citizens, and in the
evening there was a concert of vocal and instrumental
music at the theatre. The next day all the chests, con-
taining the property of the Archduke and the city, were
emptied into the French coffers, and a splendid national
fete was given, the day after, with considerable enthu-
siasm, which finished in the evening with a general illu-
mination ; the whole was terminated by sending depu-
tations into the different towns and villages, to instruct
the people in the principles of liberty and equality.

Napoleon now issued a proclamation to the people of
Lombardy, stating, " That the French republic, which
had sworn hatred to kings, had sworn, at the same time,
fraternity to the people, and respect for property, per-
sons, and religion ; that the French people, regarding the
people of Lombardy as their brethren, had a right to
expect a just return; and he, therefore, should impose a
contribution of 20,000,000 livres, which should be raised,
in equal proportions, by the different districts of Lom-
bardy: the necessities of the army," says he, *' require
it, and it is a slight sum for a country so fertile, consider-
ing, too, the advantages that must result from it."

The indefatigable Napoleon allowed his troops but a
short time for repose at Milan ; as long as he had enemies
to fight, he was determined to allow them no breathing
time. On the 20th of May, he published the following
animating proclamation to his army : —

Soldiers! — You have precipitated yourselves like a
torrent from the summit of the Apennines; you have
driven back and dispersed all who opposed your march.
Piedmont, liberated from Austrian tyranny, has yielded
to her natural sentiments of peace and amity towards
France; Milan is your's, and the republican flag floats
throughout Lombardy ; while the Dukes of Parma and
Modena owe their political existence solely to your
generosity.

" The army, which so haughtily menaced you, finds
no barrier to secure it from your courage: the Po, the
Tesino, and the Adda, have been unable to arrest your
progress for a single day; these boasted ramparts of
jtaly have proved insufficient; you have surmounted

thetn

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 157

them as rapidly as you cleared the Apennines. Such
reiterated success has diffused joy through the bosom of
your country; your representatives have decreed a fes-
tival in honour of your victories, to be celebrated in all
the communes of the republic; there your fathers, your
mothers, your wives, your sisters, and your sweethearts,
rejoice in your successes, and boast with pride, of being
related to you. Yes, soldiers ! you have performed
much — But remains there nothing more for you to
etfect? Shall it be said of us, that we knew how to
conquer, but knew not how to profit by victo^y? shall
posterity reproach us, that Lombardy proved to us
what Capua was to Hannibal? — No! I already see you
rushing to arms; an unmanly repose will tatigue you;
the days lost to glory are lost to your happiness. Let us,
therefore, depart ; we still have forced marches to per-
form, enemies to conquer, laurels to gather, and injuries
to avenge.

" Let those tremble who have wetted the poniards of
civil war in France, and who have cowardly assassinated
our ministers, and burned our ships at Toulon. The
hour of vengeance has arrived; but let the people be
tranquil. We are the friends of all nations, and more
particularly of the decendants of the Brutuses, the Sci-
pios, and the illustrious personages whom we have cho-
sen as models. To restore the Capitol, to replace with
honour the statues of the heroes who rendered it re-
nowned, and to rouse the Roman people, become torpid
by so many ages of slavery, such will be the fruit of
your victories; they will form an epoch to posterity, and
you will have the immortal glory of renovating the fairest
portion of Europe.

" The French nation, free, and respected by all the
world, will give to Europe a glorious peace, that will
indemnify them for the numerous sacrifices they have
made for these six years past. You will then return
to your homes; and your fellow-citizens, when point-
ing to you, will say — He was of the army or
Italy."

Having put his army in motion, Napoleon himself
left Milan on the 24th of May, leaving in that place
only a sufficient number of troops to blockade the castle,
which was still held by the Austrians. Scarcely, how-
ever,

158 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

ever, had he reached Lodi, when General Despinoy ap-
prised him, that, three hours after his departure, the
tocsin was sounded in Lombardy, and that it was indus-
triously circulated, Nice had been taken by the English,
the army of Conde had arrived by Switzerland on the
confines of the Milanese, and Beaulieu, reinforced with
60,000 men, was on his march to Milan. Every where,
and by every possible means, the people were called on
to arm against the French. The nobles had dismissed
their domestics, telling them, that equality did not per?
mit the continuance of their services; and all the par-
tisans of the house of Austria, the Sbirri, and agents of
the customs, appeared in the front. The inhabitants of
Pavia, reinforced with five or six thousand peasants,
invested the citadel, in which there were only 300
French.

At Milan the people destroyed the tree of liberty, tear-
ing in pieces the tri-coloured cockade, and trampling it
under foot. General Despinoy, the commander, mounted
his horse, whilst some patroles put the populace to flight.
The gate leading to Pavia was still in the possession of the
rebels, who every moment expected the peasants, whom
they meant to introduce into the city: to compel them
to submission, a terrible charge was made, and the ex-
ample of a dreadful death restored tranquillity, but the
city was given up to pillage for twenty-four hours.

The moment Napoleon was informed of these pro-
ceedings, he hastened back with SCO horse, and a bat-
talion of grenadiers. On his arrival at Milan, he ordered
a great number of hostages to be arrested, and those
persons to be shot who had been taken in arms; at the
same time intimating to the archbishop, chapter, monks,
and nobles, that they should be responsible for the pub-
lic tranquility. The municipality imposed a fine of
three livres for every domestic discharged; and, order
being thus re-established at Milan, Buonaparte proceeded
to Pavia.

The chief of brigade, Lasnes, who commanded a moving
column, attacked Binasco, which 7 or SOO armed peasants
appeared determined to defend : he charged them, and,
having killed about 100, dispersed the rest. Buonaparte
ordered the village to be instantly burned, which exhi-
bited a horrible spectacle, and, as he says, extorted

many

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 159

many a sigh from the General. He then summoned the
Archbishop of Milan, and sent him to Pavia, witlr the
following proclamation: —

" A misled multitude, destitute of the means of re-
sistance, have been guilty of the greatest excesses in
several communes, contemning the republic, and the
brave army, triumphant over so many kings. This
inconceivable frenzy merits pity: the unhappy people
are led astray, only to conduct them to ruin. The Ge-
neral-in-Chief, faithful to the principles the French
nation have adopted, who do not make war on the peo-
ple, earnestly wishes to leave a gate open to repentance;
but those who, in twenty-four hours, shall not lay down
tlieir arms, and take anew the oalh of obedience to the
French republic, shall be treated as rebels, and their
villages burned. May the terrible example of Binasco
make them open their eyes! its fate shall be that of all
the towns and villages which persist in revolt."

(Signed) " Buonaparte."

In this attempt for the recovery of their liberty, the
insurgents had been most numerous at Pavia ; in which
city they had been so successful as to seize on the citadel,
making prisoners of the small number of Frenchmen
who formed its garrison. In consequence of this, some
thousands of the peasantry entered the city, with a reso-
lution to defend it to the last extremity, and actually
refused admission to Napoleon, when he sent to demand
its surrender. They answered, that while Pavia had walls,
they would not surrender.

General Dammartin therefore formed the 6th battalion
of grenadiers in close column, with two eight-pounders
in their van; and each man having a hatchet in his hand,
the gates were burst open, on which the immense mul-
titude dispersed, and took refuge in caves, and on house-
tops» attempting, but in vain, by throwing down tiles,
to dispute the entry of the troops into the streets.
** Thrice," said Buonaparte, " had the order to set fire
to the city expired on my lips, when the garrison of the
castle arrived, and hastened with cries of joy to embrace
their deliverers. Their names were called over, and none
were found missing: if the blood of a single Frenchma^l
had been shed, I had resolved to raise on the ruins of Pavia
a qolumn on which these impressive words were to be

inscribed-—

160 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

inscribed — Here stood the city of Pavia!" Buonaparte
ordered the whole municipality to be shot, and 200 hos-
tages to be arrested, and sent immediately into France.
The punishments of Buonaparte, for insurrection, were
tremendous: the village of Binasco burned — Milan given
up to pillage, and many of its principal inhabitants put to
death — the municipality of Pavia shot, after the city being
taken, were terrible examples of his severity. Conflagra-
tion and bloodshed were no ordinary or ineffectual
means of enforcing the submision of the conquered states.
Buonaparte now issued a proclamation, purporting, that
the nobles, the priests, and the agents of Austria, had led
astray the inhabitants of these delightful countries; that
the French army, as generous as brave, would treat as
brethren the peaceable natives; but that it would be
terrible, as the fire of heaven, to rebels, and to the villages
that gave them protection. He, therefore, declared all
those villages to be in a state of rebellion which had not
complied with his order of the 25th ; and directed the
generals to march against them the forces necessary to
suppress the insurgents, to set fire to them, and to shoot
upon thespotall who were found with arms in their hands.
All priests and nobles in the rebellious communes were
to be arrested as hostages, and sent into France : all vil-
lages where the tocsin was sounded were to be instantly
burnt; and the generals were made responsible for the
execution of the order. The villages, in whose territory
a single Frenchman was assassinated, were to pay a
triple contribution of the sum they annually paid to the
Archduke, until they should give up the assassin. Every
man found with a musquet and ammunition, was to be
immediately shot, by order of the General commanding
the jurisdiction. Wherever concealed arms were found,
the place was to be condemned to pay thrice its usual
revenue by way of fine; and every house where a mus-
quet was found was to be burnt, unless the proprietor
should declare to whom the arms belonged. All the
nobles and rich persons who should be convicted of ex-
citing the people to revolt, either by discharging their
domestics, or by their discourses against the French, were
to be arrested as hostages, and carried away to France,
and a part of their revenues confiscated.
The Austrian army had now taken post in the Veh,e-

tian

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. igt

tian territory, where Napoleon was resolved to follow
theni. But, before^ he took this step, he thought proper
to address to that government a proclamation, which
stated, that, to deliver the most beautiful country of Eu-
rope from the iron yoke of the haughty house of Austria,
the Frencli army had braved obstacles the most difTi-
cult to surmount: that victory, in unison with justice,
had crowned their efforts: that the wrecks of the hostile
army had retired across the Mincio, and in pursuit of
them the French troops had now entered the Venetian
territory; but they would not forget that a long amity
united the two republics. Religion, government, usages,
cind property, would be respected. " Let the people,"
said he, " be free from inquietude; the severest discipline
will be maintained, and every thing furnished to the army
fully paid for in money:" he, therefore, required the offi-
cers of the Venetian Republic, the magistrates and
priests, to make known his sentiments to the people, in
order that confidence might strengthen the friendship
which had so long united the two nations. " The French
soldier," concluded he, " faithful in the path of honour
as in that of victory, is terrible only to the enemies of
his liberty and his government."

The post which the Imperialists had taken possession
of, and that at least by the connivance of the Venetian
government, was at the town of Peschiera, which was
sufficiently strong to inspire the General with the hope
of maintaining his ground until he should receive re-
inforcements; but the rapidity of plan and of movements
of Napoleon frustrated his object, as he advanced the
French army in great force, in the hopes of either driving
him from Italy, or perhaps of obliging him to surrender,
by cutting off his communication with the Tyrol, to
which the road lay by the eastern end of Laco di Garda.
The river Mincio ran between the invaders and Beaulieu's
army ; and a passage over it was to be effected before
other operations could be commenced: accordingly he
advanced several divisions of the French army towards
the bridge of Borghetto, early in the morning of the 30th
of May; but which the Austrians made strenuous efforts
to defend. A warm action ensued, and Napoleon crossed
it ; when the Austrian general, fully penetrating his plan,
instantly retreated from Peschiera with his whole army,

VOL. II. X crossing

162 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

crossing the Adige, and breaking down all the bridges
as he retired ; which so far prevented the French from
following him, as to permit him to retire into the Tyrol,
evacuating the whole of the Italian territories, and
leaving Napoleon complete master of that ill-fated
country.

On the 3d of June, Napoleon advanced to Verona, of
which he took possession ; and he how determined upon
laying siege to Mantua, which was the last stake possessed
by the Austrians in Italy, and the occupation of which
was likely to confirm the change of mastership in
Italy.

Alarmed at the prospect of losing this important
place, the cabinet of Vienna determined to adopt more
energetic measures ; and accordingly they resolved on
sending a new general into Italy ; for which purpose they
selected Marshal Wurmser, who, although he had been
more than once defeated by the French in Germany, was
still considered as a gallant and experienced veteran.

Napoleon, whose emissaries were every where, soon
got intelligence of this plan ; and he, therefore, resolved
to commence the siege of Mantua instantly, in hopes
of reducing it before the arrival of any succours : for
which purpose he ordered its investment on the 4th of
June 1796, driving in the outposts, and surrounding it on
all sides.

This operation was, however, rather a blockade than
a siege ; for, as he had not battering artillery with him, he
was under the necessity of confining his hostile measures
to the mere cutting oft" the supplies of provisions and
of troops from the garrison ; and even to secure those two
objects, he was obliged, particularly with regard to the
latter, to transfer the war into the Tyrolese, a mountain-
ous tract of country, inhabited by a bold and enter-
prising peasantry, and strongly attached to the Austrian
sovereign.

But here he depended more upon treachery than upon
open force; and on the 14th of June he promulgated an
address, in which he told the people, that he was to cross
their territory, in order to compel the court of Vienna to
a peace, as necessary to Europe as to its own subjects.
It was their own cause he was to defend, for they had
been too long harassed by the horrors of a war, under-
taken

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 163

taken, not for the interests of Germany, but to gratify the
passions of a single family. The French army respected
and loved all nations, and more especially the simple and
virtuous inhabitants of the mountains. " Your religion
and your usages," said he, " shall be every where re-
spected. Our troops will maintain a severe discipline,
and nothing will be taUen without being paid for in
money. You will receive us with hospitality, and we
will treat you with fraternity and friendship; but if
there are any so little acquainted with their real interests
as to take up arms, and treat us as enemies, we will be
terrible as the fire of heaven; we will burn their houses,
and devastate the villages which shall take part in a
war that is foreign to them. Do not suffer yourselves to
be led astray by the agents of Austria. Insure your
country, already harassed by five years of war, from the
misfortunes which must afflict it. Ere long the court of
Vienna, forced to accede to peace, shall restore to the
nations the privileges which it has usurped, and to Eu-
rope the tranquillity it has interrupted."

In these plans, however, Napoleon was for the pre-
sent a little checked by the patriotism of tire people in
his rear; for the inhabitants of the different Imperial
states in Tuscany, and on the borders of Piedmont, and
the Genoese republic, had begun a system of predatory
warfare, by attacking his convoys, and in a great measure
intercepting his communications with France. In con-
sequence of this he halted, and even sent back some
strong detachments to quell those disturbances; by
means of which the object of the insurgents was partly
gained. However, the unfortunate people suffered dread-
fully, for the celerity of the French movements soon
enabled them to put down all opposition, which was
followed by heavy fines and requisitions, accompanied
in many instances with the severest military execution.
By these severities he hoped to terrify the people into
tranquillity, so as to be at liberty to follow his ulterior
plans.

Napoleon now directed his hostility against the Pope;
and, having invaded the territories of his Holiness, he
took possession of Ferrara Bologna and Urbino, and
threatened Rome with his hostile forces. This unpro-
voked attack upon his Holiness strongly marked the
X 2 , character

1 64. NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

character of the republicans, and demonstrated to the
world, that no terms could be kept with them; that
friend or foe were equally the object of their hatred ;
and that, actuated by a thirst of gain and plunder, they
scrupled not to violate the most sacred rights, whether
of nations or individuals. This invasion of the Pope's
territory had the immediate effect of inducing him to
conclude an armistice, instead of opposing the hostile
forces. It vjras accordingly signed on the 23d of June;
and stipulated, that his Holiness should send, as soon as
possible, a plenipotentiary to Paris, to obtain from the
Executive Directory a definitive peace, by offering the
necessary reparations for the outrages and losses suffered
by the French in his territory. . That the ports belonging
to the Pope should be shut against the vessels of the
povjrers at war with the republic, and be open to French
ships. That the French army should continue in pos-
session of the legations of Bologna and Ferrara. That
the citadel of Ancona should be put in the possession of
the French within five days, with its artillery and stores.
That the Pope should give up to the French republic, 100
paintings, busts, vases, or statues, in the choice of com-
missiaries, who should be sent to Rome; among these
articles, the bust, in bronze, of Junius Brutus, and that
in marble, of Marcus Brutus, both placed in the Capitol,
should be particularly comprised ; and also 500 manu-
scripts, to be selected by the same commissaries. And
that the Pope should pay to the French rejjublic
21,000,000 of livres, French money, of which 15,500,000
livres should be in specie, or gold or silver ingots, and
the remaining 5,500,000 livres in provisions, merchandise,
horses, or oxen, as should be determined by the agents
of the French republic.

The attention of Napoleon was now drawn to another
quarter. During these transactions, and whilst he was
engaged in his expedition to Leghorn, Wurmser had
been industriously employed in collecting the wrecks
of the Austrian army in the Tyrol, and had received
powerful reinforcements.

Alter the engagement of Borghetto, the Imperialists
retreated to the mountains, with an intent to dispute the
passes of the Tyrol. They had drawn lines from the head
pf the lake of Garda to the Adige, and fortified them with

infinite

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 165

infinite labour. Massena directed General Joubert to
attack the Imperialists by the Bochetta di Campion,
while the chief of battalion, Marchand, turned the t-nnny
by the right. The French climbed up the steep and
rugged rocks, killed 100 men, and took 'iOO prisoners,
with 400 tents, and all the baggage. During this, the
chief of battalion, Recco, turned the enemy oy tae left,
and, having carried the important post of Belona, killed
300 men, and took 70 prisoners; in consequence of this,
the Austrians abandoned their entrenchments. Such
was the issue of the first battle that took place between
the two armies since the new general had assumed tae
command.

Some days after the attack of the Austrian entrench-
ments, insurrections appeared in the Romagna. G-neral
Augereau ordered a great body of troops, both infaiitty
and cavalry, to set out, with cannon and waggons amply
supplied. A numerous phalanx, presented iheniscivcs,
and, on the morning of the 6th, were attacked by a
column of the republican troops at tewo points, tie one
on the side of Imola, and the other on the side of Ar-
genta. The defence was terrible and obstinate; but,
after an engagement of three hours, disordt^r was ettected
amongst the insurgents, and part were cut to pieces, and
part saved themselves by flight. The town of Lugo was
afterwards surrounded, and delivered up, for tiree Hours,
to be pillaged by the troops. All was devastation, and
every individual found in arms was put to death. The
army returned with an immense booty ; and Bologna ex-
hibited the spectacle of one of the richest fairs that had
been witnessed for many years, the plunder bemg exposed
there for sale.

General Augereau, on his return, circulated an ener-
getic proclamation : he declared, that every person, who
should not deliver up his arms within twenty-four hours,
should be shot. Every town or village, in which a
Frenchman was assassinated, should be burned; that
an inhabitant, convicted of firing on a Frenchman,
should be shot, and his house burned; if a village
armed, it was to be reduced to ashes; all assemblages,
with or without arms, were strictly prohibited, and every
leader of revolt was to be immediately put to death.

The siege of Mantua was now hotly pressed forward :

the

166 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

the garrison made a most gallant resistance. About
4000 men, on the l6th of July, sallied from two of the
gates, and drove in ail the advanced posts of the French,
and afterwards retreated, without much loss, into the
city. On the 18th, at eleven at night. General Serrurier
ordered General Murat and Adjutant-General Vignole,
with 2000 men, to attack the right of the Austrian en-
trenched camp; while General D'Allemagne, at the
head of a strong column, attacked the left. Andreossi,
chief of battalion of artillery, with five gun-boats, gave a
false alarm to the enemy, and, by attracting a great part
of their fire, enabled the Generals D'Allemagne and
Murat to carry disorder into the enemy's ranks. During
this, Chasseloap, chief of brigade of engineers, within 80
toises of the town, and under a fire of grape-shot from
the ramparts, directed the opening of the trenches. At
the same instant, the batteries of St. George, Pradella,
and La Favorite, bei2;an to play against the fortress : the
two first mounted six pieces of cannon, of large calibre,
for firing red-hot balls, and six large mortars ; and the
last, intended to break off all the communication between
the town and citadel, consisted of eight pieces of heavy
artillery. Soon after the batteries opened, several parts
of the town were on fire ; and the Custom-House, the pa-
lace of Colloredo, and several convents, were reduced to
ashes. At day-break, when the trenches were but im-
perfectly traced, the Austrians, collecting a part of their
forces, made a sally, under cover of a dreadful fire from
the ramparts; but the republicans, concealed in ravines,
posted behind banks, and occupying every hollow which
could afford them protection from the enemy's fire,
waited for them in silence, and annoyed them from
their concealed situations : the Imperialists returned
within the walls, and the French, in the following night,
succeeded in completing their trenches.

General Berthier, by direction of the commander-in-
chief, had summoned the governor to surrender, observ.
ing, that, as he was attacked on all sides, he could not
long be in a condition to defend the town, and that an ill-
judged obstinacy would entirely ruin the unfortunate city ;
the laws of war, therefore, imperiously prescribed to him
to surrender it : but if, contrary to expectations, he should
persevere in his resistance, he would be held responsible

for

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

167-

for the blood thus uselessly shed, and for the destruction
of the place: a conduct which should compel the French
General to treat him with all the risours of war. The
Count Canto D'Irles, general commandant, replied, that
the laws of honour and of duty compelled him to de-
fend, to the last extremity, the city entrusted to his
command.

The Field-Marshal Wurmser, on the 29th, directed a
column towards Salo, from which place, and also from
Brescia, he succeeded in dislodging the French ; whilst
another division of his army forced their post at La
Corona, and, passing between the Lake of Garda and the
Adige, compelled the French army to evacuate Verona,
and also to raise the siege of Mantua. By these suc-
cesses the Austrians gained an immense quantity of
artillery and stores, which the French left behind them
in their flight.

The victories of Wurmser placed the French armies
in a very critical situation. On the 1st of August, the
whole army advanced, during which the Austrians de-
tached a considerable force to Castigliona, where Gene-
ral Valette had been left with 1800 men to defend that
important post, and thereby to keep the division of
Wurmser at a distance; but, on the evening of the 2d,
Valette was completely defeated, and he escaped with
only half his troops to Monte-Chiaro. Napoleon, mor-
tified by the unfortunate issue of this affair, instantly
suspended General Valette.

General Wurmser having crossed the Mincio, both
armies faced each other on the morning of the 3d. The
Imperialists, instead of waiting the attack of the French,
surrounded the advanced guard of General Massena'
near Castigliona, and took General Pigeon prisoner, with
three pieces of flying artillery. The French hoped to
penetrate the Austrian line, and the latter extended it
for the purpose of surrounding the French: the Impe-
rialists were thrown into disorder, and made their retreat
to Salo; but, finding that place in the hands of the
French, wandered through the mountains, where many
of them were taken. Meantime General Augereau,
having marched to Castigliona, took that place, and
during the whole day maintained several obstinate ac-
tions with the enemy, who fought with great bravery.

On

168 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

On the 4th, General Despinoy was ordered to pene-
trate into the Tyrol, by the road of Chiusa. General
D'Allemagne,at the head of a battalion of the 11th demi-
brigade, advanced to Gavardo, but was compelled to
retreat with much loss. General St. Hilaire was sent to
Salo, to act in concert with General Guieux, to attack the
enemy's division at Gavardo, and free the road leading to
the Tyrol; when, after a brisk fire of musquetry, the
Imperialists retreated with the loss of some prisoners.

Wurmser collected the remains of his army, and drew
up in order of battle, on the plain between the village of
Scanello, which supported his right, and La Chiesa,
which covered his left, Buonaparte gave orders to con-
centrate all the columns of the army, and hastened, in
person, to Louado, to ascertain the number of troops he
could detach from it; but, on arriving there, a messenger
summoned the commandant at Lonado to surrender,
which was completely surrounded. The moment was
critical; but Napoleon, rightly judging that this was part
of the defeated army which was endeavouring to make
good its retreat, with the greatest presence of mind, and
boldness of conception, immediately told the officer who
was sent in with the summons, that he was mistaken in
supposing that this was only a small detachment of the
French army, for that in fact the main body was there
with-iBuonaparte himself; that it was the General-in-Chief
who now spoke to him, and that all he had to do was to
return instantly to his General, with a requisition that
he should instantly surrender, in order to spare the eftu-
sion of blood. The Austrian officer returned to his
bead-quarters; and the commandant, struck with astonish-
ment at the circumstance, requested a parley to settle
and arrange the terms of surrender : but Napoleon,
aware that delay would unravel the business, insisted
upon unconditional surrender, and even gave orders for
a detachment of grenadiers and artillery to advance.
This decided the affair, and the whole division laid down
their arms!

This circumstance, together with several accounts of
the rapid assembling of the Austrian corps, determined
Napoleon to bring the point to issue, as soon as possible ;
but, under this determination, he affected to be careful
of avoiding an engagement, and even went so far as,

ostensibly.

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 169

ostensibly, to order a retrograde movement, in the hope
that this might induce the advance of the Austrian
army. The stratagem succeeded ; and, on the 5th of
August, the right wmg of the French army was actually
engaged in turning the Austrian left flank, whilst
Wurmser was advancing to attack the main body. No
sooner was the manoeuvre complete, than Napoleon him-
self made an attack in tront, and at the same time ordered
the left to attack the Austrian right, whilst his centre
was advancing at the very moment that the French
right wing, under Serrurier, had opened a fire upon their
rear. Notwithstanding that these masterly manoeuvres
were sufficient to distract the attention of the Austrian
chief, yet his troops behaved with great resolution, main-
taining their ground until they had lost nearly 2000 men,
when they judged it prudent to retreat; an operation in
which they were in some degree unmolested, as the
French troops were too fatigued to follow them.

This was the last action of a series of five days hard
fighting, in which the Austrians lost not less than 6000
men slain, independent of 12,000 prisoners; to which
we may add, nearly 70 pieces of cannon. The losses of
the French were, perhaps, equally great; for, being supe-
rior in numbers, Buonaparte, who was always regardless
of the lives of his troops, was enabled to practise a
peculiar species of warfare, which, though bloody,
could not fail to be ultimately successful. This was,
to bring up in the early part of the day his youngest
troops, with whom, joined to threatening movements of
his reserve, he vi'as enabled to keep the enemy engaged
during the greatest part of the day, until they were
fatigued, when advancing his veteran reserve in solid
columns, he was sure of carrying destruction through
the ranks of an enfeebled enemy.

On the morning of the 6th of August, Augereau and
Massena obliged the Austrians to raise the siege of
Peschiera, and to abandon the line of the Mincio. On
the 7th, Augereau passed the Mincio at Peschiera, while
the division of General Serrurier advanced to Verona,
and arrived there at ten at night, the very moment the
division under General Massena had recovered its former
position: the rear guard of the Austrians was still at
Verona, the gates of which were shut, and the dravv-

voL. II. Y bridgei

170 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

bridges raised. The proved itor of the Venetian republic
having been summoned to open them, answered, that he
could not comply till after the lapse of two hours:
Napoleon, therefore, ordered the gates to be burst open
with cannon-shot. The French seized all the stores of
diflfereni kinds in the place, and afterwards resumed
their former position, while the Imperialists retreated
through the Tyrol. The blockade of Mantua having
been raised by Wurmser, its garrison succeeded in de-
stroying the works of the French, and carried into the
place 140 pieces of heavy artillery, which the latter had
left in their trenches, with provisions for a considerable
period.

The Austrians, notwithstanding these defeats, prepared
to revenge their disasters. Wurmser again advanced with
a considerable force, having his head-quarters at Bassano,
and the various divisions of his army cantoned in the
Venetian territories, and placing a very strong corps at
Alba, on the banks of the Adige. This post was of con-
siderable importance, as it lay in the direct road to Trent,
on which route Napoleon intended to advance; and
Wurmser, therefore, was careful that the corps should
be placed in a good position both on the right and left of
the river, at Saravalle, and at Marco. But he was not
long enabled to occupy it; for, early in September, the
French drove in all the advanced posts, and on the 4th of
the month Napoleon himself crossed the Adige in order
to attack the post at Marco, which was in consequence
evacuated, the troops retreating upon Saravalle^; when an
action took place in which the Austrians, after a most
gallant resistance, were again defeated, and driven from
both positions with a very heavy loss, retreating to Rove-
redo, in which place they hoped to make a stand, but
were again driven from it with great slaughter. This
was even early in the day ; and the distance not being
very great, the Austrians retired upon the city of Trent,
which they attempted to fortify; but Napoleon's rapi-
dity of movements anticipated this resolution, and he
ordered an instant attack.

The resistance was obstinate; but the attack was
impetuous, and repeatedly renewed with fresh troops,
so that the Austrians were forced to retreat until
within a league of the city, after experiencing three

defeats

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 171

defeats in the course of one day, and that with an ac-
cumulated loss of more than 10,000 slam and prison-
ers, as well as much artillery, many horses, and the
greatest part of their baggage. To maintain Trent,
now appeared to Marshal Wurmser to be impractica-
ble ; and accordingly, on the evening of this fatal day,
he resolved upon the retreat, and it was occupied by
Napoleon and his, army on the succeeding morning.
Yet even then a protracted resistance was still mani-
fested by the Austrians, a considerable corps of whom
had posted themselves at the bridge of Lavis, a town
not far distant from Trent; but from this they were
immediately driven by Buonaparte himself, who torced
the bridge"^ and stormed their entrenchments, atter
which he returned to Trent, where be now found him-
self absolutely master of an independent principality
of the German empire.

Napoleon now turned his steps in pursuit of Wurm-
ser, who had posted himself on the other side of the
Brenta at Bassaiio, protected by various defiles in his
front : but even these difficulties were evaded by de-
taching a corps who crossed the river at some distance
from the main point of operations, and thus took the
Austrians in the rear. In which attempt they made a
bold dash at the small fort of Cavela, in a narrow pass,
carrying it by storm ; and the other gorge of the de-
file not being sufficiently wide to admit a ready pas-
sage for the retreating Imperialists, these were forced
to'^ surrender on the 7th of September, consisting of
nearly 4000 men, together with their colours and ar-
tillery.

No difficulties now interposed between the two main
bodies; so that on the 8th of the month Buonaparte
was enabled to make a vigorous attack upon a strong
division of the Austrians in front of Bassano, who in-
deed, protected in some degree by the nature of their
position, made an able and obstinate defence for some
time, but were at length completely routed ; so that
Napoleon pushed forward his advanced corps with
such rapidity upon Bassano itself, that Wurmser merely
made his own escape, carrying with him indeed the
military chest, but leaving behind upwards of 5000 men,
together with thirty-five pieces of artillery, all his
Y 2 military

172 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

military stores, and all his baggage, occupying about
200 waggons.

Nothing was now left for Wurmser but to adopt one
last alternative, one which he had determined on in the
event of his retreat being cut off to the northward ;
this was to retreat in a southern direction, and to throw
himself into Mantua, where he might be able to make
a protracted defence until s-uccours should arrive from
Germany. All the force that he had been able to pre-
serve after the action did not indeed exceed a few
shattered battalions ; but at Montebello, on the Verona
Toad, there was still a large division of his army. This
he was able to rejoin ; and accordingly, on the 9th of
September, he passed the Adige in his way to Mantua,
the passage of the Brenta being impracticable, as both
banks were occupied in force by Buonaparte, who was
also pursuing him rapidly. In this pursuit, however.
Napoleon seems for once to have been out-generaled; for,
having pushed on to a pass where he expected to over-
take him, he was disappointed, and adopted another
route, in which he is said to have been misled by his
guide ; so that Wurmser was enabled to reach Cerea, a
village between Castagnaro and Governoloi Here, how-
ever, the French got before him with a strong division;
but Wurmser immediately attacked and defeated them,
took many prisoners, and forced his way to Castillero, in
spite of another division, which he also overthrew on the
same day, on the evening of which he reached Mantua,
and immediately threw himself into that fortress.

The Austrians having not only recruited the army of
Wurmser, but actually formed a new one under the com-
mand of General Alvinzi, compelled the French to retire
behind the Adige. By this means they again obtained
possession of Trent.

During the early part of November repeated actions
ensued, with uncertain success to each party ; but on the
15th of that month some very hard fighting took place,
previous to the great and decisive battle of Areola.

Napoleon, having learned that the Imperial army,
under Field-Marshal Alvinzi, approached Verona, for
the purpose of forming a junction with the column
of his army in the Tyrol, defiled along the Adige with
the divisions of Augereau and Massena, and, in the night

of

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 173

of the 14th, threw a bridge of boats across the Ronco,
where the French troops passed the river. He was in
hopes of arriving in the morning at Villa-Nova, and by
that means taking the enemy's park of artillery and
magazines, and attacking them in flank and rear: he had
directed General Vaiibois to watch with his division the
point of Rivoli, and keep in check the column of the
Austrian right under General Davidovich ; the castle
and fort of Brescia, and the posts of Verona, Peschiera,
and Porte-Legnago, were in a respectable state of defence.
The head-quarters of General Alvinzi were at Caldero ;
but, having got intelligence of tiie movements of the
French, he had sent a regiment of Croats, and some Hun-
garian regiments, into the village of Areola, a post ex-
tremely strong by its position in the midst of marshes
and canals.

Before day-break, the divisions of Massena and Auge-
reau had completed the passage of the Adige, and
advanced on the two causeways that traverse an imprac-
ticable morass for several miles. The column of the left,
commanded by Massena, first encountered and drove in
the Austrian advanced posts; while the column under
Augereau, after having in like manner compelled their
posts to fall back, was stopped at the village of Areola,
now occupied by the Imperial troops, who defended the
sides of a dyke, along which it was necessary to pass.
A canal, that flanked this dyke on the side of the vil-
lage, hindered the French from turning it; and, to get
possession of it, they had to pass under the enemy's fire,
and cross by a small bridge, upon which the Imperialists
kept up a terrible discharge from several of the adjacent
houses, which they had fortified. The French troops
made several efforts to carry the bridge ; but they were
repulsed in reiterated attacks : it was in vain that their
generals, feeling the importance of the moment, pre-
cipitated themselves, at the head of the coluhins, to in-
duce them to pass the little bridge of Areola; this ex-
cess of courage proved only injurious to themselves;
for they were almost all wounded, and the Generals
Verdier, Bon, Vern, and Lasnes, carried out of the field.
Augereau, laying hold of a standard, advanced to the
extremity of the bridge, where he remained for several
minutes, without producing any effect: it was, however,

absolutely

17 1 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

absolutely necessary to pass this bridge, or talce « cir-
cuitous route of several leagues, which would have made
the whole operations miscarry. Buonaparte, apprised
of the difficulties experienced by Augereau, ordered
General Guieux to descend the Adige with a corps of
2000 men, and cross the river, under the protection of
light artillery, at a ferry two miles below Ronco, and op-
posite Albaredo: he was then to bear down on the vil-
lage of Areola, and turn it; but this march was long, and
the day far advanced: it was, however, indispensable to
carry Areola, in order to get on the enemy's rear. Buo-
naparte, therefore, hastened to the spot ; he asked the
soldiers, if they still were the conquerors of Lodi ? His
presence produced an emotion of enthusiasm an)ong the
troops, which confirmed him in his determination to risk
the passage: he leaped off his horse, and, seizing a
standard, rushed forward at the head of the grenadiers
towards the bridge, crying, " Follow your General.''*
The column moved forward a moment, and had reached
within thirty paces of the bridge, when the terrible fire
of the Austrians made it recoil, at the very instant the
enemy were on the point of flying. Generals Vignole
and Lasnes were wounded, and Muiron, the General's
aide-de-camp, was killed. Buonaparte himself was
thrown from his horse into a marsh, from whence he ex-
tricated himself with ditficulty, under the enemy's fire :
he mounted again, and the column rallied ; but the Im-
perialists did not advance from their entrenchments, to
take advantage of the fortunate moment, as they ought
to have done.

The French were obliged to renounce the design of
forcing the village in front, and to wait the arrival of
General Guieux, who, although he did not reach Areola
till night, succeeded in carrying the village, taking four
pieces of cannon, and a great number of prisoners. The
Austrian General persevered in his object; and Buona-
parte thought it expedient to evacuate the village, on
learning that the Imperialists had ren)oved all their
baggage and magazines to Vicenza, in order to advance
towards Ronco. At day-break, on the 16th, the Aus-
trians attacked the French in every direction. The
column of General Massena on the left defeated tlie
enemy, after an obstinate contest, and pursued them to

the

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. I75

tlie gates of Caldero, taking 1500 prisoners, with six
pieces of" cannon, anci four standards. Augereau's
column, in like manner, repulsed the Austrians, but
could not recover the village of Areola, notwithstanding
repeated attempts. A judgment may be formed of the
firmness displayed on both sides, from the different at-
tacks that happened at this village, where several gene-
rals were wounded. The same evening, Buonaparte, at
the head of a column, carrying fascines, advanced to the
canal on the rigiit of the Adige, with a design to effect a
passage, but found it impracticable from the rapidity of
the current. With this column, Adjutant-General Vial
afterwards traversed the canal with the water up to his
neck, but was obliged to return without effecting a
diversion of any consequence. In this expedition it was,
that Elliot was killed.

In the night the French General ordered bridges to be
thrown over the canals and marshes, and a new attack was
planned for the day following. General Massena was to
advance by the causeway on the left, while Augereau,
for the third time, attacked the village ; and a third
column was to cross the canal, in order to turn the village.
Part of the garrison of Porto Legnago, with fifty dra-
goons, and four pieces of artillery, received orders to
make a diversion, by turning the enemy's left. Early in
the morning the engagement commenced; the Imperial-
ists, having vigorously attacked the centre, obliged it to
fall back, on which Buonaparte drew the 32d from the
left, and placed it in ambush in the woods. The mo-
ment the Austrians, in impelling back the centre, were
on the point of turning the right of the French, General
Gardanne, at the head of the 32d, sallied from his am-
buscade, and, taking them in flank, made a dreadful
carnage. The Austrians' left was supported by the
marshes, and kept in check the French right by their
superior numbers. Buonaparte ordered Hercules, the
otficer of his guides, to select twenty-five men of his
company, and, advancing half a league along the Adige,
turn all the marshes, which supported the Austrian left,
and fall afterwards at full gallop on the enemy's backs, at
the same time making several trumpets sound. This
manceuvre was completely successful. The Austrian in-
fantry gave way, but, altlKxigh retreating, still made

resistance ;

176 NA!»OLEON feUONAPARTE.

resistance; when a small column, of eight or nine hun-
dred men, with four pieces of cannon, whom the general-
in chief had directed to defile through Porto-Legnago,
in the rear of the Imperialists, succeeded in putting them
to the rout. General Massena, who had returned to the
centre, marched straight to the the village of Areola,
which he took, and pursued the enemy nearly as far as
the village of St. Bonifacio.

In short, this day may almost be considered as decisive
of all the field operations, as the Austrians had 8000 men
killed and wounded, besides 5000 taken prisoners; whilst
their loss of stores was immense. On the part of the
French too, particularly in officers, from the nature of
the contest, the loss was serious ; insomuch that Napo-
leon himself acknowledged in his dispatches, that he had
scarcely a general left fit for duty, in consequence of
death and wounds. We may indeed observe, that the
greatest praise is due to both parties both for courage
and skill; and perhaps, so long was the contest doubtful,
nothing but Massena's defeat of the Austrian right,
which thus enabled Buonaparte to concentrate his
whole force, could have insured him the fortune of the
day.

The siege of Mantua was now prosecuted with great
vigour, and every exertion was made by the Austrian
government to save this important place. Having rein-
forced General Alvinzi, that officer was enabled, once
more, to put his army in motion ; and his object was, if
he could not compel the French to raise the siege, at
least by making a diversion, he might enable the garrison
to etfect their escape. Napoleon, however, was too vigi-
lant and active not to penetrate into his enemy's design.
Having, therefore, left a force sufficient to blockade
Mantua, he pushed on for the banks of the Brenta, from
whence Alvinzi had already advanced, though in the
depth of winter, with an army of about 50,000 men.
This army was not indeed composed of veterans; but it
was filled with those who had joined him upon a m6st
patriotic principle, as great numbers of the young Aus-
trian nobility had entered it for the purpose of supporting
their country, and of proving their loyalty to their
sovereign; and Alvinzi thought it practicable, by early
movements, to secure his junction with the troops then

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 177

in Mantua, which would have brought the two hostile
armies nearly upon an equality. The march of the
Austrians was therefore very rapid, particularly as Al-
vinzi well kuf w that every thing depended on his reach-
ing Mantua before the reinforcements expected from
France could join Buonaparte; indeed, so well conducted
was his advance, that a very powerful division of his
army had arrived before Legnago on the river Adige, on
the Sth of January, where the French army had a post
of some strength, sufficient to enable them to support
their position through the whole of the day, retiring at
night into the town, from whence intelligence was sent to
Augereau, who then commanded the whole of the force
on the line of the Adige. This general had been for
some time expecting reinforcements from Napoleon, but
these not having yet arrived, he judged it most prudent
to concentrate his force ; a prudent measure, as Napo-
leon at this moment had so much to attend to, that
nothing but his extraordinary activity would have en-
abled him to surmount the surrounding difficulties.

Perhaps Buonaparte was never excelled by any ge-
neral in the rapidity of movements, both of himself
and army, at this moment. His fust object was per-
sonally to inspect all his posts round Mantua, so as to
guard against danger from any sortie of the garrison in
liis absence ; after which he immediately sent off a very
powerful reinforcement to the banks of the Adige, and.
proceeded himself to Verona, where he arrived on the
isth of January, just as the Austrian army in that
quarter had made an assault upon the whole of Massena's
posts.

On the 13th the Austrians threw a bridge across the
river at Auguiari, a league distant from Porto-Legnago,
by which bridge their advanced guard passed; and, in
the evening of the same day, Buonaparte learned, that the
post of La Corona had been attacked by forces so su-
perior in number, that General Joubert was forced to
evacuate it, in order to assume a position in front of
Rivoli ; and that he had executed this movement, in the
face of the enemy, with a steadiness, which evinced the
desire the troops felt to engage the Imperialists in a place
more favourable to the inferiority of their number. The
General received intelligence, that the enemy had com-

TOL. II. z menced

178 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

menced a lively cannonade on the Adige, between Ronco
and Porto-Legnaigo. The forces ranged in front of
General Joubert no longer left any uncertainty as to the
intentions of the Austrians. It was plain, that Alvinzi
wished to penetrate by Rivoli with his principal forces,
which exceeded more than double the number of those
commanded by Joubert, and in this direction to reach
Mantua. Buonaparte instantly formed his resolution;
anrl, having given instructions on the Lower Adige and
at Verona, put in motion a part of the division of Ge-
neral Massena. He ordered the troops under the com-
mand of General Key, at Desanzano," to advance in
ditTereut columns to Rivoli ; and, at eight o'clock in the
evening, set out in person with all his etat-major for that
place, which he reached at midnight. The dispositions
of General Joubert were no longer necessary after the
arrival of these reinforcements, and of General Buona-
parte in person, who, having assumed the command,
directed Joubert to resume the important position in
front of the plateau of Rivoli, and particularly the post
of San Marco, that had been evacuated. This post was
the key of the position of the plateau, the only point by
which the enemy could advance their cavalry and artil-
lery, between the Adige and the lake of Garda.

Napoleon, accompanied by his generals commanding
the divisions and his etat-major, spent the night in re-
connoitring the ground, and the position of the Imperial-
ists, who occupied a formidable line, nearly 20,000
strong, having their right at Caprino, and their left be-
hind San-Marco. Alvinzi had, several days before,
formed his plan of attack for the 13th, when he hoped to
surround General Joubert's division. This plan he now
endeavoured to execute, without entertaining a suspicion
of the arrival of the French General in person, or of the
reinforcements Joubert had received at the moment the
engagement began. The order given to retake the small
posts in front of the plateau of Rivoli, occasioned, during
the whole night, a fire of musquetry between the ad-
vanced posts. But the re-capture of the position of San
Marco by the French, at five in the morning, produced a
general battle ; an event which began to give great un-
easiness to Alvinzi, as it necessarily retarded, for some
hours, his plan of attack,

• General

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 179

General Joubert, at the head of a part of his column,
attacked the Imperialists along the line of the heights of
San Marco. The rest of his division occupied the centre
of the line, the left of which was to be successively rein-
forced from the divisions of Massena and General Rey.
The 18th demi-brigade received orders to advance by the
left of the line of attack, and follow the directions of
General Buonaparte, which were, not to spread the
troops, but only to extend their flanks. General Joubert
having made considerable progress along the heights on
the right bank of the Adige towards La Corona, the rest
of the line likewise advanced, and obtained some suc-
cesses: the centre occupied the heights that command
the village of St. Martin. The 14th demi-brigade, under
Berthier, in the centre, had directions to act according to
circumstances. 71iis reserve advanced, having previ-
ously detached a battalion to attack St. Martin the mo-
ment the left of the French line was losing ground; this
movement was the more dangerous, as the troo|)s that
followed the Austrianson the heights to the left had lost
some advantages. Buonaparte proceeded, in person, to
the left; but, in the mean time, the 29th and 85th demi-
brigades had fallen back : the battalion of the 14th, which
had driven the Imperialists from St. Martin, was repulsed,
but kept the enemy in check by its spirited fire from the
hedges surrounding the village. The height occupied by
this demi-brigade, covered the only opening by which
the right, under General Joubert, could retire; and the
Imperialists had collected all their forces to bear down
on the centre. Buonaparte, feeling the importance of
this post, and observing the critical situation in which
the troops were placed, being completely turned on their
left by a part of the enemy's right, hastened to the place,
at the same time ordering the 32d demi-brigade, that
had arrived from Verona, to advance immediately, under
the command of General Massena: they instantly forced
the enemy to retire, and the posts formerly occupied by
the 29th and S5th were recovered; the right, which was
on the elevated bank, had remarked the momentary
disorder of the left, and had fallen back to the height in
the centre, and defiled by the passage, covered by the
height, occupied by the 14th demi-brigade. General
JBerthier had dispatched the 2d battalion to favour the
? 2 retreat

180 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

retreat of the troops occupying the hedges of St. Martin,
while he, with the 3d, occupied the height in the centre,
and, surrounded by the enemy's centre, and a part of
their right, maintained its position for several minutes,
but the right of the republicans was driven to Rivoli in
great disorder.

The battle had now lasted three hours: one of the
Austrian columns, which had filed along the Adige, pro-
ceeded to the plateau of Rivoli, with an intent to carry
it, and, in this direction, threatened to turn the right and
centre. Buonaparte ordered General Leclerc to charge
the Imperialists, if they succeeded in carrying the pla-
teau, while Lasalle, chief of squadron, was directed, with
a detachment of dragoons, to take in flank the Austrian
infantry, who attacked the French centre. At the same
instant Joubert sent down some battalions from the
heights of San Marco, who precipitated themselves on
the plateau; and the Imperialists, who had already pene-
trated to it, were driven into the valley of the Adige,
leaving a great number of dead, and part of their artil-
lery. Nearly at the same moment, the Austrian column,
which had been some time on its march to turn the
French, and cut off their retreat, formed in order of bat-
tle behind Rivoli, in the rear of the French, and covered
all the heights between the Adige and the Lake of Garda,
so that the French line was completely turned, and all
communication cut off with Verona and Peschiera: two
battalions of the Austrians, confident of success, ex-
clamied, " We have them!" and, proceeding by the
valley of the Adige, advanced v?ith fury to carry the
entrenchments of Rivoli, but were repulsed in three at-
tacks. Meanwhile, Buonaparte had planted four pieces of
light artillery, that cannonaded the right of the Austrian
line. The 18th, and some troops of the 75th demi-
brigade, under Generals Brune and Mounier, advanced,
in three columns ; and, attacking the right wing of the
Austrian line, that occupied an advantageous height
in the rear of the French, in an instant the whole Aus-
trian column, consisting of 4000 men, were taken pri-
soners.

This ended the general battle, giving victory to the
French; but still the dispersed Austrian corps, if again
permitted to re-unite, might have been sufficiently strong

to

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 181

to advance to Mantua, or perhaps to push on for Ferrara,
where they might form a junction with th(- Ronjan
army then advancing. Nay, even their rt^treat into the
Tyrol was an object of too much consequence to be
permitted; and Buonaparte, therefore, with his accus-
tomed rapidity in following up the career of victory,
immediately determined on sending out ditierent divi-
sions in pursuit of the retiring troops.

The main body of the Austrians, after the battle, took
post at Cortona, not far distant from the scene of action,
where Alvinzi hoped that he might be enabled to collect
great part of his force: to prevent this was, however,
the first object of Napoleon's care; and, accordmgly,
during the night immediately after the battles, he ad-
vanced a strong corps, under Joubert, to attack them in
front, whilst another strong division was, by a rapid
inarch, taking a sweep to assault them in rear. These
combined movements were put in force even at an eai ly
hour the nejtt morning, the 15th ; and though the Aus-
trians made a gallant defence, yet, overpowered by num-
bers, they were forced at length to give way; and though
some of them were able to make jjood their retreat into
the Tyrol, yet a considerable portion of the corps was
obliged to surrender, to the number of fiOOO, as has been
assertfed.

Buonaparte had given the direction of the manoeuvre
to Joubert, whilst he himself, with a strong force, set off
in pursuit of General Provera and his division, an officer
who had distinguished himself so much in the preceding
year by his defence of an old castle into whicii he had
thrown himself. On the present occasion the division
under the command of Provera did not exceed 10,000
men, yet with this force he formed the bold resolution
of pushing on for Mantua, and had already passed the
Adige in spite of a French corps stationed on its banks.
In his way, unfortunately, he fell in with Augereau on
the 15th, in the morning; but although that General
succeeded in cutting off his rear, the judicious Provera
actually saved his van and centre by a running fight,
and though he lost 14 pieces of cannon, and upwards of
2000 men, he was able to reach the French entrench-
ments round Mantua, about noon on the day aftef the
great battle. Here he displayed a degree of courage'

and

182 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

and prudence highly honourable: for though his force
was not more than 6 or 7000, includmg cavalry and
infantry, with 22 pieces of artillery, and stiU encum-
bered with baggage and ammunition, he boldly resolved
to cut his way through the blockading army by the sub-
urb of St. George, so as at once to have secured an
entrance into Mantua. In this, however, his little force
met with a repulse ; but the garrison having witnessed
Jiis daring attempt, immediately made a sortie in his
favour, and attacked the French post of La Favorita on
one side, whilst he assaulted it on the other. General
Victor instantly pushed on with a considerable French
force, and succeeded in repulsing the sortie before a
direct communication could be established ; for Serrurier
having advanced witli a reserve between St. George and
La Favorita, Provera was detained so long by this unex-
pected contest, that a junction of the French corps on
that side immediately took place, and the Austrian rear
being thus attacked, their force was unable to contend
against the surrounding enemy, and Provera was obliged
to surrender his whole division.

After the fatal days of the 14th, 15th, and 16th of Ja-
nuary, the Austrians, wholly incapable of undertaking
any thing, or of even preserving the places they held,
thought only of saving the wrecks of their army. Gene-^
ral Alvinzi secured himself in the defiles of Tyrol; and
all the troops between the Adige and the Brenta fell on
this last river, and marched towards the Tervisano: they
were not immediately followed by the French, who also
required some time to recover from the losses and fa-
tigues they had sustained. In two days, however, they
began to pursue the Austrians, whose rear-guard they
overtook on the 26th of January. They attacked it at
Carpedenolo ; and, after a very smart engagement, they
killed, by their own account, 200 men, and took 900.
At the same time General Joubert, marching up the
banks of the Adige, followed the Austrians into Tyrol.
He attacked their advanced posts at Avio, and made
some prisoners, amounting, as he reported, to 400. He
continued to advance for some days, and successively
took possession of the towns of Torbole, Roveredo, and
Trent, as fast as they were evacuated by the Austrians.
If we may believe that General, they left in this last

town

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. igs

town 2000 sick or wounded, and lost in their retreat 1800
men taken prisoners.

The Generals Massena and Augereau marched, the
first towards Feltre, and the other towards Treviso, and
continued, as well as Joubert, to advance till they had ar-
rived before the new defensive position which the Aus-
trians took behind the rivers Adige, Lavis, and Piave,
Their line extended from Botzen or Bolzano (the point
where the defiles of Tyrol become impenetrable, or at
least cannot be turned) to the mouth of the Piave, which
falls into the Adriatic Sea, above and near to Venice.
They divided their army into three principal bodies, one
of which defended Tyrol, and another Friuli, where they
placed the greatest number of their forces. The third
body stationed between the two first, covered the space
inclosed between the sources of the Lavis and the Piave.
It was in this position, defended by three rivers, and a
chain of almost inaccessible mountains, that the Aus-
trians, obliged to abandon Mantua and Italy to the
French, and having no other view than that of covering
their hereditary dominions, concentrated their remaining
forces, and waited for new ones. Their army was still
under the command of Lieutenant-General Alvinzi,
whom his Royal Highness the Archduke Charles re-
placed soon after.

The disasters and retreat of the Austrians deprived
them of all hope of preserving Mantua. This place, for
which the house of Austria had made such great exer-
tions, and had suffered such considerable losses, was at
length obliged to capitulate: its garrison much dimi-
nished by the sword, but still more by disease, had been
long deprived of common necessaries, and reduced to
eat horse flesh. Overwhelmed with fatigue, misery, and
want, it had borne them all in the hope of preserving to
the Emperor a place on which depended his power in
Italy. It was reduced to the last extremity, when the
Generals Alvinzi and Provera made a last effort for its
relief. The event of this expedition reduced Marshal
Wurmser to the hard necessity of surrendering a fortress
which he had defended during four months with a perse-
verance and activity worthy of the highest applause.
The honourable conduct of this veteran officer secured
to him the respect even of his enemies ; and the capitula-
tion

184 NAPOLEON BUONAPAHTE.

tion which they granted him bore testimony to the
high estimation with which he had inspired them*
It was signed on the 2d of February ; the principal ar-
ticles were — That the garrison, consisting of 18,000 men,
should become prisoners of war, but be conducted into
the territories of the Emperor, to be there exchanged io
preference to all others. That Marshal Wurmser, all the
Generals, the officers of the staff, 200 cavalry, and 500
individuals at the choice of Wurmser, should not be
prisoners of war, and should return into the Austrian
dominions, with six pieces of cannon and their artillery*
men; that all the Generals and officers should keep their
swords and baggage, and the privates of the infantry
retain their knapsacks, and those of the cavalry their
cloak-bags. Besides these conditions, Wurmser obtained
advantageous terms for the inhabitants of Mantua, and
secured to them the exercise of their religion, and the
enjoyment of their property and privileges.

Napoleon having no longer any opponents in Italy,
resumed the execution of those plans of plunder and dis-
memberment, which had been concerted either by him-
self or by the leaders of the French republic. After the
defeat of the Generals Alvinzi and Provera, he had hast-
ened to reinforce the troops which he had stationed in
the Duchies of Bologna and Ferrara, and had dispatched
General Victor thither with orders to penetrate into
Romagna. Shortly after, he went himself to take the
command of this detachment, in order to give more
dispatch and greater success to the expedition. He was
preceded by two proclamations : in the first of which,
after having enumerated the injuries which the French
pretended to have received from the Pope, he declared
that the armistice, concluded between his Holiness and
the French republic in the month of June preceding, was
at an end. The second of these proclamations exhibits
so well the style and character of Buonaparte, that we
give it entire.

" The French army is going to enter the territoriei of
the Pope. It will be faithful to the maxims which it
professes; it will protect religion and the people. The
French soldier carries in one hand the bayonet, sure pledge
of victory, and offers with the other to the different towns
and villages, peace, protection, and safety : woe be to

those

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. I85

those who shall disdain it! and who, seduced by men
•of the deepest hypocrisy and villainy, shall wantonly
draw down upon their dwellings the horrors of war, and
the vengeance of an array which has in the space of six
months made prisoners 100,000 of the best troops of the
Emperor, taken 400 pieces of cannon, 110 standards^
and destroyed five armies.

" Art. 1. Every village or town in which the tocsin
shall be sounded at the approach of the French army,
shall be instantly burnt, and the magistrates shot.

" 2. The parish in which a Frenchman shall be as-
sassinated shall be declared in a st<ite of war ; a flying
column shall be dispatched thither, hostages shall be
taken, and an extraordinary contribution levied.

" 3. All the Priests, Monks, and ministers of religion,
.of whatever description, shall be protected and secured
in their respective stations, if they conduct themselves
according to the principles of the gospel. Should they
be the first to traiigress them, they will be subjected to
military execution, and treated with greater severity than
other citizens."

On the 1st of February, Napoleon made himself mas-
ter of Imola ; and marched the next day to attack Faenza,
in tront of which the Papal troops were entrenched be-
hind the river Senio. These troops, which had never
before been in action, ventured nevertheless to wait for
the conquerors of the Austrians, and were desirous of
shewing that report had not done justice to them. As
soon as the French appeared on the left bank of the
Senio, they were cannonaded from the batteries which
the troops of the Pope had erected on the opposite bank.
Buonaparte brought against them a legion of Italians
which he had raised in Lombardy : this body of troops,
which, like its opponents, had never been before engaged,
but which was supported by the French, attacked in
concert with them this little army, which was quickl}?-
broken and put to flight. It lost 14 pieces of cannon,
1000 prisoners, and 400 killed or wounded. The French
lost only 40 men; such at least was the account of Buo-
naparte, who also asserted that several priests had been
killed in the field of battle.

After this easy victory, the French arrived under the
walls of Faenza, the inhabitants of which assembled at

VOL. II. A A the

186 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

the sound of the tocsin, and flew to arms. Buonaparte
forced the gates of the city with cannon ; he had not the
barbarit}- to put in execution the threats contained in
his proclamation, and did not give up the town to pillage.
He contented himself with assembling all the Priests
and Monks, whom he harangued, and brought back, as
he said, to the principles of the Gospel. He thought
himself so sure of the effect which his speech had pro-
duced upon them, that he dispatched two superiors of
religious orders, one to Ravenna, and the other to Ce-
senna, to prepare the inhabitants for his reception.

After the capture of Faenza, the French advanced into
Romagna, and possessed themselves of the towns of
Forii and Cesenna, near which runs the famous Rubicon.
They pursued their march the following days without
meeting with any opposition from the Papal troops,
which, being divided into several separate small bodies,
were not able to make any effectual resistance. Most
of these corps retreated "at the approach of the French ;
and those whom the latter came up with, were either
taken or dispersed. After having traversed Romagna,
Buonaparte entered into the duchy of Urbino; he met
with no farther opposition ; advanced into the march of
Ancona, and made himself master of the town of that
name, where he took 1200 of the Papal troops, and a
great quantity of cannon and arms of all sorts, that place
being one of the principal arsenals in the Pope's territories.
On the nth. Napoleon sent a detachment to take posses-
sion of Loretto, in the hope of finding there the boasted
treasure of the Holy Virgin ; but care had been taken a
few days before, to remove the greatest part of it. The
French found nothing there but the statue in wood of the
Madonna, some relics, and some valuable articles, worth
nearly 100,000 livres (^^4000 sterling), which General
Berthier estimated nevertheless at a million {o£40,000
sterling).

After the taking of Ancona and Loretto, the French
continued to advance into the territories of the Church,
directing their march to Macerata and Foligno. Their
progress, which nothing could stop, there being no pro-
bability that the Pope's troops would dispute the pas-
sage of the Apennine, filled Rome with the greatest
alarms. In the person of Napoleon they saw Brennus

and

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 187

and Attila. They represented him to themselves arriving
in the capital of the Christian world and of the arts,
making himself master of its riches, destroying its monu-
ments, and overturning the pontihcal throne. All the
rich and considerable persons of Rome preparetl to quit
that city; and his Holiness himself n)ade dispositions
for placing his person in safety. All the riches of Rome
and Loretto were packed up, and sent to Terracina. At
the same time that the Pope took measures to escape the
tempest, he neglected nothing to avert it. Foreseeing all
the consequences which might result from the arrival of
the French at Rome, he thought it right to prevent it by
making all the sacrifires which they exacted from him.

Buonaparte, on his side, was not less disposed to tf nni-
nate his expedition by a treaty. His object was less to
advance to Rome, than to excite apprehensions in the
Pope of his doing so, and to determine him to agree to
the conditions which the French republic chose to pre-
scribe. Buonaparte felt that he could not, without impru-
dence, penetrate farther into the Papal territories. What-
ever victories he had gained over the Austrians, and how-,
ever weakened they were, it was possible they might at-
tempt to take advantage of his absence, and the distance of
a part of his army. In addition to this, he would have been
obliged, for the purpose of securing the obedience of a
vast country, and a city so populous as Rome, to maintain
a considerable body of troops in that place, and would in
that case have weakened his army, and have afforded the
Austrians the opportunity of attacking it with advantage.
If he had left in the dominions of the Church only a small
body of men, he would have had reason to apprehend
that, their weakness being known, the Pope's troops might
asesmble, and being supported by a people who were nu-
merous and ill-disposed to the French, might cut off
the return of the latter, engaged as they would be in a
difficult country, and where every thing was against
them. Being unable at any rate to employ more than
one month in this expedition, Buonaparte, instead of un-
dertaking an uncertain and dangerous conquest, was
right in preferring a treaty, which gave him without risk
all the advantages that he could expect I'rom the war.
He had, besides, received from Paris instructions conform-
able to these views, the Courts of Madrid and Naples
A A 2 having

1S8 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

having made advances to the Executive Directory in fa-
vour of the Pope.

These considerations induced Napoleon to take ad»
vantage of the first pacific overture made by his Holiness.
Having received from Cardinal Mathei a letter as affect-
ing as it was dexterous, he returned an answer on the 13th
of February, and announced to him that he granted bis
Holiness five days for the purpose of sending him a ne-
gotiator provided with full powers to treat for peace.
Two days afterwards, he received the following letter
fi'om the Pope himself: —

*' Dear Sir — Health and apostolical benediction.
Being desirous to terminate in an amicable manner our
existing dift"erences with the French republic, by the
retreat of the troops which you command, we send and
depute to you as our plenipotentiaries, two ecclesiastics
(Cardinal Mathei, who is perfectly known to you, and
Mon Signor Galeppi), and two secular persons (the Duke
Don Louis Braschi our nephew, and the Marquis Camillo
Massimi), who are invested by us with full power to con-
cert with you, to promise and subscribe to such conditions
as we hope will be just and reasonable, binding ourselves
by our faith and word to approve and ratify them in spe-
cial form, that they may be valid and inviolable at all
times. Being assured of the sentiments of good-will
which you have manifested, we have abstained from any
removal from Rome, and by that you will be persuaded
how great is our confidence in you. We finish by as-
suring you of our greatest esteem, and by giving you the
paternal apostolical benediction. Pius VI.

" Given at St. Peter of Rome, the 12th of February
1797, the 22d year of our pontificate."

This letter, and the arrival of the negotiator, was
quickly followed by the conclusion of peace; and Buona-
parte returned to the Pope the following answer: —

" Most Holy Father— I ought to thank your Holi-
ness for the obliging things contained in the letter which
you have given yourself the trouble to write to me. The
peace between the French republic and your Holiness has
been just signed. I congratulate myself on having been
able to contribute to your particular repose. I conjure
your Holiness to distrust those persons who, at Rome,
are sold to the courts which are enemies to France, or

who

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. igg

who allow themselves to be exclusively guided by those
malicious passions which always bring on the ruin of
states. All Europe knows the pacific and conciliating
virtues of your Holiness. The French republic wiii, I
hope, be always one of the truest friends ot Romp. I
send my aide-de-camp, chief of brigade, to express to
your Holiness the esteem and perfect veneration ivhich I
have for your person ; and I beset^ch you to behevc tiie
desire which I have to give on every occasion proofs of
that respect and veneration with which I have the honour
to be your very obedient servant,

" Buonaparte, General-in-Chief,
" From the head-quarters at Tolentino,
February 19."

The articles of peace were nearly the same with those
of the armistice concluded in the month of June prece-
ding, of which this treaty might be said to be only a rati-
fication. The principal conditions were — That the Pope
should give up irrevocably to France, Avignon, the Com-
tat Venaissin, the duchies of Bologna and Ferrara, and
the legation of Romagna. That he should pay in two
months 15,000,000 of French livres over and above the
21,000,000 stipulated in the armistice concluded in the
month of June, of which 5,000,000 only had been paid.
That the French should remain in possession of the cita-
del of Ancona till peace should be established on the
continent, and of the provinces of Macerata, Umbria,
Perugio, and Camerino, till the 36,000,000 due from the
Pope should be entirely paid. They likewise confirmed
the articles which stipulated the gift of the statuts, pic-
tures, and precious manuscripts. The French made be-
sides, as Buonaparte wrote word, a good harvest of these
in Romagna, the duchy of Urbino, and the march of An-
cona.

Such was the price at which the Pope, who had never
declared war against the French, and who had only made
it for the purpose of self-defence, was obliged to purchase
the preservation of the throne of St. Peter. It cost nearly
the third part of the dominions of the Church, and more
than one year of his revenues, to satisfy the ambitious
views and the rapacity of the French government.

After having acquired by this treaty new pecuniary
means for the subsistence of his army, from the chests of

which

190 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. |

which a treasurer named Flachat had just stolen 6,000,000
francs {£950,000 sterling), Napoleon employed himself in
laying also under contribution theGrand-Duke of Tuscany
and the republic of Venice. In this manner did the
French accomplish their purpose of making this campaign
at the expence of the neutral powers ; and thus did the
latter, for the sake of a neutrality which was constantly
violated, make greater sacrifices than it would have cost
them to defend the entrance of Italy against the French,
or to drive them from thence after they had invaded it.

The campaign of 1796 having thus put the whole of
Italy in the possession of the French, Napoleon had
hardly finished his business with the Pope before his
presence was required in other quarters. The house of
Austria, which had made so many efforts to retrieve its
broken fortunes, was determined to make another trial to
recover its lost possessions. That court accordingly re-
organized its army, and added powerful reinforcements
of veteran troops; the command of which was given to
the Archduke Charles, the Emperor's brother.

The Archduke had much to contend against at the
opening of the campaign ; for, however numerous and
well appointed his army was, yet a considerable part of
it had been much disheartened by the late aflair at Rivoli ;
so that when he joined the advance, he found it posted
with great caution on the northern bank of the river
Piava, merely holding that ground whilst waiting for re-
inforcements. So much reduced was it indeed by the
recent losses, that, although the French army of observa-
tion was not very numerous, it was sufficiently powerful
to prevent the crossing either of the Piava or Lavisio by
any Austrian detachments, demonstrations for which
purpose were sometimes made both in February and in
March 1797-

No sooner did Napoleon hear of the junction of the
Archduke's reinforcement of the Austrian army, than he
resolved at once to march to the attack before any other
expected reinforcements could join ; and he therefore
divided bis whole force into three corps, ordering them
to proceed to the banks of the Piava by distant routes.
To Massena the command of the first corps was given ;
and that general effected, on the 10th of March, his pas-
sage over the Piava, near Feltri — a movement which

farced

^15V-^!.«.'!i}*Wt^fc^^^

fc^^

arCe^ ^^TUi^/r^

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 191

forced the opposite division of the Austrian army to fall
back upon Belluno, a town nearer to its source.

Serrurier had the command of another division; and he
pushed on also for the Piava, which he crossed two days
after Massena, at the town of Areola ; where, however,
lie met with some resistance from an Austrian corps, but
which he defeated. This was done, and followed up
with such rapidity, that other small corps of the Austrians,
posted to support it, had not time to form a junction;
and of course, as they were now in danger of being sur-
rounded by a superior force in the two divisions of Serru-
rier and Massena, they judged it most prudent to retreat
in separate corps. This movement was also become
more necessary in consequence of the advance across the
river of General Guieux, who, with a large force, had
arrived at Conegliano in the evening of the 12th, advan-
cing the next day to Sacali, where the rear-guard of a
division of the Austrian army, which had made some
shew of resistance for the protection of their corps, v*^as
defeated by him with a great loss in prisoners.

All these forward divisions of the French force now
pushed on, and were as speedily followed by the remain-
der under Napoleon himself; so that as early as the 16th
of March he had united his whole army on the banks of
the river Tagliamento, on the opposite side of which the
Archduke Charles had posted his army for the purpose of
defending the passage of the river. The position was un-
doubtedly stfong, and it was also well chosen, being the
last defence against the advance of the French into an
extensive tract of level country, which they might over-
run with the greatest facility : it is not therefore sur-
prising that the possession of this river should becom^ an
object of the first solicitude to the youthful and rival
generals.

By mid-day of the I6th, Napoleon advanced to the
attack, heading the centre himself, with the intention of
assailing the Austrians in front, whilst his right and left,
under the fire of a numerous artillery, should cross on the
Austrian flanks, in the hope of attacking and turning
them.

The Archduke, aware of the intentions of his oppo-
nent, had drawn up his small force with great judgment,
having disposed both his cavalry and infantry in such a

192 NAPOLEON BUONAPARtE.

manner as m,utually to defend each other ; but his artillery
wtre few, and totally unequal to the service required:
it is not surprising therefore, although the Austrians
fought a long time with the greatest steadiness and reso-
lution, that the French should succeed in passing the
river on the vaiious points of attack, though exposed, as
they fornried, to repeated charges fioni tlie Archduke's
army. In fact, it was owing entirely to the superiority
of the French artillery that tlie Austrians were so com-^
pletely beaten, notwithstanding all the exertions of their
officers, upon whom the loss principally fell, that when
once broken they could not be rallied again to any pur-
pose; so that although the Archduke, guarding against
the possibility of defeat, had marked out a most ad-
vantageous post at a strong position where he might
maintain his ground for the night, even with a broken
arm}, and perhaps renew the combat with some proba-
bility of success in the ensuing morning; yet so disheart-
ened were his troops, that they were unable to withstand a
second assault made with unexampled rapidity by Napo-
leon on the night of the battle, in a most stormy and
tempestuous season, so that the rout was so complete as
to put the Archduke himself in some danger for his own
personal safety.

The events of this day and night were decisive of the
campaign, and served as another proof of the judgment
of Napoleon in always being the first to attack his adver-
saries, either in detail, or before the junction of the
forces; whilst at the same time it shewed the rapidity of
the tactics of the modern school of war, by the velocity
with which an army was moved, and that too in a service-
able state, even with the incumbrances of a train of ar-
tillery. It must be observed, however, that the system of
warfare which Buonaparte had established, was of a
nature that gave him a great superiority over his enemies,
with respect to the incumbrances of baggage; for
whilst the Austrians were followed by large trains of
baggage waggons, the French had nothing but ammuni-
tion tumbrils.

The Piava and Tagliamento now no longer covered
the countries to the northward of them from the incur-
sions of Napoleon. The Austrians, two days after the
battle of Tagliamento, evacuated Palmanova, although

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 193

it contained an immense quantity of provisions and stores,
and retired upon Gradisca, a considerable town on the
river Lezonzo, which the}' occupied on the 19th of
March, the French having possessed themselves of Palma-
novaon the preceding day.

The Archduke now posted his army on the banks of
the Lezonzo, determined to nvake a stand: but Napoleon
having moved his troops across the river, a little lower
down, got possession of some heights which completely
commanded the Austrian post in Gradisca; and that town
being cut off from the remainder of the army, the troops
stationed within it, which were also the very flower of the
Austrian veterans, were obliged to surrender. This corps
in Gradisca, amounted to upwards of 3000 men : and so
rapidly was the remainder of the retreating army fol-
lowed up by Napoleon, that, after repeated defeats in de-
tail, on its march in a northern direction from the banks
of the Tagliamento to the town of Fonteba, it was only
at the latter place that its shattered remains were able to
make a stand.

The capture of Gradisca procured advantages, of which
the French General hastened to profit; and he addressed
a proclamation to the inhabitants of the province of
Goritz, with an intent to prepare their minds for the ex-
pedition he meditated across their territory.

On the 21st of March the French entered Goritz; the
Austrian army having retreated with so much precipita-
tion, that they abandoned four hospitals containing 1500
sick, and all their magazines of provisions and military
istores, which were accordingly taken possession of by the
French.

In order to put a finishing blow to the Austrian power
in this part of Italy, Napoleon had already dispatched a
considerable force to take possession of the town of
Trieste, which was of great importance to the Emperor,
from its being his only sea-port; and this place was
occupied, together with the capture of a considerable
quantity of property, as early as the 23d of March.

Whilst engaged in these regulations. Napoleon was
not unoccupied on other points, as we find that he or-
dered Massena to advance towards the borders of Carin-
thia, where he took possession of Tarvis, a place of some
Importance on the opposite side of the passes, of Capo-

voL. II. B B raltoi

10 4. NAPOLEON BUONAPARTJi.

ralto ; from which passes, and from a strong post near to
them, the Austrians had alreadjf been driven by General
Guieux, who attacked them at that post, Posero, and by
this movement actually placed the retreating corps be-
tween his own fire and that of Massena.

Important events were now rapidly happening; and
the intelligence of these movertients having reached
Clagenfurth, a town in Carinthia, a large corps of the
Imperial army, which was quartered thefe, made a de-
monstration in their behalf by an attack upon Massena
in his post at Tarvis, who, however, defeated them after
a most obstinate battle, totally cutting to pieces one of
their most distinguished regiments of cuirasseurs, and
taking prisoners three Austrian generals. After this
Massena pushed on for La Chiusa, a very strongly for-
tified position, then occupied by a detachment of the
Austrians; but in his way he met that very corps who
had already been driven from their post by General
Guieux after forcing them through the narrow pass of
Caporalto.

A second action now took place, in which the devoted
Austrians experienced a most severe loss, one totally
decisive of the fate of the campaign t for they had not
only an immense number killed, but the French took up-
wards of 5000 prisoners, including four general officers,
together with thirty pieces of artillery, as well as the
whole of their baggage, amounting to 400 waggon loads.

The division of Massena had crossed the Italian Alps,
and now occupied the defiles of the Noric Alps. The
Imperialists had been so imprudent as to entangle in the
Noric Alps all their baggage, and part of their army,
which were of course taken. The battle at Tarvis was
fought above the clouds, on a height which commands an
extensive view of Germany and Dalmatia. In several
places to which the French line extended, the snow lay
three feet deep; and the cavalry, charging on the roe,
suffered many accidents.

. Whilst these proceedings were taking place in the
vicinity of Carinthia, the French column dispatched by-
Napoleon to compel the submission of the Tyrol, and
afterwards join him on the Drave, fulfilled their mission,
and traversed, as conquerors, a country, which Austria
had always regarded as one of the strongest bulwarks of

her

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. IQ5

her empire. The divisions of General Joubert, Baraguey
d'Hilliers, and Delmas, put themselves in motion on the
20th, and surrounded an Austrian corps stationed on the
Lavis. Alter a most obstinate engagement, the. Frencti
took 4000 prisoners, three pieces oT cannon, and two
standards, and killed nearly 2000 men, the greater part o^
whom were Tyrolean chasseurs.

Meanwhile the enemy had fallen back along the right
bank of the Adige, and manifested a disposition to main-
tain, themselves in this situation. Upon the 2^d General
Joubert, with the three divisions under his command,
proceeded to Sal urn. General Viai niadf; himself master
of the bridge of New mark, and passed the river to pre-
vent the enemy from retreating to -Botzen. The firing
commenced with great warmth ; and tliC general of divi-
sion, Dumas, who commanded the cavalry, pushed into
the village of Tramin, taking 600 prisoners, with t'.vo
pieces of cannon. In consequence of this, the wrecks of
the Austrian column, under General Laudon, were pre-
vented from reaching Botzen, and obliged to wander in
the mountains. Joubert entered the town of Boczeu,
and, having detached a sufficient force to foliow Gieneral
Laudon, marched directly to Claufen. The Imperialists,
availing themselves of the means of defence which
the country afforded, had made the best dispositions.
The attack was warm and well concerted, and the issue
long uncertain. The light infantry clambered up inac-
cessible rocks; the 11th and 33d demi-brigades of
infantry of the line in close column, commanded by
General Joubert, in perjson, surmounted every obstacle;
the centre of the Imperialists was penetrated, and obliged
to give way, after which the rout became general: in this
action the French took 1500 prisoners. Genend Joubert
arrived at Brixen, still in pursuit of the Austrians; whde
General Dumas, at the head of the cavalry, killed several
of their dragoons with his own hand, and receive.l two
slight cuts of a sabre, his aid-de-camp being at the same
time dangerously wounded.

On entering Carinthia, Napoleon published a pro-
clamation to the inhabitants of the province, purporting,
that the French army did not enter their country for the
purpose of conquering it, or to effect any change in their
religion, manners, or customs ; they were the friends of
B B 2 all

196 NAPOLEOK BUONAPARTE.

all nations, a'hd particularly the brave people of Ger>»
many. The Directory had sent General Clarke to Vienna,
as plenipotentiary, to commence negotiations for peace;
but the Imperial court had refused to hearken to them,
and had declared, that it did not acknowledge the fi'rench
republic. General Clarke demanded a passport to go
and speak to the Emperor himself; but his ministers
dreaded that the moderation of the propositions, which
the General was charged to make, would influence his
Majesty to conclude a peace. *' Thus these ministers,'*
continued the General, *' corrupted by English gold, be-
trayed Germany and their Prince, and acknowledged no
other will than that of the perfidious islanders." He
knew, he said, *' that the inhabitants of Carinthia de^
tested, as much as the French nation, both the English,
who were the only gainers by the war, and the Austi'ian
minister, who was sold to them." He invited them not
to join in a contest repugnant to their sentiments, and to
furnish what provisions the French army might require ;
declaring that, on his part, he would protect their religion,
customs, and property, and not exact any contribution.
The imposts, which the inhabitants had been accustomed
to pay to the Emperor, would indemnify them for the
inevitable losses attending the march of the French
army, and for what provisions they might furnish. This
insidious proclamation had the desired effect of paving his
way for a favourable reception by the inhabitants.

On the 28th, three divisions of Napoleon's army had
cleared the passages leading from the Venetian territory
into Germany, and encamped at Villach, on the banks of
the Drave. General Massena, on the 29th, put himself
in motion with his division, and fell in with the Imperial
army, at the distance of a league from Clagenfurth, when
an engagement ensued, in which the Austrians lost tvvo
pieces of cannon, and 200 prisoners. The same eveniiig
the French entered Clagenfurth, the capital of Higher
and Lower Carinthia, while Prince Charles, and the
wrecks of his army, extremely disheartened, were flying
before them. On the 1st of April the French advanced
guard were between St. Veit and Freisach, and the
division of General Bernadotte reached Laubach, the
capital of Carniola.' Napoleon sent the Polish General
Zajouzeck, at the head of a body of cavalry, to follow

the

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 197

the valley of the Drave, and, after gaining Lienz, effect
his junction with General Joubert, at Brixen.

Since the commencement of 'the campaign, Prince
Charles had lost nearly 20,000 men taken prisoners, and
was now entirely driven from the Venetian territories,
from the Higher and Lower Carniola, Caritithia, the
district of Trieste, and the whole of the Tyrolese.

General Joubert, on the 28th of March, attacked the
defile of Inspruck. The battalions, newly arrived from
the Rhine, attempted to defend it; but, after a short
cannonade, Joubert decided the affair, by advancing at
the head of the 85th demi-brigade in close column by
battalion; when the Imperialists were driven back,
leaving 100 killed, 000 prisoners, two pieces of cannon,
and all their baggage.

On the 1st of April the division of General Massena,,
forming an advanced guard, encountered the Imperial-
ists in the defiles between Freisach and Neumark; their
rear-guard was driven from all the positions it endea-
voured to dispute, and pursued by the French with so
much rapidity, that the Archduke was obliged to bring
back from his principal line of battle, eight battalions of
grenadiers, the same who had taken Kehl, and who now
formed the hope of the Austrian army. The 2d light
infantry, who had particularly distinguished themselves
since their arrival by their courage, without relaxing
their movement a single instant, threw themselves on
the flanks both of right and left, while General Massena,
in order to penetrate the defile, formed in column the
grenadiers of the 8th and 32d. The combat was between
the flower of the Austrian army and the veteran troops
of the army of Italy, and was one of the most furious
that had happened during the war. The Imperialists
occupied a grand position, crowded with cannon; but it
only protracted for a short time the defeat of their rear-
guard: their grenadiers were completely routed, leaving
the field of battle covered with their dead, and from five
to six hundred prisoners. The Austriaas defiled during
the night, and at day-break the French entered Neumark,
their head-quarters being advanced the same day to
Freisach. At this place they found 4000 quintals of
flour, and a great quantity of brandy and oats; they
found about the same quantity of stores at Neumark.

On

198 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

. On the 3d the head-quarters were removed to Schies-
ling, while the vanguard encountered the rear-guard ot
the Imperialists in the vicinity of Huudsmark, where the
latter wished to quarter for the night. The 2d light infan-
try still formed the advanced guard of the French ; and,
after an hour's fighting, the Austrian rear-guard, com-
posed of four regiments from the Rhine, was again put
to the route, leaving 600 prisoners, and 300 dead on the
field of battle : this advanced guard, that evening, ate the
bread, and drank the brandy, prepared for the Austrian
army. The loss of the French in these two engagements
was very trifling : the only officer killed was the chief of
brigade, Carrere, a soldier of steady valour and indefa-
tigable activity. After this, the French occupied Kin-
tenfield, Murau, and Judenburg. The Imperialists appear-
ing decided on a precipitate retreat, and resolving not to
hazard any more partial actions. Napoleon ordered the
division of General Guieux to pursue that of the Austrian
General Spork, who endeavoured to effect a junction by
the valley of the Muhr, and whose advanced guard had
already arrived at Murau ; but the prompt arrival of the
French at Schiesling had rendered this junction impos-
sible. From this time, the Austrians could make no stand,
except in the mountains in the neighbourhood of Vienna.

The victorious career of Napoleon did not indispose
him to peace; for, at the time when Vienna itself was
seriously threatened by his army, he chose the oppor-
tunity of making an offer for that desirable purpose. On
the 31st of March he addressed the following letter to
the Archduke Charles: —

" M. General-in-Chief — " Brave soldiers make
war, but desire peace! Have not hostilities already
lasted for six years? Have we not slaughtered men, and
committed evils enough against suffering humanity ? Eu-
rope, which had taken up arms against the French re-
public, has now laid them down; your nation alone re-
mains: and still blood is about to flow more than ever.
The sixth campaign is now announced, under the most
portentous auspices. Whatever may be the result, many
thousands of gallant soldiers must still be sacrificed in
the prosecution of the contest. At some period we
must come to an- understanding, since time brings all

things

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 1 99

things to a conclusion, and even extinguishes the most
inveterate resentments.

" The Executive Directory of the French Republic
expressed to his Imperial Majesty its desire to terminate
a contest which desolates the two countries. These pa-
cific overtures were defeated by the intervention of the
British cabinet. Is there then no hope of accommodation ?
Musi we continue to murder each other, in order to pro-
mote the interests, or gratify the passions, of a nation
far removed from the theatre of war? Are not you, who
are so nearly allied, by birth, to the throne, and who are
raised above all the despicable passions, which too often
influence ministers and governments — are not you am-
bitious to merit the appellation of the * Benefactor of the
Human Race, and the Saviour of Germany?' Do not
imagine, my dear General, that I mean to insinuate,
that you cannot possibly save your country by force of
arms; but, even on the supposition that the chances of
war were to become favourable, Germany would not,
on that account, suffer the less devastation. With re-
spect to myself, gallant Commander, if the overture
which I have now the honour to make you could be
the means of sparing the life of a single individual, I
should be prouder of the civic crown to which my inter-
ference might entitle me, than of the melancholy glory
likely to result from the most brilliant military exploits.
I beg of you to believe me to be, General-in-Chief, with
the most profound respect and esteem,

(Signed) " Buonaparte."

The Archduke's reply was as follows : —
'* M. General — Though I make war, and obey the
call of honour and duty, yet I desire, as well as yourself,
peace, for^the good of the people and for humanity.

" As, nevertheless, it does not belong to me, in the post
in which I am entrusted, to scrutinize or to terminate the
quarrels of the belligerent nations; and as I am not in-
vested, on the part of his Majesty the Emperor, with any
powers for treating, you will perceive that I cannot enter
into any negotiation, and that I must wait for superior
orders, on an object of such high importance, not within
the sphere of my present functions : but, whatever may be
the future chance of the war, or the hopes of peace, I

entreat

200 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

entreat you to be persuaded, M. General, of my distin-
guished esteem and consideration.

" Charles, Field-Marshal.''

Two hours after the receipt of this answer, and while
the French troops were on their march to Friesach, the
Archduke, by one of his aides-de-camp, requested a sus-
pension of arms for four hours; but, as this proposition
was made for the purpose of allowing time for his junc-
tion with General Spork, Napoleon refused to accede to it,
and he immediately advanced his army to Judenburg in
Styria; where he was preparing to follow up his successes,
when Lieut.-General the Count deBellegarde, and Major-
General Morveldt wrote him a letter, in which they
stated, that his Imperial Miijesty had nothing more at
heart than to concur in re-establishing the repose of Eu-
rope, and terminating a war that desolated the two na-
tions. In consequence of the overture made by the
{"rench General to I'rince Charles, the Emperor had now
deputed them to learn the General's proposals on a sub-
ject of such great importance. Agreeably to their con-
ferences with him, and persuaded of the earnest desire,
as well as the intentions, of the two powers to terminate
as soon as possible this disastrous war, his Royal High-
ness desired a suspension of arms for ten days, in Order
to facilitate the attainment of so desirable an object.

, Nap'oleoii observed, in his answer to this application,
that, considering the military position of the two armies,
a suspension of arms was, in every respect, disadvan-
tageous to the French ; but, if it tended to open a road
to peace, so much desired, and so beneficial to the two
nations, he would consent, without hesitation, to their
jequest. The French republic had frequently mani-
fested to. his M^'esty her desire to put an end to this
sanguinary contest : she still entertained the same senti-
ments ; and be had no doubt, from the conference he had
with them, that in a few days peace would be at
length reregtablished between the republic and hjis
Majesty.

Accordingly, an armistice for te;n days was agreed
upon and concluded on the 7th of April: and this was
followed by a treaty of peace, which was signed at
Leoben, on the 18th. This treaty gave up to France, the
Netherlaods^.^ll the Venetian islands south in tbeiAdri-

atici

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 201

atic, together with their territories in Greece; it further
confirmed tlie republic of Lombardy, or the Cis-Alpine,
to which it ceded n)any of the Venetian cities, whilst
it confirmed to it also great part of the Papal domi-
nions. To Austria, France gave Istria, Dalmatia, Venice
itself with the northern islands of the Adriaticj also a
large portion of the Venetian territory on the Terra
Firma. France also stipulated that the Emperor should
not prosecute any of his subjects for their previous opi-
nions or conduct; and it was further agreed that some
of the minor princes should receive indemniGcations,
and that a congress should be held at Rastadt, by
plenipotentiaries from the French republic, and the
whole German empire, in order to negotiate a complete
Germanic pacification.

Having thus finished his glorious career by a treaty of
peace. Napoleon now directed his vengeance agaiiist the
Venetian government, which he accused of favouring the
Austrians, and acting treacherously towards his own
troops. " What!" said he, in a letter to the Doge, " did
you think I would tamely suffer the massacres excited
by the Venetian government? The blood of our bre-
thren in arms," continued he, " shall be avenged; and
there is not a 'French battalion, charged with this mis*
sion, .which docs not feel three- times the courage and
-Strength necessary to punish you. The Republic of Ve-
nice has returned the blackest perfidy for the generous
treatment she has received from France." He concluded
with oftciing peace or war; and informed his Serenity,
that if he did not instantly adopt the necessary measures
for dispersing the banditi, as he called the persons of
whom he complained, and arre.st, and deliver up, within
twenty-four hours, the persons wt-o, it was said, had
assassinated sbn;e French soldiers, icar icas declared.

The Senate thought proper to publish a proclamation
Relative to these complaints. " Their conduct,"' ihey said,
"during the commotions in Europe, had always been,
• and still was, so perfectly neutral and friendly tovvavds
the belligerent powers, that they did not think it neces-
sary to pay the least attention to the ^eviUdisposed per-
sons, who pretended to question their sincerity : but, as
these malignant enemies of the republic had dissettii*
nated the vilest slanders against tbe sincerity of the peace-

VOL. n, c c ' aWt&

202 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

able disposition of the Venetian government, the Senate,
was under the necessity of declaring, that their friendship
with France was not in the least altered : the Senate,
therefore, entertained no doubt but the French nation
would treat these calumnies with the contempt they
deserved, and repose that confidence in the republic of
Venice which it had merited by its irreproachable
conduct."

No satisfaction was offered by the Senate ; and, on
the 3d of May, Napoleon issued a manifesto from his
quarters at Palma-Nova, purporting, that, while the
French were engaged in the defiles of Stiria, and far
advanced from Italy and the principal establishments of
the army, the Venetian government had profited of a
religious festival to arm 40,000 peasants, who, being
joined by ten regiments of Sclavonians, were organized
into battalions and sent to different points, for the pur-
pose of intercepting all communication between the
army and Lombardy. Military stores, of every descrip-
tion, had been sent from Venice to complete the organi-
zation of these corps : his countrymen had been grossly
insulted and driven from that city, and offices bestowed
on those who had presided at the massacre of French-
men. The people of Padua, Vicenza, and Verona, had
been ordered to take up arms, to second the different
corps of the regular troops, and, at last, to commence
the new Sicilian vespers; while the Venetian officers
carried their audacity so far as to assert, that it belonged
to the Lion of St. Mark to verify the proverb, that
" Italy is the grave of the French." The priests every
where preached a crusade ; — and the priests, in the state
of Venice, utter only the will of government. Pam-
phlets, perfidious proclamations, and anonymous letters,
had been circulated with profusion through all their ter-
ritories ; but, in a state where the liberty of the press is
not tolerated by a governjiient, as much feared as it is
secretly detested, authors write, and printers publish,
nothing but what is sanctioned by the Senate. He then
proceeded to give a detail of the assassinations which
had been committed in the towns and in the country. In
this mournful list, the most prominent act of atrocity is
the massacre of the sick in the hos,pitals at Verona, where
400 Frenchmen, he said, pierced with a thousand wounds

from

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 303

from stilettoes, were thiovvn into the Adige. He con-
cluded wit') requiring the French minister to leave Ve-
nice, and direclert the generals of division to treat as ene-
mies the tioops of the Venetian government^ and trample
in the dust the Lion of St. Mark.

Accordingly, the hattalious destined to inflict a signal
vengeance on Venice began their march; and, in a few
days, the VK^hole Terra Firma lay suppliant at the ieet
of the conqueror. The Veronese were punished with
the greatest severity : several thousands of armed pea-
santry, who presumed to contest the progress of the
French divisions, were cut to pieces or dispersed. A
body of Sciavonians, who had joined them, retired to a
large building, or fort, in which were deposited all their
powder-waggons, and ammunition. A liowitzer was
pointed against this building, which was soon blown
into the air, and 500 Sciavonians literally annihilated!
After another bloody engagement, the French detach-
ment reached the walls of Verona, which immediately
surrendered.

The Venetian government now became humble and
abject: the Doge, having assembled the Senate, it was
resolved that the government should suspend all its func-
tions, and that the republic, throwing itself on the mercy
of France, s!iould accept a provisional government from
the latter: it was also decreed, that the proveditori, and
other magistrates, of whose conduct the Frene;h com-
plained, should be delivered up, in order to be punished.
On the I6th of May, a body of French troops took pos-
session of the city, after which a municipality was formed,
and every thing modelled according to the democratic
regime. The ships of war, and the stores in the arsenals,
y^ere taken possession of in the name of the French
Republic.

Genoa was attacked upon much the same grounds:
it was impossible, that that country, considering its vici-
nity to France, and the presence of the republican army,
could escape the influence of that spirit of innovation
which had electrified the rest of Europe. The French
government pretended, that it had forborne to punish
the Genoese nobility for the clandestine aid they atlbrded
to the Imperial army when in their neighbourhood, and
for their marked attention to the partisans of Austria,
c c 2 The

204 NAPOLEON BtJONAPARTE.

The greater part of the people of Genoa had imbibed
the principles of deiiiocraticai liberty, and many tu-
mults had happened between them and the adherents of
the old governnnent. The establishment of the Cisalpine
republic had rendered the disaffected more daring, while
some imprudent acts of the state-inquisitors, and the two
councils, embroiled them with the French minister, and
completed the revolution. This silly government, per-
suaded of its inability to stem the torrent, sent deputies
to Napoleon at Montebello, where a convention was con-
cluded on the 6th of June.

Napoleon, having now terminated his campaigns in
Italy, returned to Paris, where he was receive<l with all
that distinction and eclat which his great services to the
republic had justly entitled him to. On his arrival in the
French capital he was greeted by the congratulations of
every description of persons, in a manner the most flat-
tering. Poets, painters, and sculptors, high and low,
■whrther learned or ignorant, pious or profane, all exer-
cised their ingenuity to display some excellent feature,
either of the person or the mind of this extraordinary
hero. His great military fame, however, had no doubt
created a jealousy in the minds of the French Directory,
as to his political views; and it became their policy to
find son>e employment for this active and enterprising
chief. They accordingly projected the expedition to
Egypt; but, not to alarni the European powers, they
had artfully contrived to amuse the world with the
idea, that all the prei>arations which were making for
this purpose were intended to invade England. With
this view they had assembled a verv large force whicl\
they denominated the Army of England^ the command
of which they entrusted to Napoleon. After the review,
which followed his appointment to this command. Na-
poleon ordered that army to proceed to the coast of the
Channel.

Whilst conjecture was afloat as to the point of desti-
nation of the great expedition which was preparing in
the French ports, the British ministry believing it was
intended for the invasion of Ireland, Napoleon put to sea,
from the harbour of Toulon, on board the L'Orient of 120
guns, bearing the flag of Admiral Brueyes. The fleet em-
ployed in this famous expedition, and which was so soon

after

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. §05

after consigned to destruction by the immortal Nelson,
consisted of thirteen sail of the line, besides four frigates,
and near 400 transports. On board the fleet was an
army of 40,000 men, and a vast number of merchants and
adventurers, who, ready to take any road that seemed to
lead to fortune, blindly associated their fate with this
expedition, without knowing any one fact relative to it,
more than that Buonaparte was at its head. There were
also a great number of men of science, and learned per-
sons, besides artists and mechanics, all of whom, were
capable of contributing to the prosperity of a new colony ;
and the whole of this, including the sailors, it is sup-
posed, made the whole number engaged in the expedition
amount to near 70,000 souls.

The voyage commenced under a fair wind. The fri-
gates led the van ; the Admiral, accompanied by the advice
boats, followed ; and the ships of the line formed the
rear : the transports kept in-shore, between the Hieres
and the Levant. On the 22d the fleet off" St. Fiorenzo
steered in an easterly course for Cape Corsica and the
island Capraia, the leading division of the fleet was, at
five P.M. to the west of Pinosa, where the wind failing,
the convoy could make no way. On the 2Sth, with the
van off" the mouths of the Bonifacio, the fleet lay-to for
the divisions of Ajaccio and Civita Vecchia. No land
was in sight on the morning of the 27th ; and on the
29th the frigates were ordered to look into Cagliari, and
to return to Porto Vecchia, in case of encountering an
enemy superior in force.

On the 26th of June the fleet arrived off" the island
, of Goza ; and, the same morning, all the ships of war had
passed in review under the stern of the Admiral, when a
vessel was sent to reconnoitre several ships a-head ; and
it was found that the division from Civita Vecchia, under
Desaix, had, by keeping the Italian coast, passed the
Straits of Messina, and got a few days a-head of the
fleet on its way to Malta, Cumino, and Cuminetto,
which, with Goza and Malta, form the whole territory
of the Grand Master. Malta was seen at six o'clock, and
two crazy barks came off" to sell tobacco. At night the
city was in perfect darkness ; the Juno frigate was within
sbot of St. Elmo, and off" the port. Signal was made for
forming the frigates, and the whole boats were ordered

out

g06 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

out at nine o'clock. The ships of war and convoy fired
several guns as night signals, on which the only light
remaining on the port was extinguished. The Captains
■went on board the L'Orient for orders ; and, however un-
principled such a resolution might be, the fame of its
riches had determined Buonaparte to attack and seize
the island and its dependencies. On tlie 9th, Napoleon
asked permission to water his fleet ; but, as the Grand
Master apprehended danger from so formidable an arma-
ment, he refused to grant the request : this gave Napo-
leon an excuse for commencing hostilities.

On the 10th, at four A. M. therefore, a semi-circular
line was formed, from the point St. Catharine to a league
distance, on the left of the city, completely blockading
the port. The Juno was stationed in the centre, otf St.
Elmo and St. Angelo, while the convoy lay at anchor
between Gozo and Cumino. Immediately after this, the
Fort St. Catharine fired a shot at the boats employed in
landing the division under General Desaix, and the
Ecclesiastical standard was hoisted on the fort command-
ing the cit}". At the same instant, on the other end of
the line, shallops were employed landing the troops and
artillery, which carried two advanced posts, after a mo-
mentary resistance. The batteries of all the forts now
opened their fire on the boats and vessels, which was
kept up with vigour till evening. A sortie was attempted
by the knights, supported by some of the people from
the country. The French troops ascended the first emi-
nence at ten A.M. and, having marched behind the city,
drove them in, under the protection of their walls and
batteries. Many of the knights fell a sacrifice to their
valour, being massacred oh their return, in a commotion
which had arisen in the city. On the first day the knights
were in grand council; provisions of all kinds and
ammunition were carried from the city into the forts, and
the general bustle and activity announced the most war-
like intentions. On the second day only part of the
knights wore their uniform; disputes had arisen, ai>d
they continued agitated, but inactive.

At day-break on the 11th, a languid fire was main-,
tained; a bark under the Ecclesiastical standard came .
out of the port, and was conducted to the L'Orient; at
eleven, a second, under the flag of truce, brought those

knishts

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 307

knights who, in the interest of the French, chose to aban-
don Malta : from them it appeared, that the garrison
was almost totally unprovided ; and at four P. M. there
were fewer men than guns on the walls of the fort. It was
evident that the citizens aod knights had disagreed, the
gates of the forts being shut, and all intercourse between
them and the city at an end. The General sent his aide-
de-camp, Junot, with his ultimatum; a few minutes
after, twelve Maltese Commissioners came on board the
L'Orient; and on the 12th, at half past eleven, the signal
was hoisted, to shew that Malta was in the power of the
French. Under a salute of 500 guns from the fleet, the
French troops took possession of the forts, thus com-
pleting the conquest of the strongest post in the Medi-
terranean.

Among the orders issued by Buonaparte at Malta,
there is one more barbarous than was the Greek in which
it is said to have been written ; especially when it is con-
sidered, that he had only the same right to dictate lawa
at Malta that a robber may claim after he has broke into
the house of a peaceable man, and stolen his property.
The Articles alluded to, are as follow :

"Liberty! " Equality!

« ARMY OF ENGLAND.

<• Head-Quarters at Malta, June IS,
" Etat Major 'General.
*' Ordered by the Commander-in-Chief —
** Art. 1. No Latin priest shall officiate in any church
appropriated to the Greeks.

" 2. The masses which the Latin priests have b^en
accustomed to say in the Greek churches shall be said in
the other Greek churches of the fort.

" 3. Protection shajl be granted to the Jews who may
be desirous of establishing their synagogue there.

" 4. The General Commandant shall thank the Greeks
for their good conduct during the siege.

" 3. All the Greeks of the islands of Malta and Gozo,
and those of the departments of Ithaca, Corcyra, and of
the ^gean Sea, who shall maintain any connexion what-
ever with Russia, shall be put to death!
" 6. All the Greek vessels which sail under Russian

colours.

208 IsAPpLEON BUONAPARTE.

colours, if they fall into the hands of the French, shall
be sent to the bottom !

(Signed) '* Buonaparte.
" The General of Division, and Chief of the Statf.

(Signed) '* Alexander Berthier.
" The General of Division, (Signed) " Chabot."

On the same day, in a letter^ addressed to the Bishop
of Malta, the General says—

" I have learnt with sincere pleasure, good M. Bishop,
the kind conduct and reception which you have shewn to
the French troops. You may assure the people of your
diocese, that the Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman religion,
shall not only be treated with regard, but its ministers
especially protected. I know no character more respect-
able, nor more worthy of veneration, than a priest, who,
inspired by the true spirit of the gospel, is persuadedj
that his duty ordains him to render unfeigned obedience
to the temporal powerj to maintain peace, tranquillity,
and union, in his diocese. I request you immediately to
repair to the town of Malta, and to preserve, by your in-
fluence there, harmony and tranquillity among the people.
I shall be there myself this evening. I request also, that
at my arrival you will introduce to me all the priests, and
other chiefs, belonging to Malta and the surrounding vil-
lages. Be assured of the desire which I have to prove
to you the esteem and consideration which I have for you
personally.

" On board the V Orient, June 13."

During the short interval of eight days, Buonaparte
took possession of the island of Malta, organized therein
a provisional government, victualled the fleet; took in
water, and arranged all the military and administrative
dispositions: he quitted it on the 19th of June, having
entrusted the command to General Vaubois, and ap-
pointed Citizen Menard Commissary of Marine,

The wind blew freshly from the north-west. On the
?5th of Jutie the armament came within sight of the
island of Candia, having laid to best part of the day for
the convoy, which had dispersed in a fog. On the 26th
the Captain of the Juno received orders to make all
the sail possible for Alexandria, now sixty leagues distant:

and

NAPOLEON BUONAPAR'ra. 209

and there to learn, from the French consul, whether the
expedition had been heard of, and what was the dispo-
sition of the inhabitants with regard to the enterprise.
This frigate was to be the first vessel to anchor on the
African shore, and was ordered to collect the Frenchmen
resident in Alexandria, and shelter them from the popu-
lar tumult that the arrival of the fleet might excite.
After this duty, the Juno was ordered to return to the
rendezvous of the fleet, six leagues off Cape Brul6.
Every sail was now spread, but there was scarcely a
breath of wind during the whole of the 26th, and part
of the following day. By noon, however, on the 27th,
she was within thirty leagues of Alexandria; the wel-
come cry of " Land !" was heard from the maintop at
four, and at six o'clock it was visible from the deck, ex-
tending like a white stripe along the dark edge of the sea,
while not a single tree or house interrupted the mono-
tony of the scene. The Juno, steering east by south,
weathered Cape Durazo ; and at one o'clock in the after-
noon a lieutenant was sent on shore, who returned at
midnight with the French consul and Dragoman on
board, and the frigate set sail to join the fleet.

The fleet having slackened sail to wait for intelligence,
the General took advantage of the interval to distribute
his general orders among the forces. He had addressed a
proclamation to the army immediately on his arrival at
Toulon, the tendency and design of which was to
preserve the idea of the expedition being about to
invade the British dominions : the proclamation was as
follows : —

" Soldiers! — You form one of the wings of the
Army of England : you have been engaged in wars
of different descriptions — of mountains, plains, and
sieges; you are now to make a maritime war. The
Roman legions, which you have sometimes imitated,
but not yet equalled, combated Carthage, by turns, on
this very sea, and on the plains of Zama. Victory never
abandoned them, because they were always brave and
patient in enduring fatigue, obedient to their leaders,
and united among themselves.

** Soldiers ! the eyes of Europe are upon you : you
have grand destinies to fulfil, battles to fight, dangers
and fatigues to overcome:— you must do even more than

VOL. II. D D you

glO NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

you have yet done, and endure more than you have yet
endured, for the prosperity of your native country, the
happiness of the human race, and your own glory!
Soldiers, sailors, cannoniers, infantry, and cavalry! be
all united — be as one man : recollect that, in the day of
battle, you will stand in need of each other. Marines !
you have been hitherto neglected, now the greatest soli-
citude of the republic is for you ; you will be worthy of
:the army of which you form a part. The genius of the
republic, from her birth the arbiter of Europe, loishes to
be the arbiter of the seas also, and of countries the most
distant."

The army having thus been deluded into the idea that
their destination was the coast of England, it required
some dexterity on the part of Napoleon to allay the dis-
appointment of the troops, when they should find the
real object of the enterprise. Before, therefore, he dis-
embarked the army, he issued the following procla-
mation : —

** Proclamation 0/ Bu on aparte. Member of the National
Institute, and Commander-in-Chief.

" Dated on board L'Orient. June 22.

** Soldiers! — You are going to undertake a conquest,
the effects of which, upon commerce and civilization,
will be incalculable.

** You will give the English a most sensible blow,
which will be followed up with their destruction.

** We shall have some fatiguing marches — we shall
fight several battles — we shall succeed in all our enter-
prises: the destinies are in our favour.

*• The Mameluke Beys, who favour the English com-
merce exclusively, who have injured our merchants, and
who tyrannize over the unhappy inhabitants of the banks
of the Nile, will no longer exist, in a few days after our
arrival.

" The people, among whom you are going to Jive, are
Mahometans: the first article of their faith is, * There is
no other God but God, and Mahomet is his prophet.'
Do not contradict them : act with them as you did with
the Jews and with the Italians. Treat their Muftis and
their Imans with respect, as you did the Rabbies and the
Bishops. You must act with the same spirit of toleration
towards the ceremonies prescribed by the Alcoran that

vou

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 211

you did to the synagogues and the convents, to the reK-
gions of Moses and of Jesus Christ.

*' The Roman legions protected all religions : you
will find here customs which differ from those of Europe;
you must accustom yourselves to them.

" The people among whom we are going treat women
differently from us ; but in every country he who violates
them is a monster!

" Pillage enriches but a very few men; it dishonours
us; it destroys our resources; and it renders those peo-
ple our enemies, whom it is our interest to have for
friends.

" The first city we shall arrive at was built by Alex-
ander; and every step we take we shall meet with objects
capable of exciting emulation.

(Signed) " Buonaparte."

Napoleon, after much difficulty, having disembarked
the army at break of day on the 2d of July, he invested
Alexandria, after driving into the town several small de-
tachments of cavalry. On establishing his head-quarters
in the city, he issued the following curious proclamation
in the Arabic language : —

" In the name of God, gracious and merciful— There
is no God but God ; he has no Son or associate in his
kingdom.

" The present moment, which is destined for the pu-
nishment of the Beys, has been long anxiously expected.
The Beys, coming from the mountains of Georgia and
Bajars, have desolated this beautiful country, long in-
sulted and treated with contempt the French nation, and
oppressed her merchants in various ways. Buonaparte,
the General of the French republic, according to the
principles of liberty, is now arrived; and the Almighty,
the Lord of both worlds, has sealed the destruction of
the Beys.

" Inhabitants of Egyptl when the Beys tell you, the
French are come to destroy your religion, believe them
not: it is an absolute falsehood. Answer those deceivers,
that they are only come to rescue the rights of the poor
from the hands of their tyrants, and that the French
fidore the Supreme Being, and honour the Prophet an4
Jjis holy Koran,

p D 5 *' All

212 NAPOLEON BtJONAPARTE.

" Ail men are equal in the eyes of God: understand-
ing, ingenuity, and science, alone make a difference be-
tween them ; as the Beys,^ therefore, do not possess any
of these qualities, tliey cannoli be worthy to govern the?
country.

" Yet are they the only possessors of extensive tracts
of lainds, beautilul female slaves, excellent horses, mag-p
nificent palaces ! Have they then received an exclusive
privilege trom the Almighty? if so, let them produce it.
But the Supreme Being, who is just and merciful towards
ali mankind, wills, that, in future, none of the iababitants
of Egypt shall be prevented from attaining to the first
employments, and the highest honours. The admi-
nistration, which shall be conducted by persons of intel-
ligence, talents, and foresight, will be productive of
happiness and. security. The tyranny and avarice of the
Beys have laid waste Egypt, which was formerly so po*
pulous and well cultivated.

** The French are true Mussulmen! Not long since
they marched to Rome, and overthrew the throne of
the Pbpe, who excited the Christians against the profes-
sors of Islamism (the Mahometan religion). Afterwards
they directed their course to Malta, and drove out the
unbelievers, who imagined they were appointed by God
to make war on the Mussulmen. The French have at
all times been the true and sincere friends of the Ottoman
emperors, and the enemies of their enemies. May the
empire of the Sultun, therefore, be eternal; but may
the Beys of Egypt, our opposers, whose insatiable avarice
has continually excited disobedience and insurbordina-
t-ion, be trodden in the dust, and annihilated!

" Our friendship shall be extended to those of the
inhabitants of Egypt? who shall join us, as also to those
who shall remain in their dwellings, and observe ai strict
neutrality; and, when they have seen our conduct with
their own eyes, hasten to submit to us. But the dreadful
punishment of death awaits those who shall take up arms
ibr the Beys^ and against us : for them there shall be no
deliverance, nor shall any trace of them remain.

" May tbe Supieme God make the glory of th© Sul-
tan 01 the Ottomans eternal', pour forth his wrath on^ the
Mamelukes, and render glorious the destiny of the
Egyptian natioii !'*

Napoleon

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 2i;3

Napoleon, having established himself in Alexandria,
made every preparation tor following up his conquests,
and to secure the possession of Egypt; but, as his con-
duct could not fail of inspiring the inhabitants with
every species of hostility, for the unjust and unprincipled
attack he had made upon them, he found it necessary,
before he pursued ulterior measures, to soothe them vi^ith
the most flattering promises, at the same time that he
threatened with the severest vengeance all those that
were found in hostility against him. His proclamation,
on this occasion, is one of the most barefaced productions
that ever issued from any commander, and plainly
shewed, that he not only set at defiance every principlie
of morality, but that he must have considered that the
people he addressed it to were sunk in the deepest state
of ignorance and barbarism. This document is so
curious, and so forcibly displays the unparalleled effron-
tery of Napoleon, that we shall give it a place in these
Memoirs.

** Buonaparte, Member of the National Institute,
Commander-in- Chief.
"Alexandria, July the Gth Year of the Republic One and

Indivisible, the of the Month of Muharrem, tlie Year of
the Hes^ira Vil'^.

" For a long time the Beys, who govern Egypt, have
insulted the French nation, and covered her merchant*
with injuries: the hour of their chastisement is come.

" For too long a time this rabble of slaves, purchased
in Caucasus and in Georgia, has tyrannized over the
fairest part of the world ; but God, on whom every
thing depends, has decreed that their empire shall be no
more.

" People of Egypt! you will be told that I am come
to destroy your religion; do not believe it. Reply, that
lam come to restore your rights, to punish usurpers;
and that I reverence, more than the Mamelukes them-
selves, God, his prophet Mahomet, and the Koran.

" Tell them, that all men are equal before God; wis*
dom, talents, and virtue, are the only things which make
a difference between them.

•' Now, what wisdom, what talents, what virtues, have
the Mamelukes, that they should boast the exclusive
possession of every thing that can render life agreeable ?

« If

S14 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

" If Egypt is their farm, let them shew the lease which
God has given them of it: but God is just and merciful
to the people.

" Ail the Egyptians shall be appointed to all the
public situations: the most wise, the most intelligent,
and the most virtuous, shall govern ; and the people
shall be happy.

" There were formerly among you great cities, great
canals, and a great commerce. What has destroyed them
all? what, but the avarice, the injustice, and the tyranny
of the Mamelukes?

*• Cadis! Cheiks ! Imans! Tchorbadgis! tell the peo-
ple that we are the friends of the true Mussulmen. Is it
not us who have destroyed the Pope, who said that it
was necessary to make war on Mussulmen ? Is it not
us who have destroyed the knights of Malta, because
these madmen believed that it was the good pleasure of
God that they should make war on Mussulmen? Is it
not us who have been, in all ages, the friends of the
Grand Seignior (on whose desires be the blessing of
God!) and the enemy of his enemies? and, on the con-
trary, have not the Mamelukes always revolted against
the authority of the Grand Seignior? which they re-
fuse to recognise at this moment.

•' Thrice happy those who shall be with us ! they shall
prosper in their fortune and their rank: happy those
vv^ho shall be neutral! they shall have time to know
US thoroughly, and they will range themselves on our
side.

•' But woe! woe! woe! to those who shall take up
arms in favour of the Mamelukes, and combat against
us! There shall be no hope for them: they shall all
perish 1"

Every thing being arranged at Alexandria, Napoleon
determined to march towards Cairo. In his progress,
however, he had to encounter the Mamelukes, a people
highly celebrated amongst the Egyptians for their bra-
very,though indeed little better than a rabble, when com-
pared with European troops.

On the 12th of July he fell in with the main body of
this force, at a spot on the banks of the Nile, from whence
with a good glaes the Pyramids might be seen; for which
reason the skirmish (for it was nothing more) was desigr

nated

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 215

nated as the battle of the Pyramids. At the earliest dawn
the Mamelukes were seen making a general display of
their forces, without order or plan, sometimes galloping
round the French army, sometimes pacing round it in
parties from ten to an hundred. These detached bodies
from time to time advanced with great boldness, though
with very little judgment, attempting to break in upon
the French line; but meeting every where with a resistance
which perhaps they did not expect, they spent the whole
day in this species of manoeuvring, merely keeping the
French on the alert, and exposed to the fury of an in-
tensely burning sun. The Mamelukes, unable to make
an impression on the French, retreated in the evening,
with a trifling loss ; and the French army pushed on for
Cairo.

Previous to reaching Cairo, Napoleon learned that the
two powerful chiefs, Murad Bey and Ibrahim Bey, were
likely to annoy his army greatly. On the 19th Murad
Bey, at the head of 6000 Mamelukes, and a host of
Arabs and Fellahs, was entrenched at the village of
Embaba, waiting for the French ; and on the 22d Desaix,
whose corps formed the advanced guard, arrived within
two miles of the spot. The heat was intense, and the
soldiers excessively fatigued, which induced Buonaparte
to halt. But the Mamelukes no sooner perceived the
army, than they formed upon the plain, in front of his
right. An appearance so imposing never yet presented
itself to the French ; the cavalry of the Mamelukes were
covered with resplendent armour. Beyond their left
were beheld the celebrated Pyramids, of which the im-
perishable mass has survived so many empires, and
braved for more than thirty centuries the outrages of
time! Behind their right was the Nile, the city of Cairo,
the hills of Mokattam, and the fields of the ancient
Memphis.

When Napoleon had given his last orders, " Go," said
he, pointing to the Pyramids, " and think, that, from the
heights of those monuments, forty ages survey our con-
duct." The army, impatient to come to action, was
soon ranged in order of battle. Napoleon ordered
the line to advance ; but the Mamelukes, who till then
appeared irresolute, prevented the execution of this
movement: they made a feint against the centre, but

rushed

Q16 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

Tushed with impetuosity on the divisions of Desaix and
Regnier, which formed the right ; they intrepidly charged
these columns, which, firm and immoveable, reserved
their fire until the enemy advanced within half musquet-
shot. The ill-directed valour of the Mamelukes in vain
endeavoured to break through those walls of fire and
ramparts of bayonets: their ranks were thinned, a great
number of killed and wounded remained on the field,
and they soon retired in disorder, without Tenturing to
return the charge.

- While the divisions of Generals Desaix and Regnier
so successfully repulsed the Mameluke cavalry, the
divisions of Bon and Menou, supported by that of Kle-
ber, then under the command of General Dugua, ad-
vanced rapidly against the entrenched village of Embaba.
Two battalions of the divisions of Bon and Menou were
detached, with orders to turn the village, and, in the
mean time, to take advantage of a deep ditch that lay
in the way, the better to defend themselves from the
•enemy's cavalry, and to conceal their movements to-
wards the Nile. The divisions, preceded by their flank
companies, rapidly advanced. The Mamelukes unsuc-
cessfully attacked the platoons; they unmasked forty
pieces of bad artillery, which they discharged upon
them; but the divisions rushed forward with such im-
petoosity that the Mamelukes had not time to re-load
their guns. The entrenchments were carried by the
bayonet; and the camp, as well as the village of Embaba,
were soon in the possession of the French. Fifteen
hundred Mameluke cavalry, and an equal number of
Fellahs, whose retreat were cut oflp by -Generals Marmont
and Rampon, occupied an intrenched position in the
rear of a ditch that communicated with the Nile, and
in vain performed prodigies of valour in their defence.
They were unwilling to surrender, and none of them es-
caped the sanguinary fury of the French soldiers; they
were all either put to the sword, or drowned in the Nile.
Forty pieces of cannon, 400 camels, the baggage, and
the stores, fell into the hands of the victors.

Murad Bey, seeing the village of Embaba carried, at-
tended only to his retreat: the divisions of Generals
Desaix and Regnier had already compelled his cavalry
to fall back. The army pursued the Mamelukes as fer

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE; 2 1 7

as Gaza, beyond which they continued their flight; and
the French, after fighting, or marching and fighting,
nineteen hours, occupied a position at Gaza. , Never was
the superiority of modern European tactics over those
of the Orientals, or disciplined courage over ill-directed
valour, more conspicuous, or more sensibly felt, than on
that day. The Mamelukes were mounted on superb
Arabian horses, richly caparisoned ; their armour was
magnificent, and their purses well stocked with gold.
These spoils, in some degree, compensated the soldiers
for the excessive fatigue they had undergone. During aa
interval of fifteen days, their only nourishment consisted
of a few vegetables, without bread ; the provisions found
in-the camp, therefore, afforded them a delicious repast.

The division of General Desaix was ordered to take a
position in front of Gaza, and on the route of Faium.
The division of Menou passed, during the night, a branch
of the Nile, and took possession of the isle of Roda; The
enemy, in their flight, burned those vessels which could
not speedily re-ascend the Nile* The following morn-
ing, on the 23d of July, the principal inhabitants of
Cairo presented themselves on the banks of the Nile, and
ottered to deliver up the city to the French : they were
accompanied by the Kiaja of the Pacha, Ibrahim Bey,
who had abandoned Cairo during the night, having car-
ried off the Pacha with him. Napoleon received them
at Gaza: they required protection for the city, and en-
gaged for its submission. He answered, that the wish of
the French was to remain in amity with the Egyptian
people and the Ottoman Porte ; and assured them, that
the manners, the customs, and the religion of the country,
should be scrupulously respected. They returned to
Cairo, accompanied by a detachment under the command
of a French officer. The populace took an advantage of
the discomfiture and flight of the Mamelukes, and com-
mitted some excesses; the mansion of Murad Bey was
pillaged and burned.

Napoleon, on the 20th of July, removed his head-
quarters to Cairo : the divisions of Generals Regnier and
Menou were stationed at Old Cairo; the divisions of Bonn
and Kleber at Boulac; a corps of observation was placed
on the route of Syria; and the division of Desaix was or-
dered to occupy an entrenched position, about three

VOL. II. E E leagues

$1$ NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

leagues in front of Ertibaba, on the route to Upper
Egypt.

, In order to reconcile the Egyptians to their new mas-
ters, Napoleon, whilst at Cairo, established a form of
government, apparently securing the Turkish govern-
ment in opposition to that of the Beys ; and he even went
ee far as to appoint a divan, or council, consistii>g of the
<Aief priests and principal people of Cairo, to preserve
peace in that city whilst he went in pursuit of Ibrahim,
the next in power to Murad Bey, and who was then
retreating towards Syria. He overtook him on the
borders of Egypt, attacked, and defeated him, taking
a considerable part of his baggage, though Ibrahim
defended himself valiantly, but was wounded in the
action.

Ibrahim indeed escaped with the shattered remnant
of his army; but this was only because Napoleon could
not venturfe to follow him to Gaza, whither he retired,
in consequence of the extensive desert which lay before
him. Lower Egypt, from this period, might be consi-
dered as in his possession ; yet he was still unpleasantly
situated, for his whole fleet of transports, together with
several frigates, lay blocked up in Alexandria, by an
English squadron, which entirely cut off his communi-
cation with France, intercepting completely all hope?
^ supply or relief from home.

Napoleon now prepared to put some of his ulterior
]»lan8 in execution; and, in order to facilitate his route
to India, by way of Arabia, he addressed a letter to the
Shereef or Arabian chief at Mecca, the sacred burial-
place of Mahomet, assuring him that he was much con-
cerned for the safety and prosperity of him and bis
people, that be himself was a devotee to the religion of
Mahomet, that every thing was quiet at Cairo and Suez,
and that not a single Mameluke oppressor remained in

'he consequences of ^le unprincipled invasion of
Egypt began now to be powerfully felt by Napoleon.
The Turkish government had already declared war
j^ainst France ; and England was preparing an expedi-
tion to co-operate in his expulsion from the country: he
therefore instantly determined upon action; and, in order
that he might not have two attacks to repel, one by sea,

and

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 3^9

and the other on the side of Syria, he resolved to march
into that country at once, iu order to annihilate any
force which they might have, there to bring against
him.

Much military and political skill were displayed by
Napoleon in his preparations for the enterprise now in
hand ; and, having with great judgment provided for the
internal tranquillity of Egypt, and for the security of the
army left there, against the incursions of the Arabs of
the desert, he gave orders in January to transport provi-
sions and stores by sea to the nearest port in Syria,
whilst his artillery was embarked on board of three fri-
gates which had orders to cruise off Jaffa, where they were
to open a communication with the French army as soon
as it should arrive there. Still was it necessary to have
extensive modes of conveyance, along with the army on
its march, for provisions, eveti for water, for the; light
artillery, ammunition, &;c. ; and for this purpose an im-
mense number of camels and mules were put in requisi-
tion at Cairo, and in other parts of the country.

Napoleon now formed his troops into four divisions,
giving the command to Kleber, Regnier, Bonn, and
Lasnes; whilst the cavalry was commanded by Murat,
the artillery by Dommartin, and the engineers by Caffa-
relli: the whole of which force formed a junction on the
4th of February; when Kieber's and Regnier's divisions
pushed on for El Arish, a village of some consequence
on- the Syrian borders, seated on the river Peneus,^ and

-the inhabitants living peaceably under a wise toleration,
it' not only having several Mahometan mosques, but being

^ilteo the seat of a Greek archbishop.

^ '^^bis peaceable state was, however, soon put an end
to, as General Grange, who commanded the advanced
guard of Regnier's division, entered it at the head of
his French philanthropists, who, with fixed bayonets,
soon drove the irregular troops of its garrison into the
fortress; but these retired with such precipitation that
•^OO of their number were either put to the sword or
made prisoners.

This incursion had not been unexpected on the part
of the Turks, who had sent a reinforcement of infantry,
and a convoy of provisions for the garrison, but who did
not ^friv£ until tl)«; J^lieiich had be^un the blockade of

220 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

'the fortress, and the Turkish corps then encamped in
sight of the place on a rising ground, which was also
covered by a deep ravine.

These were to be immediately attacked by the French;
but Kleber then having just arrived with his advanced
guard, it was proposed to him by Regnier that they
should manoeuvre so as to turn the ravine, and surprise
the-Mamehjke camp in the night, the Turkish force op-
posed to them consisting principally of that people.
"This attack was successful,, and the defeat complete, the
Whole of the horses, camels, and stores, being taken;
thereby forming a most fortunate supply for the inva-
ders, who were soon after joined by Napoleon himself.
He had set out from Cairo on the 10th of the month
with his etat major, and a strong escort, but did not
arrive at El Arish beibre the 17ih, having in his march
across the desert, encountered great difticulties, not only
from bad provisions and want of water, but also from the
hostility of the Arabs, who continually harassed him and
destroyed several of his troops and a great number of
his horses.

Having now assembled his whole army, he found it
imprudent to advance until El Arish had surrendered;
and, having taken up a besieging position before it with
his whole army, he, on the day alter his arrival, ordered
a cannonade to commence against one of the towers
of l;he fortress in which a breach was soon made, when
the motley garrison, consisting of Arnautes, and other
rude natives of the Turkish empire, men even without
leaders, and unacquainted with the forms or defences of
European warfare, were summoned to surrender. To
this demand the brave but rude people answered, that
they were willing to come out of the fort, with their
arms and baggage, as they wished to go to Acre; but
this Napoleon would not consent to, though he certainly-
delayed the assault, under the pretence of wishing to
spare the effusion of blood. Yet it was not until the
20th that the place capitulated, upon the general terms
of the troops being permitted to retire to Bagdat in
Persia, across the great desert. The surrender then took
place, and a considerable number of the irregulars,
prompted by hopes of plunder, joined the French army.

J^ajp^lgQO Jjow pushed on with his whole army, and
' -^tiiU-' oa

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. ggi

on the 94tb of Februaiy first entered Palestine, pointing
out to his army, from the village of Kanjouness, the fer-
tile and well-cultivated plains of Gaza, as he had before
shewn tliem the plains of Italy from the Alps.

A prospect of this kind could not indeed be but pleas-
ing- to them, as they had already traversed upwards of
eighty leagues of a dry and barren desert, surrounded on
all sides by a burning sand, except at El Arish, where
the prospect was a little diversified by a few insulated
spots of verdure, and by a few palm trees in the vicinity
of tlie wells. It was doubly pleasing to them also to
find the countr}^ in view put on a mountainous appear-
ance, after the dead flat to which they had been accus-
tomed on the sands of Egypt, a prospect which gave
better hopes of a fertile and plentiful country.

Hitherto Napoleon had met with little resistance; but
now, on approaching the heights of Korsum, which he
did on the Q4th, he was much atinoyed on his flanks by
Abdallah Pacha, with a force of 1000 cavalry, and 50,000
Naplouzian mt'antry, according to the French accounts,
though we believe that they were by no means so nu-
merous. Abdallah displayed some energy as well as
some skill in his manoeuvres, as he not only attempted
to turn their flanks, but also to entangle them in the
mountains; he was repulsed, however, in all his objects,
and obliged to fall back upon Gaza.

There indeed he did not venture to make any resist-
ance, but evacuated it in the night; and it was entered
by Napoleon on the 25th, who there found a consider-
able quantity of stores and provisions; whilst the in-
habitants, who had gone out to meet him, were treated,
according to his account, in the most friendly manner.

At Gaza his stay was not prolonged beyond the time
of taking possession of whatever might be useful to his
army; and accordingly, four days after the capture, he
pushed on for Jaffa, or Joppa, as it is called in Scripture,
which being a sea-port, was the place where his frigates,
with the heavy artillery, were ordered sto wait for him.
As Jaffa did not immediately open its gates to him, he
determined to commence the formality of a siege, and
accordingly ordered trenches to be opened, and batteries
to be constructed, which soon, by their fire, produced a
practicable breach in the old wall surrounding the

place.

222 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

^Iftce. Yet the garrison were not dismayed; but,
amounting, as it is said, to 5000 men, they made two
very spirited sorties, in which they icilled and wounded
many of the besieging army. This exasperated Napo-
leon, who instantly ordered the breach to be stormed,
and the whole garrison to be put lo the sword, in
hopes thus to strike terror through the whole of Pales-
tine.*

After

• it has been asserted that, Napoleon having thus carried Jaffa, bv
assault, many of the garrison were indeed put to the sword ; but the
greater part flying into the mosques, and imploring mercy from their
pursuers, were granted their lives : yet, three days afterwards, he ex-
pressed much resentment at the compassion manifested by his troops,
and determined to relieve himself from the maintenance and care of
S800 prisoi>ers, ordering them to be marched to a rising ground near
Jaffa, where a divisicm oi' French infantry formed against them. Na-
poleon, in person, previously inspected the whole body, with the object
of saving those of the towns he was preparing to attack, when the age
and noble physiognomy of a veteran Janizary attracted his notice, and
be asked him sharply " Old man, what did you do here ?" The Janizai-y,
undaunted, replied, " I nmst answer that question, by asking you
the same; ybar answer will be, that you came to serve your Sal-
taun; so did I mine." The intrepid frankness of this reply excited
universal interest in his favour ; Napoleon even smiled. " He is
saved," whispered one of the aids-du-camf>s. " You know not Buo-
naparte," observed one who had served with him in Italy: " that
smile, 1 speak from experience, does not proceed from the sentiment
of benevolence : remembej- what I say." This opinion was too true :
the Janizary was left lu the ranks condemned to death, and suffered;
for when all the Turks had entered into their fatal alignment, and the
mournful preparations were completed, the signal gun tired, and
Tdllies of musquetry and grape instantly played npon them, whilst
Buonaparte, who was now at some distance, observing the scene
through a spy-glass, could not restrain his joy when he saw the smoke
ascending, hut broke out into exclamations of approval. Indeed,
says the narrator tiom whom we quote, he had justTeason to dread the
refusal of his troops thus to dishonour themselves: for Kleberbaii i»-
•monstrated against it in the most stcenuoos manner, and the officer* of
the etat-major who commanded il;e division (for the General ot itwas
absent) even refused to execute the order without a written instruction;
this, however, Napoleon refused to give, but sent Berthier to enforce
obedience.

When the Turks had all fallen, it is said that the French troops
iJmmanely endeavoured to put a period to the sufferings of the wounded ;
but some time elapsed before the bayonet could finish what the fire had
not destroyed, and indeed it is probable that many languished several
days in agony, so mucti ?o that several French officers who witnessed it,
declared that « was a scenej'the retaiospcct of which tormented their

recollection.

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 935

After the fall of Jaffa, Napoleon, in the month of
March, put the French army again in motion, arriving
on the l6th at Sabarien, though with some difficulty
and labour in clearing the narrbvr passes of Mount Car-
mel, through which they were obliged to march in their
roiite to the plains of Acre. At this period Caiffa had
been abandoned by the garrison, and taken possession of
by Kleber, whilst, on the 17th, Napoleon, with his
whole army, had arrived on the banks of the river of
Acre, at a distance of little more than a mile from the
walls of that fortress. Here, with great rapidity, a bridge
was constructed during the night, so that the whole of
his army was enabled to pass over it at day-break on the
18th of March.*

Napoleon,

recollection, and that they could not reflect on it without horror,
accustomed as they had been to sights of cruelty.

. Another charge against Napoleon at Jaffa we must also mention, rs
it has already obtained great publicity, which is to be found in Sir
Robert Wilson's work, who asserts, that Napoleon, finding his hos-
pitals at Jaffa were crowded with sick, sent tor a physician, whose
name ought to be inscribed in letters of gold, but which for strong rea-
sons be could not well insert, and on his arrival entered into a long
conversation with Ijim respecting the danger of contagion, concluding
at iast with the remark, that something must be done to remedy the
evil, and that the destruction of the sick at present in the hospital ivas
the only measure which could be adopted. The physician, alarmed at
the ptxiposal,bold in the confidence of virtue,and the cause of humanity,
remonstrated vehemently, representing the cruelty as well as the atrocity
of such a murder; but, finding Napoleon persevered, and menticed, he
indignantly left the tenr, with this memorable observation — '* Neither
my principles, nor the character of my profession, will allow me to be-
come a human butcher: and. General, if such qualities as you insinuate,
are necessary to form a great man,- 1 thank God that I do not possess
them."

Najmleon, however, was not to be diverted from his object by moral
considerations ; he persevered, and found an apothecary, who (dreading
the weight of power, but who has since made an atonement to his mind
by^inequi vocally confessing theTact) consented to become his agent, and
to administer poison to the sick. Opium at night was distributed in
gratifying food ; the wretched unsuspecting victims banquetted ; and,
ia a few hours, 580 soldiers, who had suffered so much for their country,
miserably perished.

*■ The siege of Acre will, to the latest times, be a memorable era in
the life of Buonaparte, as it was there that lie met with his first repulse.
The city itself too is well known m classic and in scriptural lore, by the
names of Ptoiemais and Accho, afterwards receiving the appellation of
St. John d'Acre, from its being the first residence of the knights of St,
John of Jerusalem (afterwards knights of Malta) an order founded to

defend

524 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

Napoleon, as soon as his army was across the river,
ordered them to form an encampment upon an eminence
close to the breach ; and, on the 20th of March, he opened
his trenches at the distance of only 300 yards from the
body of the place.

In the operations which he had now in view, he was
much checked by the capture of his whole flotilla by
Sir Sidney Smith, who, in the Tigre line of-battle ship,
had arrived in those seas to co-operate with the other
British ships on the coast. This capture was particularly
unfortunate to him, as on board of this flotilla were the
whole of his heavy guns, ammunition, platforms, and
almost all other necessaries requisite for a siege.

Notwithstanding this loss, the siege of Acre was pro-
secuted by Napoleon with great vigour, and on the 30th
of the month he had so far succeeded as to effect a
breach in the north-east wall of the place, which he
immediately attempted to carry by assault. In this,
however, he was repulsed, and the ditch filled with hi&
dead; nay, so great was the enthusiasm of the garrison,
that they made two very successful sorties, in which they
gave severe checks to the besieging army.

Napoleon's engineers had by this time contrived to
construct a mine which run under the covered way
on the north side of Acre, the object of which was to
fill up the ditch close to the breach already formed,
and this it became necessary for the garrison to de-
stroy; accordingly, a third sortie took place under the
direction and management of the gallant Sir Sidney
Smith, and his brave seamen and marines, accompanied

defend the holy city from the insults and attacks of the Saracens at the
time of the crusades. It is first mentioned in the Old Testament in the
book of Judges, at which time it was attacked, but without success, by
the Jewish tribe of Asher, though it afterwards became subject to the
Jewish monarchs, then to the Romans, and subsequently to the Saracens
and Turks, undergoing many changes in the time of the holy wars.

It is situated close to the sea-shore, with a spacious plain to the
north-east, whilst its bay hes to the south: but its harbour was de-
stroyed by Facardino, a chief of the Druses, a nation of religious
enthusiasts, who rebelled against the Turks,, and, through a mistaken
policy, determined to destroy commerce, and filled up the harbour
with quantities of large stones, so that, in after ages, the means which
were taken to prevent the entrance of the Turkish war galleys, likewise
prevented the entrance of all trading ships, which, in consequence,
were obliged to anchor in the unsheltered, and open rotidstead.

by.

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 535

by a corps of 2000 Turks that had come to the defence
of the place. The Turks pushed on for the sortie,
whilst the English jumped into the unfinished mine,
which they entirely destroyed, hy tearing (1q\\ n all its sup-
ports, and otherwise rendering it useless for its intended
purpose.

The French were astonished to meet with such a resist-
ance; but it must in a great measure be imputed to Sir
Sidney and his gallant few, who were always the fore-
most in danger, whilst 2000 artilh-rymen, Turks and
English, kept up a heavy and unceasing fire upon the
French from the walls of the fortress.

The supply of artillerymen had but lately arrived
from Constantinople, and were under the direction of
Colonel Phelippeaux, the friend of Sir Sidney, a gal-
lant emigrant, who served as the chief engineer of the
place; and to whose councils, plans, and unwearied ex-
ertions in his duty, may, in concert with the English,
the successful defence of Acre be justly attributed.

The attention of Napoleon was drawn otF from the
siege for some time, by a force which had been collected
from different quarters. It appears that Djezzar, the
Pacha of Acre, had sent his emissaries among the Na-
piouzians, and to the cities of Sidon, Damascus, and
Aleppo, and, with them, considerable sums of money,
to induce all the Mussulmen in those parts, who were
capable of bearing arms, to rise en masse, for the pur-
pose, as expressed in the firmans, of combating the
infidels. This measure produced a considerable t^fi'ect;
large bodies of troops were assembled at Damascus,
and magazines were establishing at the fort of Tabarie,
which was occupied by the Maugrabins.

Napoleon soon learned that this force was preparing to
pass the Jordan, in order to join the Arabs and Na-
plouzians, and to attack him before Acre, at the same
time that Djezzar should make a grand sortie, sup-
ported by the fire of the English vessels ; he was also
informed, that some troops had passed the bridge of
Jacob on the Jordan. The officer who commanded
the advanced posts at Nazareth, sent intelligence that
another column had passed the bridge called Jesre-el-
Meckanie, and had advanced to Tabarie; that the
Arabs appeared in great numbers at the entrance of

YOL. II. F F th«

226 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

the mountains of Naplouze, and that Tabarie and
Jenin had received considerable supplies of provisions.

The general of brigade, Junot, vpas sent to observe
their motions. He marched, with a part of the 2d light
infantry, three companies of the 19th, consisting of
about 330 men, and a detachment of 160 cavalry,
drafted from different corps, for the purpose of recon-
•noitring. At a short distance from Ghasar-Kana, he
perceived the enemy, on an eminence near Loubi: he
pursued his march, turned the mountain, and found him-
self surrounded in an adjoining plain, by a body of about
SOOO cavalry. The most intrepid of these rushed upon
his force, but were soon driven back. General Junot,
with his little force, gradually gained the heights near
Nazareth, on which route he fought for the space of two
leagues.

Napoleon, on receiving intelligence of this engage-
ment, ordered Kleber to set out from the camp before
Acre with the remainder of the advanced guard, in order
to join Junot at Nazareth. He repaired to Nazareth for
a supply of provisions; and, being informed that the
enemy had not quitted their position near Loubi, he
determined to march against, and to attack them the
■next day. He had scarcely reached the heights of Sed-
jara, a quarter of a league from Loubi, and a league and
a half from Kaua, when the enemy descended from their
elevated position, and rushed into the plain. General
Kleber was immediately surrounded by a body of nearly
4000 cavalry, and five or six hundred foot, who prepared
to charge him : this he anticipated by attacking the
cavalry, and, at the same time, directing a part of his
force against the enemy's camp, near Sed-jara, which he
carried ; the enemy abandoned the field of battle, and re-
treated in disorder, towards the Jordan, whither he could
not pursue them for want of ammunition. The French
then returned to the positioiis of Safarie, and of Nazareth,
but were not long suffered to remain quiet, as the hordes
lately defeated were joined by an immense body of Sa-
maritans, or Naplouzians. The f ntire force, according
to General Kleber's accounts, was between fifteen av)d
eighteen thousand men; but the exageerated statements
of the inhabitants of the country increased their nurn-
ber* lo forty or fifty thousand. Independent of this,
913? i'> ■ Napoleon

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 227

Napoleon learnt that the country all round was ri&ing to
attack the posts which he had stationed in the wilder-
ness; he determined, therefore, that a decisive battle
should be fought, with a view of efFectually subduing a
niultituue, who, taking advantage of their numbers,
harassed him with a desultory warfare, almost to the
verge of his camp.

He left the siege of Acre to the Generals Regnier and
Lasnes, and set out from the camp, with the remainder
of the cavalry (General Murat having before been ordered
to reinforce Kleber with 1000 infantry and a regiment of
cavalry), the division of General Bonn, and eight field-
pieces; he took a position on the heights of Safarie,
where the troops were all night underarms. He marched
towards Fouli, through the defiles which branched
among the mountains, and arrived at the heights, from
whence Fouli and Mount Tabor can be seen ; he per-
ceived, at the distance of about three leagues, the divi-
sion of General Kleber actually engaged with the enemy,
whose force appeared to be about 25,000, all cavalry,
and surrounding the French troops, who did not exceed
2000. Napoleon formed his force into three squares,
one of which was cavalry, and prepared for turning the
enemy at a considerable distance, in order to separate
then/from the camp, cut off their retreat to Jennin,
where their magazines were established, and to drive
them to the Jordan, where General Murat could suc-
cesfully, and finally, encounter them. The cavalry,
under the command of General Le Turq, with two
light field-pieces, were ordered to storm the camp of
the Mamelukes, while the infantry advanced against the
main body.

General Kleber, on his march from the camp at Safarie,
had been led astray by the guides, and retarded by the
difficulties of the way and the defiles he had to pass; he
was unable to come up with the Mamelukes, until, being
informed of his approach by their advanced posts on the
heights of Harmon, they had time to make preparations
for his reception. General Kleber formed his infantry
into two square columns, and occupied some ruins in his
front. The enemy stationed the Naplouzian infantry,
with two small field-pieces, brought by camels, in the
nll&gQ, ctf Fouli ; all the cavalry, to the amount of 25,000,
imi^y^ F s- ^ surrounded

928 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

surrounded the army of Kleber, but without success;
every effort to dislodge it was defeated by superior skill j
the French musquetry and grape-shot did considerable
execution.

Napoleon, on arriving within half a league from the
scene of action, ordered General Rampon to march di-
rectly to the assistance of Kleber's division, and to attack
the enemy on the flanks and in the rear. General Vial
was ordered to proceed to the mountains of Noures, in
order to force the enemy towards the Jordan ; and the
infantry guides were commanded to direct the course of
the remaining troops towards Jenin, so as to intercept
their retreat to that quarter. At the moment the co-
lumns began to advance in their different directions, an
eight-pounder was discharged. General Kleber knowing
by this signal of the approach of the General-in-Chief,
no longer remained on the defensive, he advanced to the
village of Fouli, which he attacked and carried by the
bayonet; he then advanced rapidly towards the cavalry,
putting all those who resisted his progress to the sword.
At the same time Generals Rampon and Vial cut off the
retreat of the enemy towards the mountains of Naplouze,
and the infantry guides shot such as attempted to escape
towards Jenin. Disorder and hesitation prevailed ; the
enemy saw their retreat to their camp intercepted, they
were cut off from their magazines, and surrounded by
their adversaries on all sides. At length they determined
to seek for refuge in the rear of Mount Tabor: this situ-
ation they gained, and retreated, during the night, over
the bridge of EUMekanie; some, in endeavouring to
pass at a ford, were drowned in the Jordan.

Genera! Murat liad driven the Turks from their posi-
tion at the bridge of Jacob, surprised the son of the
governor of Damascus, carried his camp, killed a great
number of men, raised the blockade of Saffet, and pur-
sued the enemy stveral leagues on the route to Damascus.
The column of cavalry, under the order of the Adjutant-
General Le Turq, had surprised the camp of the Mame-
lukes, carried off 300 camels, with their provisions, killed
a great number of men, and made 2.50 prisoners. Whilst
the army remained under arms at Mount Tabor, Napo-
leon resorted to his usual mode of encouraging the troops,
by representing those trifling advantages as affairs of the

greatest

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 259

greatest consequence. From this point, intelligence of
the recent successes were dispatched to the different
corps occupying Tyre, Caesarea, the Cataracts of the
Nile, the Pelusian mouths, Alexandria, the posts on the
borders of the Red Sea, at the ruins of Kolsum, and at
Arsinoe.

The result of this battle was, the discomfiture of
25,000 cavalry, and 10,000 infantry, by 4000 French
troops; the capture of all the enemy's magazines in these
parts, and their flight to Damascus. By their own acr
counts their loss exceeded 3000 men ; and they were at
a loss to conceive how, at the same moment, they could
have been defeated on a line extending nine leagues, so
little notion had they of combined operations.

Napoleon now returned to Acre, imagining that he
had accomplished great objects ; but, in reality, he had
been merely promoting the views of the British and
Turkish commanders.

At liberty now to resume the siege of Acre in full
force. Napoleon contented himself with leaving Kleber
to guard the passes of the river Jordan, and instantly re-
turned to his former positions, where the operations were
carried on with redoubled vigour, and with redoubled
vigour opposed, as both parties were now reinforced by
fresh arrivals.

Hassan Bey, the Turkish admiral, anchored in the
bay of Acre with a fleet of small ships of war, accom-
panied by transports filled with reinforcements for the
garrison r this took place on the 7th of May, and was by
that time much wanted, as, on the 28th of the preced-
ing month, the French frigates, under the command of
Vice-Admiral Perrin, on board of which were shipped
the heavy battering-guns, had arrived at Jaffa, from
whence three heavy pieces, twenty-four pounders, to-
gether with six eighteens, were immediately sent for-
ward by land.

Napoleon, thus strengthened, now determined to pro-
ceed to the most powerful exertions, particularly on the
arrival of Hassan Bey, whose succours he wished to an-
ticipate by a most vigorous assault, hoping to obtain pos-
session of Acre before they could be landed.

The assault, therefore, began in the evening of the 7th
®f May, whilst every means were taken on the part of

the

230 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

the besieged to repel them, particularly by placing the
gun-boats to flatik the assault, whilst the musquetry from
the walls did great execution. The perseverance of the
assailants was, however, in a military point of view,
most prpisewortby ; and they began to gain ground in
spite of the most obstinate resistance, having been lucky
enough, by their heavy lire, to batter down the upper
part of the north-east tower, whose ruins thus filling the
ditch, they were enabled to ascend to the second story
of the tower, and" there to form a lodgment, hoisting
their national flag on the outer angle of the tower,
just as day began to dawn on the morning of the Sth of
May.

The fire of the garrison was now much slackened,
whilst that of the French preserved its full force ; and,
as the assailants were pretty well under cover by the
lodgments they had made, the enfilading fire of the gar-
rison was of less eifect. The dawn of day also shewed
the temporat-y traverses thrown up by the French, which,
by Napoleon's order, were actually composed, not only
of sand-bags, but even of the dead bodies which had
fallen in the previous part of the assault, with nothing
but the bayonets to be seen, so completely were they
under cover. The monjent was critical; Napoleon was
on the point of advancing with fresh troops upon the
jaded garrison ; and Hassan Bey's troops, though pre-
paring to land were yet only half way to the shore. Not
a moment was to be lost; indeed, the place would have
been instantly carried, had not Sir Sidney Smith, with
the utmost energy and promptitude, instantly hoisted out
all the Tigre's boats, taking on shore with him the great-
est part of his own crew and of the other vessels, who,
armed principally with pikes, ran up to the breach, in
their way to which they were received with the most en-
thusiastic joy and gratitude by all the Turkish inhabit-
ants, of every sex and age, who at the sight of such a
reinforcement began to recover their lost hopes.

The garrison, part of which had left the breach, now
instantly returned, when the whole advanced to the spot,
then only defended by a small but gallant band of Turks,
ivhose ammnnition was spent, and who were therefore
reduced to the necessity of throwing down heavy stones
upon the heads of the assailants, knocking down the

headmost

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. SSI

headmost upon the steep slope, and thus checking the
advance of the others. Such means of annoyance wouhl
not, however, have long availed them, for a succession
of fresh troops was still advancing ; and though the ruins
in the breach served as a breast-work for both parties, yet
they were now so close that the muzzles of their musquets
touched one another, and the spearheads of some of the
standards actually locked together.

The Pacha, with cool courage and determination, was
sitting quietly at some distance from the spot; where,
according to the usual custom of the country, he dis-
tributed rewards successively to such as brought him the
heads of the fallen Frenchmen, and in the intervals was
attending to the supply of musquet cartridges for his
troops ; but no sooner was information brought him that
the English were in breach, than the generous old man
ran to the spot, and forcibly pulled many of them down
from it, exclaiming, that if any harm should happen to Sir
Sidney Smith, or bis other English friends, then he should
be lost. This amicable contest, as heroic as any which
took place in the days of chivalry, and in the time of
the Crusades, gave time for a large body of Turks to rush
to the breach, and thus time was gained for the arrival of
the troops of Hassan Bey, who were now disembarking.
Still were there some difficulties in the way of the defend-
ers, difficulties which must have cost the loss of the
place, bad it not been for the presence of Sir Sidney
Smith, whose influence over the mind of Djezzar enabled
him to overcome his most obstinate scruples. The
fact is, that at this moment the garden of the seraglio
was a most important post, as it occupied the terrephin,
or flat ground in the centre of the rampart, and here the
Pacha was unwilling to admit any troops except the Al-
banian corps Vv'hich had long been in his service. These,
however, had all fallen, with the exception of about 200
men, totally inadequate to the service required, and Sir
Sidney, with the utmost promptitude, hastily over-ruled
the old man's objections, and instantly introduced the
Turkish Chifflich regiment, consisting of upwards of one
thousand men, all armed with bay onets,.and, disciplined
according to the European system. The appearance of
such a reinforcement gave fresh spirits to the almost
despairing garrison ; but the Pacha, notwithstanding the

succeii

2$g NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE,

success of the manoeuvre, still felt some jealousy at the
introduction of those strangers into the gardens hitherto
consecrated to his own privacy, when Sir Sidney, availing
himself of this very circumsiance, instantly proposed to
the old man to get rid of the objects of his jealousy by
opening the gates, and thus enabling them to make a
sally, and take the assailants in flank. This was instantly
done ; orders were given to the Turkish oliicer command-
ing, to obtaiu possession of the third French parallel, or
nearest parellel, and the Turks rushed out, but were
again driven back into the place with some loss, though
the manoeuvre was still attended with some advantage, as
it obliged the assailants to expose themselves above their
parapets, and thereby enable the flankers of the garrison
to pour m a most destructive fire, bringing down great
numbers of the Frenchmen. The greatest part of the
assailant force too was thus drawn from the breach,
where the remainder, who had made the lodgment, were
immediately either killed or dispersed.

At this period, thegroupe of French generals and aids-
du-camp, whom a heavy fire of shells from sixty-eight
pounders had often dispersed, were now assembled on an
artificial mount, called the Mount of Richard Cceur de
Lion, where Napoleon was easily distir>guishable in the
centre of the semicircle. Here his gesticulations were
easily seen, and understood to indicate an intention of
renewing the assault, whilst the sending off" an aid-du-
camp to the camp shewed, as was well comprehended by
Sir Sidney, that he only waited for a reinforcement for
that purpose. Nor was the gallant knight deceived in his
conjectures; for, a little before sun-set, a massive columr>
was seen approaching, and advancing to the breach with
a solemn step.

The plan now proposed by Djezzar was, that the breach
itself should not now be defended, but that a certain
number of the assailants should be permitted to enter,
and that the garrison, according to the Turkish mode of
warfare, should then close with and destroy them. This
was adhered to, and of course the French column
mounted the breach without opposition, and instantly de-
scended from the rampart into the gardenof the seraglio;
but there they met with a most unexpected resistance, one
indeed, for which they were now in some measure un-
prepared.

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 533

prepared, and of cotirse the advance, consisting of their
most resolute and darino- troops, were soon sabred — lying,
Ptrewed on the ground, headless corses; for the sabre,
with the addition of the dagger in the other hand, now
proved more than a match for the bayonet, at clos«
quarters.

Struck with the scene, the rest of the column instantly
fled ; and Lasnes, who commanded, was wounded, in the
very act of encouraging his men to remount the breach,
whilst General Rambaud was killed. The whole of
this taking place in day-light, it happened that immense
crowds of spectators were assembled to witness the con-
test, on the surrounding hills; and great part of these, it
is said, according to the Asiatic custom, only waited to
see how it would end, in order that they might then with
safety join the victors: but the repulse was so decisive,
that their fidelity to their old friends reniained unshaken.

Things remained in a quiet posture until the night of
the 9th of May ; when a fresh sortie was made by the
Chifflic regiment, whose Lieutenant-Colonel, Solyman
Aga, was determined to recover the honour of his corps,
by a punctual and steady fulfilment of the orders which
he had before received. This was to get possession of
the third parallel of the assailants, and this he now exe-
cuted with skill and energy; for the promptitude with
which it was carried actually enabled a few of his men
to push on for the second trench, where, though they
were obliged to leave their standards behind them, they
were so far successful as to spike up four of the French
pieces of artillery.

This was a most important service; for at this very
moment Napoleon had directed Kleber's division to pre-
pare for a fresh assault. His service^ however, was changed;
and, instead^ of storming the breach in Acre, he was
obliged to attempt the recovery of their own works, which
was not done uiuii after a contest of several hours, when
the Turks retired.

Napoleon, finding that force was no longer of avail,
now determined to employ treachery in order to gain
possess, on of the place; and accordingly he dispatched
an Arabian dervise into the town, with a flag of truce,
;«id a letter for Djezzar, in which he proposed a cessation
of arms in order to bury the dead, whose stench was now

.voi. n, Q e so

234 ' NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

so intoUrable that the existence of both parties was at
stake: and, in fact, so horrid and so rapid was the infec-
tion which had now taken place, that numbers, both
Turks and Frenchmen, had fallen victims to it, dying in
a state of delirium in a very few hours after its first
symptoms.

Supposing that, whilst the chiefs should be occupied in
consultation upon this subject, the garrison would be
relaxed also in its duty, the wary, but dishonourable
chief, ordered his columns to advance to the assault,
-which was announced by a rapid and heavy fire of shot
and shells. He was, however, deservedly disappointed
in his expectations; for the vigilant garrison was ready to
receive him, and the treacherous assailants only served
to increase the number of those whose bones were now
whitening the sandy plains of Syria, and this to the
eternal disgrace, as energetically observed by Sir Sidney,
in bis dispatches, of the general who had thus disloyally
sacrificed them.

So enraged were the Turks at this horrid and trea-
qhierous attempt, that it was with the utmost difficulty
Sir Sidney was enabled to preserve the life of the
Arabian d^rvise, who doubtless had been the inconscious
instrument of republican duplicity; but at length he suc-
ceeded in getting him otf on board the Tigre, from
whence he sent him back to Napoleon. Sir Sidney was
not, however, so successful in restraining the Turks from
executing their revenge upon their French prisoners; for
it is asserted that these were bound, two and two to-
gether, and, their heads being first cut off, they were put
into sac ks and thrown into the sea.

Napoleon now saw that ail hopes of success had va-
nishf^d : in fact, his authority over his troops was rather on
the decline, after an unsuccessful siege of sixty days ; and
he had, therefore, no alternative but a retreat, which
actually took place on the night of the 20th of May.
This was, indeed, an operation which could not require
much preparation, as there was little to carry off with the
troops, except their battering artillery, and which was
embarked on board of country vessels as soon as the
army arrived at Jaffa, in order that the rapidity of their
retreat might not be impeded; to which also, they
added great part of the wounded.

Napoleon

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. <235

Napoleon had now occasion for all his resolution and
presence of mind, to induce his troops to bear up under
their present sufferings, as the retreat was accompanied
by every species of distress. His skill in preparing for
this retreat was of the very first order; for the great body
of his army moved off in dt;ep silence with all their bag-
gage, and as soon as they had crossed the river of Acre,
all its bridges were cut down ; but, as workmen must be
left for that purpose, he appointed a small corps to cover
them, with orders not to quit their post until two hours
after the main body had crossed over. So well was this
conducted, that neither the garrison nor squadron had
any suspicion of it, but both kept up a heavy fire during
the night, whilst Napoleon was pushing on, and actually
arrived at Cantouara the next day, the 21st of May.
Here he was obliged to throw a great part of his re-
maining artillery into the sea, and, at the same time, to
embark twenty pieces, with some of his wounded, on
board of as many of the country boats as he could pro-
cure, in order that they might proceed to Jaffa; and this
measure must have been one of the first necessity, for
the whole of his retreat, not only thus far, but even the
whole track between Acre and Gaza was strewed with
the dead bodies of those who had sunk under fatigue, or
iVom the etfect of their wounds. Thus ended the me-
morable siege of Acre; and Napoleon, who had hitherto
been considered invincible, now, for the first time, ex-
perienced the moi tification of a defeat from an enemy
which he had always affected to despise.

On the 22d of May, his army arrived at Caesarea, and
from thence it proceeded to Jaffa, where he levied a con-
tribution of 150,000 livres (between six and seven thou-
sand pounds), and^ afterwards levelled the fortifications
with the ground, throwing all the artillery into the
sea.

Having completed this work of destruction. Napoleon
set off for Gaza, where he arrived on the 31st of May,
and immediately ordered the works to be blown up;
after which, he laid a fine of 100,000 livres on three of
the richest inhabitants of the place.

On the $d of the month he once more entered the

desert, but took care to bring with him an immense

ijuantity of cattle, which had been plundered in every

GT Q ^ quarte;:.

236 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

quarter. He arrived at El Arisb on the 3d of the month,
and witli much ostentation ordered new works to be
raised, having left there such part of his plunder as he
could not carry across the next desert of twenty two
leagues; during which march his army suffered dread-
fully from thirst and other privations, though he had
the precaution to order them to proceed in different
divisions. On his arrival at Cathieh on the 4th of June,
he directed the army to halt for refreshment; but he
himself, to shew his indefatigahility, proceeded to the
port of Tineh, to reconnoitre and give orders. Two days
after which, Kleber's division marched to Tineh, to em-
bark for Damietta; whilst Napoleon himself, with the
remains of the army, marched by land to Cairo, in which
city he arrived on the 14th of June.

The Anj^lo-Turkish forces having succeeded so well
in frustrating the views. of Napoleon, it was to be ex-
pected that they would follow up their successes. Of
this be seems to have been aware; for, immediately on
his arrival at Cairo, he made such arrangements as
s-hould enable him to protect the sea-coast and the Syrian
frontier.

The Mamelukes in Upper Egypt had divided their
forces: a party had gone to the Oasis of Sebabiar,
with the design of joining Ibrahim Bey, who bad re-
turned to Gaza, while the other, with Murad Bey, had
descended through the Fayum, to gain the Oasis of the
Lakes of Natron, in order to form a junction with a
body of Arabs assembled in that quarter. This march
of Murad Bey, combined with the movements of the
Arabs, indicated a design of protecting a descent, either
at Aboukir or at the Tower of the Arabs. To prevent
this junction was a material point vi^ith the French.
For this purpose. Napoleon set out from Cairo on the
14th of July, and advanced towards the pyramids of
Gizah, where he ordered General Murat to join him.
Napoleon, who had designed to halt two or three days
at the pyramids, received intelligence from Alexandria,
that a Turkish fleet, of 100 sail, had anchored off
Aboukir, on the 11th of July, and manifested hostile
designs on Alexaniiria. He immediately moved his
main army, and took up a position at Birket, on the 23d
©f July, fixing his head-quarters at Alexandria ; three

battalion*

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 2S7

battalions of the garrison of which city, he ordered,
under General D'Estaiug, to reconnoitre the enemy, and
also to take a position and see the walls cleared between
Alexandria and Aboukir. The whole of the morning of
the 24th he employed in inspecting the fortifications of
Alexandria, and in preparing every thing for the intended
attack; having got information from his spies, that Mus-
tapha, the Turkish Pacha, had landed with all his troops,
a great quantity of artillery, and a number of horses, and
was then employed in erecting works for his defence. In
consequence of this intelligence. Napoleon, in the after-
noon of that day, set off from Alexandria with his mam
army, sending advanced parties in front, and bivouacking
for the night ; from whence the whole began to move
forward at day-break on the morning of the 25th of
July, in the direction of Aboukir. At this moment, a
Fuench brigadier-general, with two corps of infantry, and
an hundred dromedaries, was ordered to take post at
Alexandria, behind the body of the army, in order to check
the Arabs, and the Mamelukes under Murad Bey (who
were every moment expected to arrive to form a junction
with the Turkish army), and in short to preserve a com-
munication with the city in case of a reverse ; whilst a
grand division of the French proceeded to Rosetta, near
the entrance of the lake of Madie, so as to be able to
cannonade any gun-boals which might attempt, by that
quarter, to annoy the tlanks of Napoleon's army.

The first line of the Turkish army was in positioa
about half a league in front of the fort of Aboukir;
whilst about 100 men occupied a sandy mount, defended
on its light towards the sea by entrenchments, and sup-
ported by a village at a short distance from it, which was
occupied by l^iOO men, and four pieces of artillery. The
Turkish left was upon a detached sand hill, to the left of
the peninsula, and about two-thirds of a mile in front
of the first line. The position itself was not a very
strong one, nor was there time to make it so; but the
Turkish general had judged it prudent to occupy it, in
order to cover the walls of Aboukir; at the same time
placing some gun-boats so as to protect the space be-
tween this position and that of the second line, which
was also occupied by 2000 men provided with six pieces
«f artillery. The second Turkish position was about one-
^ third

23^8 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

third of a mile in the rear of the first village; their
centre at a redoubt which they had taken from the
French ; and their right behind an entrenchment extend-
ing from that redoubt to the sea; whilst their left was.
posted between the redoubt and the sea, on some low
sand hills and the shore, and commanded by the fire from
the redoubts and gun-boats. In the latter position, there
were about 700 men, with 22 pieces of cannon. At sonie
distance behind this redoubt, lay the village and fort of
Aboukir, occupied by about 1500 troops; and here were
the headrquarters of the Turkish general, whilst the
squadron was at anchor in the road about five miles from
the shore.

After a march of two hours, the advanced guard of
the French army came in sight of that of the Turks,
who, on being attacked by the French with the bayonet,
immediately retreated towards the villages ; in which
operation they were cut off by two squadrons of cavalry,
and a platoon of mounted guides, who killed or drove into
the sea the whole of the body, to the amount of about
200 men, of whom not one escaped.

The same division of the French army then marched
upon the village which formed the centre of the second
Turkish line, and turned it, whilst another division at-
tacked in front. By this manoeuvre the whole second
line, including the village, was carried; the French
cavalry killing many with their sabres and driving the
remainder into the sea. Some, however, still remained-
to escape into the redoubt which formed the centre of
the second position, a post of considerable strength, the
redoubt itself being flanked by a ditch of communication,
which secured the peninsula on the right, as far as the
sea: besides this, another ditch of the same kind
stretched along on the left, to a small distance from the
redoubt, the intermediate space being occupied by the
Turkish army, who were posted on the sand hills, and
in the batteries, to the number, according to the French
account, of eight or nine thousand men.

The French were now obliged to halt to take breath,
and in the mean time Napoleon ordered some pieces of
artillery to be planted in the village and along the shore
to the left, whilst a fire was opened on the redoubt and
en the Turkish right wing; the French cavalry at the'

same

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 239

same time attacking the Turkish left, which it repeatedly
charged with great impetuosity, cutting down, or driving
into the sea, all who came in their way.

Notwithstanding these advantages, the French could
not penetrate beyond the redoubt, without being exposed
to a cross fire from it, and from the gun-boats; but,
^' hurried on by their bravery" into this terrible defile,
they fell back at each charge, whilst the Turks made a
Stand with fresh forces on the dead bodies of their com-
rades. Napoleon now sent a reinforcement of infantry
to this spot ; but in the mean time the Turks made a
sally, and the heads of the hostile columns fought body
to body. The Turks endeavoured, by the superiority
of their bodily strength, to wrest the bayonets from the
French; they even slung their musquets behind them,
and fought with their sabres and pistols: but a whole
French regiment at length reached the entrenchment,
yet the fire from the redoubt, which every where flanked
the entrenchments into which the Turks again retired,
checked the adv^ance of iheir colurrtns.

The Turks, notwithstanding the dreadful fire. from
the village, now darted from their entrenchments to cut
off the heads of the dead and wounded, that they might
receive the rewards usual in that service; but another
corps of French infantry was dispatched in support of
the first, who leaped on the parapet and were soon within
the redoubt, whilst another corps of the French rushed
forward on the charge.

During the whole of this business, Murat commanded
the advanced guard, and was acknowledged to have sup-
ported the various movements witli <rreat ability and
coolness; and he now seized the moment, when the re-
doubt was attacked, to order a corps of infantry to
charge, and to carry all the Turkish positions as far as
the ditch of the fort of Aboukir; a movement executed
with so much impetuosity, and so opportunely, that at
the instant when the redoubt wag forced, this last column
had already reached its destination, and thus entirely cut
off the retreat of the Turks from the fort itself.

Confused and terrified, the Turks now every where
met only with the bayonet and death; the cavalry cut
them down with their sabres ; and they be)iev< d that
they had now no resource left but to fly into the sea,

into

S40 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

into which six or seven thousand precipitated them-
selves in total despair. Mustapha Pacha, the com-
mander-in-chief, was taken prisoner with about 200
men; and it is asserted that 2000 v^^ere left on the field
of battle : all their tents, baggage, and twenty pieces of
artillery, fell into the handsof the French.

The expedition to Egypt having evidently failed in its
object, and an host of enemies having appeared against
the project of forming for France this beautiful colony.
Napoleon clearly perceived that any efforts of his would
be inadequate to retain his ground in that country:
besides which, the affairs of France at home were, from
the mismanagement of th« government, in a situation
that required some bold effort to rescue it from impend-
ing destruction. Actuated by views arising from these
circumstances, as well as from the private intelligence of
his friends at Paris, Napoleon resolved to desert that
army which he had so proudly and ostentatiously led as
to the certain conquest of the East. Too many reflec-
tions unfavourable to the character of Napoleon arise,
to find limits in a work of this nature: they must na-
turally occur to the minds of our readers. It may be
urged, that his desertion of one part of his service to the
republic, in order to promote its glory by his efforts in
another (leaving out of our contemplation the selfish
views and the personal aggrandisements which followed),
could not possibly affect his character, or fix any impu-
tation upon the purity of his motives. But his most
zealous admirers must admit, that the first duty of an
upright character is to keep its word inviolate; and thai,
if entrusted with the command of a great expedition, he
best shews the greatness of his mind by steadily ad-
hering to it in all its reverses, and sharing with it
every calamity. Not so with Napoleon: he wanted an
excuse to abandon his army, and he found one. He
collected a few of his most obsequious followers, and
clandestinely quitted Egypt in their company, without
intimating or giving the shortest notice of his design.

Having resolved to quit his army, he ordered Admiral
Gantheaume to fit the two frigates that lay at Alexandria
for sea, and to give information to head-quarters of the
first moment when the combined squadrons of Englarwi
and Turkey should quit their cruizing ground.

At

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 241

At six o'clock in the evening of the ISth of August,
Napoleon received the welcome intelligence that all was
ready ; and immediately sent orders to the few who were
to accompany him, that they should be in readiness, at
midnight, to set off on the tour of Lower Egypt. This
was done; and they had particular instructions to meet
him on the beach, each with sealed instructions, which
were not to be opened until their arrival at the ren-
dezvous. On their proceeding to the spot they there
found Napoleon, and immediately embarked on board
the two frigates prepared by Gantheaume, which in-
stantly put to sea ; leaving nothing for General Kleber,
but some sealed orders, and an army filled with rage,
despondency, and surprise, when they first became ac-
quainted with the perfidy of their chief, and the horrors
of their situation.

Their voyage was much retarded by light and baffling
winds; and particularly prolonged by the route adopted,
which was close to the African coast, in order to evade
the English cruizers: but at length the mountains of
Napoleon's native island rose upon his view, and he ar-
rived at Ajaccio; from whence, after a short stay, he
pushed off for the coast of France, and landed in Frejus
bay, to the north-east of Toulon.

Napoleon, with his companions and suite, landed
amidst a vast crowd of people : the moment they
touched the shore, they fell down, in imitation of the
ancient classic customs, and embraced the ground, which
they called the land of liberty. Transports of enthu-
siastic joy broke out on all sides, and nothing was heard
but" Vive la Republique ! Vive Buonaparte !'''

At six o'clock in the evening of that day, he set off
with Berthier for Paris, and was every where received
with the loudest plaudits in every town upon his route,
as well as with illuminations in all the principal places
through which he passed.

France, at this period, was hastening very fast to those
scenes of anarchy and confusion which had marked the
progress of the revolution. Insurrection blazed in the
southern and western departments; clubs of the Ja-
cobins were formed in the capital; and General Jourdan
had proposed a decree in the CounciJ of Five Hundred,
declaring the country in danger: when, in the midst of

•yot. n, H n this

§42 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

this threatening aspect of aflfaiis, Napoleon arrived at
Paris. His arrival was welcomed apparently by all
parties; for the public knew but little of the state in
which he had left his army, and of his manner of deserting
it. The Parisians surrounded him; and each seemed
more desirous than the other of welcoming his return.
His manners appeared more affable than they were before
he quitted France; he spoke freely to the people, and
shook several soldiers by the hand who had served with
him in Italy. His complexion bronzed by the F^gtyptian
suns, and his hair cut short and without powder, gave
him an appearance of greater manliness and strength
than were observable in him previous to his leaving Eu-
rope. He was out of uniform, and wore a grey riding-
coat, with a silk scarf over his shoulder suspending a
Turkish sabre. He passed along the courts and streets
leading to the Luxembourgh amidst the acclamations
of the populace, and immediately had a private audience
of the Directory.

Sieyes, the Director, had long foreseen the consequences
which were likely to result from the imbecility of the
government, the energy of the factions, and the anarchy
of the people; he saw, that, if means were not adopted
to render the executive power sufficiently strong to be
feared, that it would not be respected. He despised
each of his colleagues; and only one of them had his con-
fidence, which was Roger Ducos. Sieyes disclosed to
Ducos his intention of calling in the aid of one of the ge-
nerals, to save the republic and themselves by over-
throwing the Directory: he was secretly pleased at that
joy of the people, on the arrival of their favourite, which
alarmed the other Directors; he welcomed him to his
apartments in the Luxembourg, disclosed to him his
project, and required his aid in its execution. The wile
of the ex-priest, and the arts of the ex-chief of the army
of Egypt, combined a plan, in which both engaged from
individual ambition, without any regard to the interests
or intention of the other. Each so well concealed his
owndesign that they duped one another : and very little
remained, but to strike tiie blow, and take the full ad-
vantage of its success, which each supposed he should im-
mediately possess himself of in his own way.

A variety of secret conferences were now held, at which

tlie

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 343

the Director Sieyes, the Director Roger Ducos, Talley-
rand, Fouche, Vohiey, Roederer, Reinhard, and Napoleon,
with his brothers Lucien and Joseph, were present: few
others of any consequence were entrusted with the con-
spiracy ; but those who were, managed their confidence
with great discretion. They created various rumours ; and,
among others, a rumour, that a new plan of government
was forming for the republic. Thus a change was gene-
rally talked of amongst the people, withoutany oneknow-
ing from whence it was to proceed, or when it would be.
The public mind was, however, prepared for a change^
come whenever it might; and all that seemed necessary
to make it to the taste of the Parisians was the destruction
of the Directory. A few of the Council of Ancients and
the Council of Five Hundred were also in the secret.

Napoleon appeared very little in public; he seemed
to court seclusion from the gaze of the curiosity of the
idle, and he declined the visits of those who had no real
business to transact with him; every body talked of him,
but of those who talked very few knew any thing about
him. He was busied in attaching to himself men of
talents and enterprise, whose interest was to bfe silent,
that their plans might be secure in their operation.

Sieyes and Ducos acted their parts in a very natural
way, and in a manner well calculated to lull their brother
Directors in security : they prevailed on them to invite
General Buonaparte and General Moreau to a public
dinner. A grand entertainment was accordingly given,
by the Directory and the Councils, to those generals
and their friends, in the Temple of Victory. The com-
pany consisted of near eight hundred persons, including
mostof the great public functionaries of the republic. The
leading men of the different factions were assembled at
this feast, which seemed intended for the purpose of soft-
ening their personal dislike by making them social and
acquainted with each other. The toast given by the
President of the Directory was " Peace !" and that by
Buonaparte," A union of all parties!" Nevertheless, it
was evident, that this was a mere dinner of ceremony;
the whole company viewed each other with distrust;
there was neither mirth nor confidence; and, though the
meeting pretended to effect a union of parties, it seemed
only to puttlicm further asunder. Napoleon quitted the
H H ^ room

244 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

room after a few toasts were given; and the whole cerev
mony did not last three hours.

In the evening of this day Napoleon met his own party
in secret, at the house of M. le Mercier, President of the
Council of Ancients, to finally determine on those mea-
sures which it had been agreed should be adopted, and
to assign to each individual the part that he was destined
to act, in the conspiracy against the Directory.

The Committee of Inspectors belonging to the Council
of Ancients, at five o'clock in the morning of the ISth
Bremaire (the 9th of November 1799), sent messages to
one hundred and fifty members of that body, who had
been selected for that purpose by Napoleon, but of whom
very few were acquainted with the conspiracy: they
were required to meet at eight o'clock in the Thuilleries.
When they met. Cornet, Reporter of the Committee,
opened the business with a speech, in which he forcibly
stated the dangers of the republic, and the designs of
the factious; and ended with proposing, that the
Assembly, according to the 102d and 103d articles of the
Constitution, should adjourn to St. Cloud ; that the
General Buonaparte should be charged to put the decree
iuto execution; and that, for that purpose, he should be
appointed commander of all the troops in Paris, as well
as of the guard of tlie Assemblies, and the National
Guard, This decree was passed by a great majority.

Napoleon immediately appeared at the bar, attended
by Generals Berthier, Moreau, Lefebvre, Macdonald, and
others. Being informed by the President of his appoint-
ment, he spake as follows : —

'• CiTiZEM Representatives! — The republic was
perishing^ — you knew this, and your decree has saved it.
Woe be to those who wish for anarchy, whoever they
be 1 aided by Generals Berthier, Lefebvre, and all my
brave companions in arms, I shall arrest their course.
Let us not seek in the past for examples to justify the
present; for nothing in history resembles the conclusion
df the 18th century, and nothing in that resembles the
present moment.

'• Your wisdom has issued this decree — our arras shall
execute it. We demand a republic foanded on a just
basis, on true liberty, on civil liberty, and national repre-
sentation ; and we will have it. We will have it — I swear

it—

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 345

it — I swear it in my own name, and in the names of my
brave comrades."

The President replied —

" General! — The Council of Ancients receives your
oath; there is no doubt of your sincerity, and of your
zeal to act. He who never promised victories to the
country in vain, cannot fail to fulfil his new engagements
to serve her with fidelity."

Garat, one of the members, requested to be heard; but
the President observed, that after the decree which the
Council had passed, there could be no discussion, either
in Paris or elsewhere, before the next day at noon ; and
the sitting was dissolved, amid loud cries of " Long live
the Republic /" " Long live the Constitution of the Third
Year!"

As soon as the decree of the Council of Ancients had
passed. Napoleon marched 10,000 troops to the Thuil-
leries, and guarded every avenue to the place so effectu-
ally, that no one was permitted to pass either into the
courts, the garden, or within the walls of the castle. He
had previously formed all his dispositions, and he ha-
rangued his troops in the great court; while three of the
Directors, and all the rest of Paris, were completely
ignorant of what was going forward, until the publication
of his proclamations.

When the Council of Five Hundred assembled, they
were filled with distrust and fear, not knowing upon
which ,of their colleagues they were to rely. Their
alarms had been occasioned by the decree of the Council
of Ancients, and the extraordinary events of the morn-
ing. Not knowing the causes from which those occur-
rences originated, they were fluctuating between the
conjecture and expectation which vague and contradic-
tory rumours had excited, when the President, Lucien
Buonaparte, entered the hall : eagerness was depicted in
most of their countenances whilst he seated himself.
Lucien Buonaparte had been chosen their President some
days before ; and it was only known to a very ffew of the
members, who had assisted in procuring his appoint-
iBent, that it was a measure effected by the management
and intrigue of the new party to assist their designs upon
the government.

To Lucieo, then, the brother of General Buonaparte,
' erery

246 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

every eye was turned. The proces verbal was read, and
all were eager to speak. The President arose, and read
the decree from the Council of Ancients, which removed
the Legislative Body to the Palace of St. Cloud. A
violent clamour instantly arose ; the President declared
the sitting dissolved, amidst a strong opposition ; and he
immediately quitted the hall, with several of the mem-
bers who were attached to the new order of affairs.

The day after this extraordinary revolution, the castle
of St. Cloud was surrounded by troops in the morning
before day-light. In conformity to the decree of the
Council of Ancients, that body, and the Council of Five
Hundred were to hold their sittings there at noon. By
that time, the members had repaired there in great num-
bers. Every avenue being strictly guarded, the deputies
could not pass without shewing their medal; only a few
other individuals, who had tickets, were permitted to
enter with them. The sittings, which had been ap-
pointed for twelve, did not take place till two o'clock,
owing to the preparations of the workmen not being
finished.

The debates were opened in the Council of Fire
Hundred, by a speech from Gaudin, proposing a com-
mittee of seven members, to take into consideration the
best means of providing for the public safety. It was
expected that this motion would have been immediately
carried ; but s<;arcely had it been suggested, when seve-
ral members of the Jacobin party darted forward into
the tribune, all eager to be heard. The cry of " Down
with Dictators/ became general: others exclaimed,
" The Constitution or Death ! we are not afraid of bay-
onets, we ic ill die at our post r and some proposed that
every member should take a fresh oath to preserve the
Constitution. The members of the other party were so
much throjvn of their guard, that the cry of " Lon^ live the
Constitution r became general, and the motion for taking
the oath was agreed to. This was a great victory for the
Jacobins ; it gave them time, which was all they wanted.
The ceremony of renewing the oath took up two hours;
and when tiiis was over, various propositions were
offered and discussed amidst great confusion, all tending
against the new order of things.

A letter was now brought in, addressed to the Council;

ifc

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 947

it was opened by the President, who announced that it
came from Barras. This letter, which contained his
resignation as Director, gave rise to a violent debate on
the question, vvhtther the assembly should proceed to
the election of a new one ? Much of the confusion arose
from the members who were well disposed towards a
change of government, but who had come to the
Assembly totally ignorant of what was intended by
Napoleon. They had been easily induced to listen to
the extravagant reports which were circulated by the
Jacobins, who produced all the confusion which had
arisen.

The danger became imminent, and the prevention of a
civil war required that some vigorous measures should be
taken to complete the revolution. Napoleon being in-
formed of the tumultuous discussions, became violently
agitated. He hastened to the Council of Ancients; and,
having left his arms in an antichamber, entered the
Assembly, and requested permission to address the
sitting. Leave was given ; and he instantly delivered the
following speecli : —

•' Representatives of the People!— You are
placed in no common circumstances; you are on the
mouth of a volcano, which is ready to devour you. Per-
mit me to speak to you with the frankness of a soldier
and the candour of a citizen, zealous for the welfare
of his country; and suspend, I beseech you, your judg-
ments, until I have finished what I have to say.

*' I was living peaceably at Paris when I received
your decree, which informed me of your dangers, and I
hastened to come to your assistance, with my brother
soldiers. Is not the blood which we have shed in battle
a sufficient proof of our devoted attachment to the re-
public, of our pure and disinterested motives? Have
they who dare to lift their voices against us given similar
pledges? as a reward for our services, they load us with
calumnies, and talk of a modern Caesar, a second Crom-
well. They speak of a nnlitar} government, and a
conspiracy. Alas! the most dangerous of all con-
spiracies is that which surrounds us everywhere, that
of the public misery, which continues to increase.

" It would be sacrilegious to attempt the destruction
pf a representative government in the age of knowledge

and

248 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

and liberty. No one but a madman would attempt to
ruin the success of a republic over all the royalty of
Europe, after having supported it with so much glory
and peril as 1 have done. Have not ignorance, folly, and
treason, reigned long enough in our country ? have they
not committed sufficient ravages? what class has not, in
turn, suffered by them? Have not Frenchmen been long
enough divided into parties, eager and desirous to oppress
each other? The time is at length arrived to put an end
to- these disasters* You have charged me to present
you with the means, and I will not deceive your ex^
pectations.

" If I had had any personal or ambitious objects in
view — if I had wished to crush the liberty of my
countr}'—- if I had wished to usurp the supreme au-
thority, I should not have obeyed the orders you gave
me ; I should have had no occasion for the mandate of
the Senate. More than once, in extremely favourable
circumstances, have I been called to take the reins of
government. After our triumphs in Italy, I was invited
to it by the desire of the nation, by the request of my
comrades, and by that of the soldiers, who have been
oppressed in my absence — of the soldiers who are still
obliged to carry on a most horrible war in the depart-
ments, which wisdom and order had calmed, and which
folly and treason have rekindled.

" The country has not a more zealous defender than
myself; I am entirely devoted to tlie execution of your
orders; but it is on yo'u alone that its safety depends —
for the Directory is no more. Four of the magistrates
■who composed it have given in their resignations;
dangers press hard; the evil augments: the Minister
of Police has just informed me, that in La Vendee
several places are already fallen into the hands of the
Chouans. The Council of Ancients is invested with
great power, but it is also animated by still greater wis-
dom ; consult that alone, consider the near approach of
dangers, and prevent anarchy. Let us endeavour to
preserve the two objects for which we have made so
many sacrifices — liberty and equality. Liberty alone
is dear to me, and I never wish to serve any faction or
party whatever. I wish to serve the French people
alone. Let us not then be divided. Unite your wisdom

and

NAPOLEON BUONAPARtE. 249

and your firmness to the force which surrounds
ine, and I will devote myself to the safety of the re*
public."

•* And of the Constitution!" exclaimed Moreau de
I'Yonne.

*' The Constitution!" replied Buonaparte, with in-
dignant warmth. " Does it become you to name it?
What is it but a heap of ruins ? Has it not been sue*
cessively the sport of every party ? Have you not tram-
pled upon it on the 18th Fructidor, the 28th Floreal, and
28th Prairial ?-— The Constitution! Has not every kind
of tyranny been exercised in its name since the day of
its establishment? Who has been, or who can be safe
under it? Is not its insufficiency manifested by the nu-
merous crimes which have been committed in its name,
even by those who are swearing to it a contemptuous
fidelity? xA.ll the rights of the people have been indig-
nantly violated.

" To re-establish those rights on a firm foundation,
we must labour to consolidate the republic and liberty of
France.

" As soon as these objects be attained, and the dangers
of the country shall have subsided, Iwill abdicate the com-
mand which has been committed to me, and will be-'
come the supporting arm of the magistracy, whom you
may think proper to nominate."

Cornudet here eagerly confirmed the assertions of
Buonaparte; "and," said he, "I am acquainted with
some criminal opinions that are entertained of the Gre-
neral, which can only be developed and discussed in the
absence of strangers."

The spectators were ordered to withdraw; and, as
soon as the Hall was cleared Napoleon, continued —

" Criminal opinions! I could reveal to you circum-
stances which would instantly confound my calumniators.
But it is enough to tell you, that even two of your latd
magistrates — the Directors Barras and Moulins, them-
selves, advised me to overturn the government, and put
myself at the head of affairs. I repulsed these overtures,
because liberty is dearer to me than life. Several fac-
tions have tendered me their services, but I have re-
jected all their overtures as unworthy the ear of a
republican.

VOL, 11 II " I speak

250 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

" I speak with the frankness of a soldier. I am a
stranger to the art of eloquence ; I have always followed
the God of War, and Fortune and the God of War are
with me. Be not afraid, Representatives of the People !
of criminal plots ; I and my brave comrades shall ever
be ready to defend you and the republic." (Glancing
his eyes towards the soldiers, who were on duty within the
Hall.) " I appeal, fellow-soldiers," said he, " to you —
you, before whom the Jacobins desire to make me appear
the enemy of liberty — you, grenadiers, whose caps I see,
you, soldiers, whose bayonets I have so often directed to
the shame and confusion of our enemies, and to their last-
ing disgrace, and which you have so often employed in
■the foundation of several republics — I entreat you to turn
those dreadful bayonets against my own breast, if ever
you behold me abandon the cause of liberty.

" Representatives of the People! I conjure you to
adopt the most prompt and energetic measures to save
the country."

Napoleon now retired.

The Council of Five Hundred were engaged in violent
4iscussion, when Napoleon suddenly entered their Hall,
unarmed, and accompanied by a fev^ grenadiers without
arnjs, and who wailed within the door. He advanced
towards the top of the Hall, and the Council was in-
stantly in motion : " A General here !" cried they,
"what does Buonaparte want with us? This is not
y;our place." Some of the members flew to the tribunes;
Others hastened towards Buonaparte, vehemently ex-
claiming, " No dictators! Down with the Tyrant! Down
with him! Kill him, kill him /" He was pushed back
and struck at. Several of the Council drew poniards and
pistols; and Arena, a native of Corsica, and one of the
deputies, aimed a blow at him with a dagger. Thome,
a grenadier, parried it with his arm, and was wounded.
By another blow Napoleon was wounded in the cheek.
.The President, Lucien Buonaparte, with great dilFi-
€4ilty obtained leave to speak : " The General," said he,
''-has, undoubtedly, no other intention than to acquaint
the Council with the present situation of affairs." Lou'd
clamours and threats prevented his being heard any fur-
ther ; and the General was so overpowered by the num-
ber of those who rushed forward to attack him, that he
*,!■•• I v'. was

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTfe. 2^1

was on the point of falling, when General Lefebvre rushed
into the Hall with a body of armed grenadiers, who sur-
rounded him, and curried him out.

When the soldiers, by whom Napoleon was rescued,
had escorted him to the outside of the Hall, in a few
instants he recovered from the fatigue of his late danger.
He hastened to the court of the castle, where the troops
were drawn up, and instantly addressed them : " Sol-
diers !" said he, " everybody thought that the Council
of Five Hundred would save the country; but instead
of that, I have seen only a furious and outrageous mob,
ready to destroy me. I have some enemies; Comrades,
may I rely on you ?" — " Yes, yes," shouted they ; " Long
live Buonaparte!"

The troops having been addressed by Lucien Buo-
naparte and General Serrurier, they were ordered to en-
ter the hall of the Council of Five Hundred. The com-
manding officer exclaimed—" General Buonaparte com-
mands us to clear the hall " The Grenadiers advanced
and filled the first half of the hall; the other half was
occupied by the deputies who did not retire, and who
had crowded round the President's chair. A member,
called Talot, said to the soldiers — " What are you, sol-
diers ? You are the guardians of the national represen-
tation : and you dare to menace its safety and indepen-
dence!" The drums now beat, and the voices of the
members could not be heard. The grenadiers then
brought their musquets to the charge, and a dreadful
scene of alarm and dismay was exhibited by the tardy
deputies ; in their haste to escape froni the bayonets of
the soldiers, they choaked up the windows and doors,
and tumbled over one another. The chamber was soon
cleared of thein, amidst the cries by the soldiers of" Long
live the Republic; Long live Buonaphrte .'" and they
were received on the outside by the hootings and hisses
of the people:

Measures were now taken to prevent the members of
both councils from leaving St. Cloud, yet both of theni
met again the ensuing evening, though of that of Five
Hundred not more than two thirds of the members were
present. The Council of Five Hundred now passed a
resolution — " That the Directory existed no longer; that
sixty members should be excluded from that assembly ;
I 1 2 and

252 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

and that a Consular Executive Committee, consisting of
the Ex-Directors, Sieyes and Ducos, together with Ge-
neral Buonaparte, under the title of Consuls of the French
republic, should be provisionally formed, and invested
with a full directorial authority."

It was also resolved, that an intermediate committee
should be formed, consisting of tweny-five members from
each of the two councils, and who should be chosen im-
mediately during that present sitting.

These resolutions were sent to the Council of Ancients;
and at one o'clock in the morning they announced their
approbation of it. The three Consuls then proceeded to
the Council of five Hundred, in order to be sworn into
their new offioe, when the President thus addressed
them : —

" CiTiZEKs-^The greatest people upon earth entrust
you with their destinies; within three months the public
opinion shall judge you. Domestic happiness, general
liberty, the distresses of the armies, and peace, all these
are entrusted to you. You must have courage and zeal
tp accept such an important trust and such high functions ;
tut you are supported by the confidence of the nation
^nd of the armies; and, besides, it is well known to the
Legislature that your souls are entirely devoted to the
welfare of the people."

The Consuls having taken their oath to preserve li-
berty and equality, returned to Paris about four in the
morning of the eleventh of November, and entered im-
ipediately upon their functions. The seal of the Repub-
lic was changed, and the newspapers were stopped at
the post-office, and new ones printed, to inform the de-
partments of all that had been transacted. In the even-
ing of the 12th the following address from the Consuls
was read through Paris, by torch-light: —

*• The Constitution of the Third Year was perishing :
it couid neither ensure your right nor its own safety. Re-
peated violations deprived it for ever of the respect of the
people ; several odious and rapacious factions desolated
the republic. France was, ^t last, on the very brink of
a total ruin.

'* The patriots have agreed on a plan. Those men who
might have been dangerous to you have been discarded;
thpse who may be useful to you, and those who behaved

wejl

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 9i3

well in the national representation, have never abandoned
the banners of liberty.

*' Frenchmen! the Republic being better settled in that
rank of Europe, which she should never have lost, will
see the hopes of her citizens accomplished and her glo-
rious destinies fulfilled.

" Take, with us, the oath of allegiance to the Republic,
one and indivisible, grounded on equality, on liberty
and on the representative system.

(Signed) " Roger Ducos,

'* BUON^APARTE,

" SlEYES."

In this manner was accomplished a revolution, which
placed Buonaparte at the head of thirty millions of
people: for although two others were associated with
him, yet their power and influence was more nominal
than real. This was the first step towards that stupen-
duous elevation, which Napoleon afterwards attained.
" He now stood free," says a popular writer of the day,
" in the midst of thirty millions of people: all parties
crowded round him; all, weary of the past troubles and
countless disorders, expected from him security and
happiness. All were full of confidence in the republican
hero, who had endeavoured to carry the light of freedom,
and intellect even into the African deserts I It was such
a moment as never fell to the lot of any hero, of any
lawgiver, of either the ancient or modern world. Every
thing was prepared ; the elements of the best constitu-
tion that ever blest mankind were in readiness, and awaited
only the wisely ordaining hand of the great man, who
could forget himself for the sake of humanity, and
thereby exalt himself above every elevation that hu-«
manity ever attained."

^ Whether Buonaparte were guided by his propen-
aity to uncontrouled power, which is so natural to
every man of restless activity and resolute spirit, or
by a conviction that the French character is not cal-
culated to receive the benefits of a free constitution;
certain it is, that he has exerted all his courage, art,
and activity, only to lay the basis of his- own supre-
tnacy."

Napoleon, now elevated to the first office in the state,
inade an attempt, in rather an unusual way, to put an

end

<gi4 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

end to the calamities of war: he addressed a letter to
the King of England, in which he says —

" Called by the wish of the French nation to exercise
the first magistracy of the republic, I think it proper, on
entering upon this duty, to address myself directly to
your Majesty. Must that war which for eight years has
ravaged the four quarters of the world, be eternal? Are
there no means left to put an end to it ?

" How is it that the two most enlightened nations of
Europe, each more strong and powerful than its safety
or independence requires; how is it that they can sa-
crifice to ideas of empty greatness, the advantages of
commerce, interior prosperity, and the happiness of
families ? How comes it that they do not feel that peace
is their first need, as it is their first glory ?

*' These sentiments cannot be foreign to the heart of
your Majesty, who governs a free nation, and whose sole
object is to render that nation happy.

" Your Majesty will see nothing in this overture, but
my sincere desire to contribute efficaciously, a second
time, to a general pacification, by prompt measures, all
in full confidence, and disengaged from those forms,
which, however necessary to disguise the dependence of
weak states, only mark, in powerful ones, a desire to
deceive each other.

" France and England, by the abuse of their forces,
may a long time yet, to the misery of their people, re-
tard the exhaustion of their power ; but I venture to say,
that the fate of all civilized nations depends upon an
end being put to a war which involves the entire
world."

The sincerity of Napoleon, in this step, is very much
lobe doubted; he found it however necessary, for his
own popularity, to make an appearance of pacific inclina-
tions; knowing perfectly well, that the very manner in
which he endeavoured to bring about this desired event,
would defeat its purpose. Having failed in this attempt,
which Napoleon had easily contemplated, he now pre-
pared all the means that France possessed for vigorously
prosecuting the war. He decreed, that an army of
reserve should immediately be formed, at Dijon, of
which he himself intended to take the command. Nq
sooner had this measure beeti adopted, than a part of the

new

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 255

new Consular guard, which alone amounted to 36,000
men, formed out of the very flower of the youth . of
France, received directions to march for Dijon in the
latter end of March, in order to join the army of re-
serve, and the other troops assembled there.

On this important occasion. Napoleon took with
him Berthier, then minister at war, appointing Carnot,
the Ex-Director, to fill his place pro tempore, and also
taking along with him Bernadotte, the present Crown
Prince of Sweden, as a Lieutenant-General.

Although the campaign in Germany, of the preceding
year, had not been unfavourable to the French, yet their
affairs in Italy had proved very disastrous ; and the
fruits of so many former victories, were likely to be lost
to them. It was to this quarter, that Napoleon now
directed his attention; whilst the whole world were held
in anxious suspense as to his future military move-
ments.

Previous to the important and decisive battle of Ma-
rengo, it is necessary to trace the positions of the con-
tending armies. The Austrian right wing of the Italian
army was flanked by that of Switzerland, in the upper
valley of the Tesino, whilst Davidovich occupied Bellen-
zona, with bis advanced posts extending to Ariola, and
thus observing the debouches of St. Gothard ; whilst the
passes of the Simplon were as closely shut up by a corps
under the Prince de Rohan, in the upper part of the
Vallais. The Lower Vallais, containing the foot of the
Great and Little St. Bernard, where Napoleon proposed
to force a passage, was occupied by General Had-
dick, whilst the passes of the Maurienne, in Savoy,
also the foot oi: Mont Cenis, the valley of Suza, and so
on to Fenestrelles, were protected by various corps
under General Kalm; the right of the Austrian army
resting upon Turin. The Austrian centre was in pos-
session of the whole line of Maritime Alps, as far on the
sea-coast as Albenga and Finale, even occupying some
posts on the republican territory; whilst the left extended
to Novi, with detachments resting on Pavia and Placentia;
thus forming a regular semicircle in front of the French
troops and the French frontier. It must be observed,
however, that although the Austrian troops in Italy
amounted to upwards of 60,000 men, still were they

dispersed

^Se NA!>0LE6N BUONAPAftTE.

dispersed over & great extent of country ; whilst, to as-
iist them, they had not more than 10,000 Piedmontese,
together with about S0,000 Tuscans and Neapolitans, a$
allies.

With respect to the French troops, they occupied
part of the Vallais in Switzerland, and had their advanced
posts even to the foot of St. Bernard, whilst their left
occupied part of Mount Cenis, with the Little St. Ber-
nard, the centre guarding the roads towards Nice, and
'their right occupying Savona and Genoa; along which
line of defence, they had not more than 40,000 men.
Reinforcements, however, to a considerable amount, were
pushing on from various quarters, independent of what
Napoleon was bringing up : but then the whole were in
a state of insubordination, whole companies of them
returning into France, with their arms and baggage, in
spite of all the promises, and all the proclamations, of
Napoleon; and, indeed, nothing but the free liberty of
plunder and pillage even in the country of their friends,
enabled Massena, in the month of April, to keep together
about 35,000 men.

It was now supposed that Napoleon intended, with his
army of reserve at Dijon, to co-operate with Moreau in
the Gerraao campaign; for it was never suspected that he
would attempt to march his army by the almost imprac-
ticable route from that city into Italy; and, indeed, he
took every possible means to conceal his intentions.

Frequent skirmishes now took place between the hos-
tile armies in all quarters, indicative of thfe speedy open-
ing of the campaign ; and, on the side of the Austrians,
General Mel as left his head-quarters at Turin, and advan-
ced to Alexandria, from whence he issued a military pro-
clamation, reminding his troops of their former successes
and pointing out to them fresh glories in the ensuing ope-
rations.

On the side of Napoleon also there was rhuch activity;
and he sent Berth ier, about the middle of April, to the
command of Dijon, previous to his own arrival, where
there was an army already formed of 50,000 men, all in
good order, and ready for service.

No sooner bad Berthier proceeded to Dijon, on the
20th of March, than he received information of a detach^
ment of the Austrians having taken possession of Mount^

Cenis;

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 25?

Cenis; when he instantly reviewed the army, and then
proceeded to Baele, where he had an hiterview with Mo-
reau, who promised to distract the attention of the Aus-
rians by commencing operations on the Rhine, in the
ensuing week : whilst Berthier, in the mean time, detached
GeneralThureau with a force towards Suza, who coming
up with the rear of that Austrian force which had ad-
vanced to Cenis, commenced an attack, which ended iri
the defeat of the small Austrian corps, and the occupa-
tion of that pass by the French army.

Still was the army of Italy, however, in such a vreak
and disorganized state, that Massena was obliged to reduce
his line of defence, and concentrate the greatest part of
his force in the vicinity of Genoa ; yet this movement,
to which he was absolutely reduced, was still in con-
formity with the plans of military operation which Napo-
leon had now in view, and which were, to concentrate
the whole of his forces in disposable masses on such
points as were most favourable for operations, either of
defence or attack, instead of occupying wide positions
and extended lines. In conformity with this was his
ostensible army of reserve, which, however in direct
opposition to its name, was intended to be the most
active of all his military concentrations, being at a cen-
tral point, from whence he could at pleasure menace by
false demonstrations, or advance at once upon a plan of
otiensive warfare. His first object was, to penetrate ra-
pidly into Italy, so as to be able to relieve Massena at
Genoa, where he was in great danger; for the Austrians
had now determined to direct their most powerful force
for the capture of that city, merely proposing to keep the
other armies of France in check, until that operation
should be achieved, after which they would have been
enabled to direct the whole of their concentrated armies
upon Switzerland and the Rhine.

Moreau having opened the campaign in Germany with
great energy. Napoleon felt himself at liberty to com-
mence his intended plan of operations, and he immedi-
ately ordered the army of reserve at Dijon to proceed for
Italy, directing their march to Geneva, through the Pays
de Vaud and the Lower Valais to Martigny, a village
about six leagues from the Great St. Bernard, preparatory
to the boasted passage of that difficult route,

VOL. II. K K On

25S NAPOLEO^if BUONAPARTE.

On the 6th of May ISOO, Napoleon left Paris, and pro-
ceeded to the head-quarters at Martigny, where he
stopped three days. He was acconDpanied by Dessaix,
M'lio had just arrived from Egypt; with that General
his plans were now formed, which were, that the main
body should traverse the Great St. Bernard, and that the
plherpart should be divided into three columns, to pene-
trate by the three passes of the Simplon, Mount St.
Gotharcl, and Mount Cenis.

On the loth of May, Napoleon first crossed the moun-
tain, and advanced to Remi, about eighteen miles distant
from the monastery at the top of the hill; here, however,
he was met by an Austrian force, which, though not very
considerable, yet maintained its ground for some time,
and then only retired, step by step, fighting obstinately,
until their rear was in danger of attack from another di-
vision of the French army now descending in support of
Napoleon and the advance.

In the passage of the Alps, the abilities of Napoleon
were manifested in a most striking manner: it woiild far
exceed the limits of this work, to enumerate all the
difficulties he had to encounter ; a few of them, however,
it is absolutely necessary to give, in order to shew the
depth of his genius, and the resources of his mind.

Having reached St. Peter, at the verge of the grea..
mountain St. Bernard, on the 15th of May, the whole
park of artillery and ammunition was collected, for the
purpose of being conveyed across the mountain. The
height of the mountain is 1800 feet above the level of
the sea: it requires two days to climb to the top of
it; not because of its height, but on accbunt of the
ice which constantly envelopes it.

The sight and description of this mountain was, of
itself, enough to subdue the hardiest veteran. The cold is
excessive, even in the middle of summer; not a tree, or
even a small shrub, is there to remind one of the empire
of vegetation; no herb nor green leaf offers a pleasing
verdure: birds never haunt these regions, or rt-pose in
them from weariness of flight! It has pleased nature to
leave this part wild and barren: a vast extent of snow
on every side yields a melancholy and monototious pros-
pect— rocks of a greyish colour — great heaps of ice — an
immense perspective of mountains in a chain, always

white

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 259

white, and a frightful silence! from the contemplation of
all which the mind is never interrupted but by the sight
of clouds, that either appear to precipitate themselves at
the fout of the mountain, or to surround you entirely.
Such are the gloomy beauties which are to be seen in the
face of nature by travellers who visit these elevated points
of our hemisphere.

Whenever the winds, the rain, the hail, or the snow,
have, during winter, covered or spoiled the footpath, the
guides of tlie country come with their mules, in order to
discover the traces; and then, to restore it, they pass and
repass over it till it is again practicable; this operation
continues sometimes four or live days.

During the summer this passage is not much less
ditficult and dangerous; the rains penetrating into the
mountains of snow melt them, in a manner scarcely
visible; large cavities are formed therein, over which the
traveller walks, unaware, until, all on a sudden, a gulf
opens under his steps, and occasions him to disappear in
the twinklmg of an eye! A hard frost is pretVrrtd, be-
cause any one may then safely travel over the snow.
Until this expedition under Napoleon, neither artillery
or animunition had traversed these regions-, and diffi-
culties of a novel description were now to be surmounted
by the genius who led this great enterprise. In vam did
infinite obstacles present themselves to frighten the most
ardei.t imaginations; every thiug was foreseen by Napo-
leon, and "every thing contrived to carry it into full
execution.

The artillery corps immediately set about dismounting
the cannon, caissons, forges, &c. piecemeal. Gassendi,
Inspector of Ordnance, was ordered to hollow a number
of the trunks of trees after the nature of troughs, in
which the pieces of cannon might safely slide, andi which
five or six hundred men, according to the weight of metal,
were appropriated to draw up these tremendous heights;
the wheels were carried by hand upon poles ; and sledges,
made expressly for the purpose, at Auxonne, conveyed
the axletrees and the empty caissons; and, lastly, mules
were loaded with ammunitiOii m boxes made of fir.

In order to encourage this very arduous labour, from

four to five hundred livres were ofl^"ered for every cannon,

with itsammunition,soconveyed: the exertion of a whole

K K 2 battalLQW

260 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

battalion was requisite for the conveyance of one field-
piece, with its necessary ammunition: one half of a regi-
ment could only draw the load, while the other half was
obliged to carry the knapsacks, fire-locks, cartridge-boxes,
canteens, kettles, and, more especially, five days provisions,
in bread, meat, salt, and biscuit! The whole of these ac-
coutrements and necessaries might make a weight of be-
tween sixty and seventy pounds. The men yoked them-
selves, about one hundred to a cable, and in this manner
they dragged the cannon up the mountains.

The heavy baggage was sent back to Lausanne, Napo-
leon himself only taking what might be deemed absolutely
necessary. The first division of the army, commanded
by General Watrin, followed the movement of the van-
guard ; the main body followed at a short distance. They
were obliged to ascend one by one: nobody was tempted
to endeavour to get before his comrade, as it might have
occasioned his being irrecoverably swallowed up in the
snow. The head of the Indian file column halted every
now-and-then, of which advantage was always taken by
the soldiers to allay their tRirst, by soaking their biscuits
in the water of the melted snow ; and such were the fa-
tigues of the passage, that these refreshments appeared to
jihem delicious.

In descending the heights, the army had still a journey
of six leagues to make; but the rapidity of the descent
rendered those eighteen miles truly terrible: at every step
they met with deep crevices, formed by the melting of
snow; and it was in vain they held their horses fast by
the closed reins of their bridles, that did not preserve them
from dangerous, and sometimes fatal slides : the men them-
selves, in spite of all their precautions, often fell ; and
whatever difficulties they suffered in recovering themselves
they still ran the risk of drawing their horses out of the
path and perishing with them."

Napoleon's mules and horses were in the train of the
army; he himself, being willing to rejoin it by the short-
est road, entered a path which some infantry pursued. •
Towards the middle of this march the descent was so
steep that he was obliged to slide down it upon his
breech, from a height of about two hundred feet; and in
crossing the lake before mentioned, he had very nearly
been swallowed up by a collection of thawed snow. The

holes

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 261

holes, into which the soldiers fell every instant, rendered
this part of their journey over the mountains more fa-
tiguing than the ascending them. They had commenced
their march at midnight, and did not arrive at the end of
it till nine o'clock in the evening.

Such were a few of the difficulties that were over-
Gome by the active genius of Napoleon ; which being
accomplished, the whole army pushed on for Italy ; and,
on the 16th, Napoleon, with the advance, had got as far
as Aost, which, though a strong place, was only defended
by a small corps of Hungarian troops : these, however,
made a faint resistance, and the officer commanding them
made good his retreat.

From hence the army proceeded to Chatillon. General
Lasnes, in advancing towards it, was informed that the
enemy were disposed to make a resistance on a draw-
bridge, constructed on a precipice, over which, without
this drawbridge, it was impossible to pass. Without a
moment's hesitation, the chief of brigade, Fournier, sprang
forward, and with the 12th Hussars attacked them in so
brisk a manner, that in a short time the force which had
advanced to defend the pass, was overtlirown or sabred,
and the passage entirely cleared of the enemy. The
fugitives were pursued as far as Fort de Barre. The
attack of this fortress now became an object of the first
importance; for its position was such, that, if well de-
fended, it must have completely cheked, if not stopped,
the advance of Napoleon. Its position was on a conical
rock, which came so close to the deep and rapid river of
Doria, as to leave only a narrow pass at its foot, whilst
the bank on the opposite side of the river was too steep,
rugged, and inaccessible, to permit any bridge to be
thrown across.

Such indeed was the importance of this pass, that if its
little garrison could only have held out for a week, the
whole French army must have retreated or been star-^ed ;
and General Melas, the Austrian Commander-in-Chief,
was much blamed for not having taken the necessary
means of defence, previous to the advance of the French
army.

Napoleon had now only a choice of difficulties ; either
to carry the place, or to seek another snore practicable
route, if such could be found ; he decided, however, on

the

362 NAPOLEON BUONAPiArRTE;

the former, though tlie place was defended by twenty
pieces of cannon, and a garrison of 500 Doen. For this
purpose he instantly ordered the outworks to be carried,
which was done in a very gallant style by three com-
panies of grenadiers; after which a short pause took
place, until night-fall, when the principal attack com-
menced, the assailants most resolutely scaling the pre-
cipice?, and even climbing over the paliisades amidst a
heavy fire, and driving the Austriaus from their defences.
In this assault, however, they were at length repulsed;
and Napoleon found it necessary to attempt his second
alternative. For this purpose, his engineers surveyed a
rock called Albaredo, which stood in such a cuauiianding
position, that, its asctnt once gained, the army might
descend under cover of the fire of the fort; but,
though a way up was found, yet the descent on the
other side was extremely difticult, and the transport
of the artillery w'ould have been totally impracticable.

His ingenuity was, therefore, again called in to fill up
the deficiency on the score of force; and, instead of at-
tempting again to carry the fort itself, he resolved to
adopt a very ingenious stratagem for the passage of his
artillery through the suburbs and outworks; for this
purpose he ordered a quantity of litter to be spread along
the pass, so as to deaden the sound of the carriages,
and prevent the Austrians from suspecting his plan
of passing in the dark by this route. Still, however,
was his object discovered by the garrison, who com'-
menced such a heavy fire, that the Frenchmen fell in
great numbers; on which Napoleon ordered a gun to
be got up in the tower of the church, with which he
commenced such a heavy and well-directed fire upon
the fort itself, that he soon battered down the tower
over the gate-way, which so intimidated the garrison,
that they actually, and most unexpectedly, surrendered
at discretion.

His passage thus opened, he advanced rapidly upon
Ivrea, which stands between Aost and Turin. His march
in this direction was a distance of eight leagues; but, no
sooner had the troops refreshed themselves from their
fatigue, than he ordered an assault upon Ivrea, which fell
to a division of his army under General Boudet, on the
25d of May 1800. It was generally supposed that Napo-
leon

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. §53

leon would now have advanced up6n Turin, from which he
was only twenty-four miles distant, and which could
not have made any very obstinate defence : but having
received intelligence that a considerable body of Aus-
trian and Piedmontese troops had assembled near Ro-
magna, to the eastward of Turin, where they had taken a
position behind the Sesia, a deep and rapid river, he in-
stantly directed his march in that quarter, so as to appear
in their front before they could know the strength of his
army, or of his being with it.

It would be tedious to enumerate all the various move-
ments of the hostile armies previous to the great and
decisive battle of Marengo, which decided the fate of
Italy, and finally put an end to hostilities : it is sufficient
to observe, that such was the state of the military positions
of the two hostile armies, that a general engagement was
apparently inevitable, and both sides took all the steps
necessary to prepare for this eventful contest. Napoleon,
in particular, judging that the principal part of the affair
must take place in the plain and village of Marengo,
took himself a partial survey of those positions; and, at
the same time, ordered his whole army to break up from
before Tortona, and to form in order of battle, on the
plain between Alexandria and that city, each division
taking post as it came up. This was on the loth of
June ; but any ulterior operations on that day were
checked by a fall of r«in, which gave time to the Aus-
trians to make the necessary preparations on their side
also, so that at the dawn of day on the 16th, a heavy
fire commenced from the artillery, and, before mid-day,
every thing seemed to announce the certainty of a general
battle.

The whole line of the Austrians was, perhaps, too
widely extended, through a range of at least six miles;
this seemed, however, to be for the purpose of securing
several very strong positions, particularly the bridge cif
Bonn Ida, and also a pass at St. Stephano, by which
they were enabled to operate upon Voguera by a
shorter line than was in the power of the French to do.

About noon Napoleon entered the field, accompanied
by Berthier; and, at that period, the fire, not only of
artillery, but also small arms, was pretty brisk along the
the whole line; so much so, indeed, that the Austrians

were

264 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

were gaining upon tlie French troops, obliging Napo--
leon to order up liis reserve much sooner than he had
expected. This was previous to the coming up of
DeSsaixr and so much were the French pushed by the
van of the Austrians, that Napoleon's left wing, which
Victor commanded, was forced from its positions, and
began to retire, both cavalry and infantry being thrown
into confusion. In a short time the rout was nearly
general along the whole French line; and so critical was
Napoleon's situation, that he was forced to put himself
in the advance of the army in hopes of rallying it; but
even in this he was unsuccessful, as the whole line gave
way, and was rapidly pursued by the Austrians. The
fortress of Tortona was so close to the field of battle,
that the garrison in that place were witnesses of the re-
treat of the French army; and, with great promptitude,
made a sortie, which had nearly completefy surrounded
the flying troops of Napoleon, who is said, still to have
continued in front, encouraging his discomfited squadrons,
endeavouring to defend the defile which is enfiladed by
the village of Marengo, and, in which position a most
dreadful slaughter ensued from the heavy and continued
fire of the Austrian artillery, to the number of at least
thirty pieces.

The evening was now rapidly advancing ; and, after au
obstinate contest of four hours, the whole French army
was so completely routed, that two-third* of it may be
said to have been flying fugitives; still did Napoleon
obstinately defend the defile of Marengo, and this it was
so important for the Austrians to gain, that they now,
about four o'clock, sent forward a considerable reinforce-
ment of artillery in that quarter, and, under its fire, ad-
vanced a corps of infantry, for the purpose of dislodging
the French from a wood, and some vineyards, in which
they were strongly posted. With great judgment too,
the Austrian general sent forward a strong body of cavalry,
so posted, that if the French had been driven from their
position, almost the whole of Napoleon's army must have
been destroyed.

At this critical moment, when all appeared to be lost,
thfc divisions of Moncier and Dessaix coming up, insured
victory to the French, by inspiring them with renewed
couragej to which an unfortunate mistake, which Melas,

the

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. §65

the Austrian General, committed about the same time,
Sendecl much to contribute. For, finding that he could
neither force the defile, nor make any impression upon
the centre of Napoleon's army, and perhaps presuming
too far on his success, as well as ignorant of the rein-
forcements now arriving, he weakened his line by extend-
ing it in hopes of surrounding the whole French army. No
sooner had Melas committed this error, than Napoleon
took advantage of it, with the greatest promptitude
ordering his troops to advance from the defile, and to
form in front of it ; thus presenting a formidable line
of fresh troops to the Austrian corps, who were now
exhausted by fatigue, and, being vigorously charged,
were obliged to fall back; when even their numerous
cavalry were thrown into such disorder, that the French
hussars, though much inferior in numbers, actually
charged, cut them down, and put them to flight.

Dessaix had taken charge of the right wing; atid,
the Austrian centre being thus broken, he was able
to carryall before him against their left; and, at the
same time, the Austrian right, which rested upon Ma-
rengo, was forced by Victor, who pushed instantly
for Bormida, and succeeded in getting possession of
the bridge before the arrival of the Austrians, so that
their retreat on that side was completely cut off.

On the right. General Kellerman took, at one blow,
6000 Hungarian grenadiers: and Dessaix, in getting
possession of San Stephano, completely cut off the
Austrian left wing, taking General Zach prisoner; but
" Dessaix, in the very instant of victory, received a wound
of which he died."

The Austrians now, in their turn, were retreating
rapidly in all quarters, and night alone put an end to this
hard contest, while the ensuing morning shewed the field
of battle completely covered with the slain and wounded.
So much had each army suffered, that on the next da^'^
an armistice was entered into, in order to bury the dead,
to take care of the wounded, and recover in some
measure from the dreadful fatigue which all had under-
gone.

This armistice, which at first was only entered into
for temporary purposes, was, in the course of the day,
negotiated into a suspension of arms; and a regular treaty
was entered into. Each army was to dravp its subsistence

FOL. II; L L ttOCCL

$66 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

from districts' therein specified: a number of fortresses
were also to be instantly put in Napoleon's possession, the
garrisons being allowed to march out with military ho-
nours* and with arms and baggage, to join the army then
at Mantua ; whilst with respect to the inhabitants of the
different countries not in arms, no individual should be
injured for any assistance be might have rendered to the
Austrian army, or persecuted for his opinions : and it was
also stipulated that, even in the event of an unfavourable
answer from Vienna, hostilities should not recommence
without ten days previous notice.

No sooner were the ratifications of the armistice ex-
changed, and the prisoners on both sides given up, as sti-
pulated, than Napoleon, escorted by a strong guard, set
off for Milan, where he re-established his favourite political
first-born, the Cisalpine Republic, declaring it destined
to form a free and independent nation, and giving direc-
tions for the drawing up of a w««7 constitution.

Having thus settled the affairs of Italy, Napoleon, ac-
companied by Berthier, set off for Paris; leaving the com-
mand of the army to General Brune.

When Napoleon arrived at Paris, the Consuls and Mi-^
nisters, with the Senators and Counsellors of State, flock-
ed around him, to congratulate him on the brilliant con-
clusion of the campaign. At eleven o'clock on the 2d,
when the two Consuls and the Secretaries of State entered
the Thuilleries, the guns of the palace and of Montmartre
announced his arrival. The first words of Napoleon, on
seeing the Council of State, were—" Citizens! here I am
again, have you done much since I left you ?" The answer
from twenty mouths at once was, " Not so much as you.
General." On perceiving General Kellerman, he said,
" T^pur son has distinguished himself;" to which he added,
"I wish for peace, as do the troops of Austria."

The streets of Paris rang with the shouts of *' Vive
Buonaparte r\ and the inhahiwnts of Lyons caused a
ftiedal to be struck to commemorate his visit to their
city, where he had been pievuii(nl upon to lay the first
stone in the building of the Place dcBelleconr.

The gr<at \ ictories and successes of the French arms,
under Napolersn in Ital}', and Moreau in Germany, were
celebrated on the anniversary of the revolution of the
14th of July, with unusual splendour. Upon this occasion
the ataridards taken at the battle of Marengo, and by the

Army

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. Q,^^

Army of Italy, were formally presensed to the government,
in public, by Generals Lasne and Berthier, accompanied
by appropriate speeches. In his answer to these addjresses,
Napo^.eon, to give all the honour of the several victories
to tbe Generals, said, " The standards presented to the
government, in the presence of the people of this im-
mense cop:tal, attest the genius of the Generals-in-Chief
Morean, Massen^i, and Berthier; the military talents of
the generals, their lieutenants, and the bravery of the
French army. On their return to the camps, tell the
soldiers, that, for the sera of the 23d of September, virheo
we shall celebrate the anniversary of the republic, thp
French people expect the publication of peace ; or, if the
enemy should oppose insurmountable obstacles, new
standards idll be the fruits of new victories.^*

Napoleon now took every means to acquire popularity.
Atthisfete he invited todinewith him such of the invalids
as had received medals at the Temple of Mars: amongst
them were two venerable old cojen, one aged 104, and
the other 107 years.

In answer to the constarit flattery ajid fulsome adula-
tion that was offered to him. Napoleon took occasion to
let the people know they had not yet offered hini whaj;
be considered to be his price ; and he, very early, dropped
a hint of his expecting some greater reward of his services
t.ban what they liad already conferred; for he declared
to a committee which had been sent to him, " That, after
the time of his consulship was expired, and for a year
longer, he would accept nothing from the people ; but i^
subsequent to that period, they should choose to apply
to him the article of the Constitution which decrees, that
some great recom pence shall be given to those warriors
who have signalized themselves in defenceof the republic,
he would then accept their kindness with gratitude."
This was allowing time for one party to increase his value,
and for the other to grow generous.

The popularity of Napoleon, however, did not prevent
many plots from being hatched against hun.v It appears
that, about this time, one in paiticular excited the public
attention. General Arena, the cousin and early bener
factor of Napoleon and his family, had expressed himself
very freejy against the First Consul, complaining of hi§ -
ingratitude to himself, for his former services and kind-
L L 2 ness.

268 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

ness, not only to him, but to his mother and sisters.
Arena also made frequent appjicatioifs to recall his bro-
ther from the Isle du Rhe, whither he had been exiled iii
consequence of his opposition to the Consular revolution.
Of such a man, so violent as Arena, Napoleon had strong
suspicions; and he accordingly had employed a person of
the name Qf Harel, a tool of the police, as a spv upon
hip. At this period, both Harel and Arena visited a
nian of the name of Demeryille, an author, formerly se-
cretary to Barrere;' and at his lodgings a plot was con-
trived against the life of the First Consul. The party
ihen consisted of two Italians of the name of Diana, a
poet, and Caracchi, the statuary, a pupil of Canova, and
who had fled from Italy for the cause of French liberty,
together with Tupino le Brun, a painter, and pupil of
David. After a, few meetings, it was agreed upon tp
commit the assassination as the Consul came from the
opera, and that the party were all to be provided with
daggers and pistols. The whole of this plot was soon
Hnown to the police through one of the pretended con-
spirators, the informer Harel. .When the signal was
given to arrest them at the Opera House, only three were
there, Tupino and the two Italians, and only one of those
liad a dagger in his pocket; and even he was not on the
same side of the house where Napoleon "sat, but was
stf^nding in the opposite lobby. Of the others, Arena,
p he proved on his trial, was at home, and Demerville
was also at home, and unwell, but he was arrested the
next day, though it was not until five days after that
Arena was taken up, and then only in consequence of
surrendering himself; for the latter knew that it was ru-
moured in Paris, that he was in the plot of those persons
arrested at the Opera House, and therefore wrote to
Fouche about it. Upon this, Fouch6 wished the matter
to rest where it did; but Arena, not content with this
letter to th^ minister, also wrote to Napoleon ; when he
was ordered tQ appear at the public police office, and
there arrested.

When the prisoners were put upon trial, the first
evidence brought forward was their own confessions at
the police office; but to' this they objected, as it was
obtained from them by torture. In fact, at that first
examination, when Caracchi did not answer a question

according

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 269

according to the wishes of M. Bartrand, the interrogating
officer, he presented a pistol to his head, and made him
give such an answer as inculpated himself. Nay, on the
trial, the interpreter, a Mr. Viletti, was called on to con-
firm this statement; and as that gentleman manfully told
the truth, he was ia\mediately dismissed from his situa-
tion at the police office, and the unfortunate prisoriers
found guilty upon those extorted confessions, backed by
Harel's testimony. It is rather a curious fact, that they
were all found guilty, and all guillotined, except Diana,
who was acquitted, but afterwards banished, though he
was the only one that had the dagger at the Opera
House!

This plot, whether real or not, was soon after followed
by another, of a terrible description. It appears, that, on
the 24th of December, as Napoleon was on his way to
the theatre, a most violent explosion broke the windows
of his carriage, and killed several persons, besides many
being wounded. The plan itself seems to have been in-
geniously contrived ; the conspirators having filled a bar-
rel with combustibles, and placed a ritle gun also within-
side of it, the whole being fixed upon a small carriage in
a narrow street, so as to obstruct Napoleon's passage. On
this occasion. Napoleon, together with the generals and
aides-du-camp with him, who were accompanying him
to the opera, escaped death ordy by a miracle; and he
himself owed his life to a half-drunken coachman, who
in a most extraordinary manner drove full gallop through
the narrow street, wljich was almost barricaded by the
cart containing the infernal machine. Scarcely was the
carriage pnssed by, when the cask, filled with a quantity
of lead and iron, blew up, killing md wounding a number
of people in the street and the neighbouring houses, which
were many of them much shattered and damaged.

This plot gave Napoleon an opportunity and a pretence
of getting rid of some very troublesome persons whom
he suspected, not less than 130 of them being transported
to Cayenne " by a measure of high police," such as in
former turns of revolutionary despotism had been called
*' measures of general safety."

It has been observed, that this affair of the infeVnal
machine caused an en ire revolution in the proceeding
and mode of life of Napoleon, and that from this period

he

j^70 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

he became quite another man. It is even asserted, that
tiis mistrust broke out on all occasions; and that his mo-
deration in the sittings of the council now forsook him.
Having hitherto observed and studied the temper of the
people he had to deal vi^ith, he began now despotically tp
announce and to maintain his own will. From this
period also he took occasion entirely to change his whole
conduct even towards his personal friends. This ch^r
lacter of him, however, is very much to be doubted : it
certainly became him to take every precaution for his
own safety; but he had too many views cpnnectecj with
his future elevation, to despise the public favour.

The year 1801 gave him an opportunity of exhibiting
himself in the character of a pacificator, in which, either
from policy or ambition, he seemed so desirous of exhir
biting himself. Before the close of 1800, hostilities ha4
been on the point of being renewed in Italy, and they
were only prevented in consequence of information be-
ing received by Brune, who had superseded Massena,
that the preliminaries were signed by Count St. Julien,
on behalf of the Emperor of Germany, and also that
Count Cobentzel had repaired, as the Austrian ambassa-
dor, to Luneville, in order to prepare a definitive treaty;
after which it was understood between Generals Belle-
garde and Brune, that hostilities should be suspended
.until the issue of the negotiations should be knowm

Early in the year 1801, however, hostilities recorar
inenced between the two armies; but, on the 6th of Fe-
bruary, a new armistice was concluded at Luneville, an4
this was followed upon the 9th of the same month by
a treaty of peace, which threw the continent at the feet
of France. By this treaty between France on one side
and the Emperor and the Empire on the other, all the
left bank of the Rhine, the county of Falkenstein, and the
Fricktlial, were ceded to France; the principal clauses
of the treaty of Campo Formio were confirmed; aqd
Tuscany assured to the Duke of Parma.

Napoleon had now no enemy to contend with but
Great Britain, against which he "directed all his hostility.
By his intrigues with the northern povs^ers, he succeeded
in raising a maritime confederacy against England; but
•which the immortal Nelson dissolved, by his successful
attack on Copenhagen. At le^igth^ the peace of iVmienip

put

NAPOLEON BUONAPARtE. 271

put an end to hostilities on all sides. This peace, which
proved of such short duration, vvas wholly ascribed by
the flatterers of Napoleon, to his great moderation.

Napoleon was now acknowledged by every power in Eu-
rope as First Consul of France ; and his authority was so
well consolidated, that no hopes were entertained of the
Bourbon cause. His object was to drive the French
princes out of Europe; and in this he partly succeeded,
for it was in England only that at length they found an
asylum.

As soon as the news arrived in Paris of the British go-
vernment having agreed to the preliminaries. Napoleon
immediately made arrangements for a peace with the
Turkish Emperor; and in this he displayed, notwith-
standing the peace with England, his hatred to that
power, in procuring terms not only favourable to France,
but hostile to Great Britain, at the very moment when his
admirers in this country were boasting of his pacific mo-
deration.

Peace was also made with the different German powers ;
and he who, but a few short years before, did not possess
as much land as would have filled a beau-pot, was now
occupied in granting indemnities to princes, and settling
the boundaries of independent states. He also formed a
treaty, or concordat, with the Pope, whose object was to
model anew the Gallican church, that the re-establish-
ment of the Catholic religion should aid the consolida-
tion of the Consular power. By this concordat, the
episcopal sees were all to be filled up, not by the ancient
bishops, but by persons presented to them by Napoleon,
and of course to be confirmed by his Holiness. This
measure was highly acceptable to the people of France.
It gave a consolidation to the revolutionary changes of
property, and the confirmation of the sales of the eccle-
siastical lands throughout the republic. It also served
as a prop to his own usurpation ; and he who had for-
merly boasted of being a disciple of Mahomet, of de-
stroying the Pope, and overturning the Christian reli-
gion, now had the effrontery to acknowledge to his own
creatures in his councils of state, that these proceedings
in favour of religion were merely to gratify the majority
of the French people, and to consolidate public opinion
in his own behalf. Nay, he is said to have gone even

further

^72 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

further in the explanation of his motives; for some of
his confidants having objected to the concordat and its
consequences as too extensive, and too rapid a departure
from the original principles of the- revolution, Napoleon
observed to them, " Make you no account, then, of a
clergy who will pray every day for the safety of the
republic, and of bishops who will be obliged by their
oaths to reveal all plots against it?"

During the negotiations for the definitive treaty of
peace between France and England, Napoleon contrived to
add fresh honours to those he already possessed ; he was
now invested with the presidency of ihe Italian republic
in a sitting of the Cisalpine Consulta, which he himself
had convoked for the purpose at Lyons. His reception
on this occasion was very splendid; he was received with
great parade, being met by a guard of honour formed of
the young men of the best families, all dressed out in the
most superb style. No sooner had he returned to Paris
than he occupied himself in announcing to the several
European powers, his elevation to this dignity.

This elevation seems at once to have had an extraordi-
nary effect upon him ; for, from this moment, it was ob-
served that he affected a greater degree of personal state
and ceremony, keeping not only his general officers, but
even his most intimate companions, at a distance the
Inost ceremonious and respectful. Even in his Legisla-
tive Councils he began to display his arbitrary feelings,
making them, not only individually, but collectively, feel
the weight of his insolent displeasure: yet still were
there some incipient symptoms of a spirit of liberty
existing, as some even of the members of his own choos-
ing began to talk about restoring the liberty of the press;
nay, they had the firmness to reject a civil code, remark-
able for its absurdity and its tyrannical enactments. But
so incensed was the First Consul by this opposition, that
he soon rendered these bodies more subservient to his
purposes than ever the old parliaments had been to former
monarchs; for, by means of that regulation which
caused one-fifth to go out annually by ballot, he sooa
contrived to get rid of every man of honestly, or of talents,
who was averse to his proceedings.

But it was not in France alone that Napoleon dis-
played his despotic power; in Switzerland he had also

begutx

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 27^

begun to shew his intentions, by sending the most threat-
enmg dispatches, announcing his mediatorship in dis-
turbances produced by his own emissaries, and declaring
his intefilion to interfere in their internal disputes, if
they did not imn)ediately adopt such measures as were
most agn eabie to his views. Nay, in the very same month,
he sent General Thureau into the county of the Val-
Inis, with orders to possess himself of the public archives
and of the public treasury; after which it was annexed to
Fratice, in like manner as had already been done with the
Pays de Vaud : so that the .Swiss states had no other pros-
pect before them than that of being swallowed up in the
same insatiable vortex.

The ambition of Napoleon began now to shew itself in
a striking manner. Not satisfied with the honours he
already enjoyed, and tlie authority with which he was
invested, he "boldly aimed at the Consulship for life; and
his first step towards this was to cause his emissaries to
agitate the question, of what gratitude was due to the
hero who had achieved so much national glory, and con*
ferred upon France so many benefits? It was proposed
by some members of the Tribunate, that he should be
re-appointed to the supreme power for five years longer;
whilst the Conservative Senate, idly imagining that they
were conferring upon him the highest "honour, and that
his ambition would thereby be fully gratified, talked of
extend i:ig his office to the space of ten years; which
accordingly took place, as far as a resolution would go.
But so little satisfied was Napoleon with this, that, three
months after, he obtained this office for life; having
with great ingenuity contrived to make an appeal to the
people, which appeal was put in these words — " Shall
Napoleon Buonaparte be declared Consul for life ?"

In every commune registers were opened with the
question, and with space for signatures of acceptance or
denial; but the time allow^ed was so short that few could
have opportunities of denying it,//" they dared; whilst
the names that were signed as acceptances being added to
those who did not sign at all, were considered as a ma-
jority of the nation in favour of the question. Upon
summing up the signatures it appeared, that three mil-
lions had voted for it, and some hundreds against it.

Having thus got th:^. suffrages of the people. Napoleon
VOL. II MM went

274 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

went a step further than their votes; for, by a resolution
of the Conservative Senate, it was declared, that he should
have liberty to appoint his own successor; thus render-
ing his Consulate completely hereditary, and placing him
in the situation of a Sovereign Prince, with a territory
that exceeded any thing ever i<nown in Europe since the
establishment of the balance of power.

By the constitution which thus invested Napoleon
with so much power, all the Consuls were for life ; but
Napoleon was to present the names of the others to the
senate, who might refuse his first and second nominations,
but were obliged to accept the third offer. His own suc-
cessor, in case of death, was to be named twenty-four
hours afterwards. He himself, as First Consul, was to
possess the power of making peace or war, and to per-
form all the usual functions of royalty ; he was even to
nominate forty of the Senate, a proportion of one-third ;
and, in short, he had vested in himself and his successors,'
by this Senatus Consultum, a power more despotic than
had before been thought of in Europe from the earliest
antiquity. He was thus elevated to the highest pinnacle
of power, and possessed all the attributes of royalty; and
nothing was wanting to till up the measure of his ambi-
tion, but the name, which he soon after obtained' in spite
of the hatred which the French had sworn to Kings.

Napoleon had no sooner obtained the Consulship for
life, than, by force of intrigue, he also obtained the title
of Mediator of the Swiss Confederation.

Being now firmly seated upon the Consular throne, his
whole policy appears to have been directed to one object,
%iz. to plunge France and England once more into all the
horrors oj' war. For this purpose he left no means un-
tried to provoke the resentment of Great Britain : he pro-
bably thought that, by actually en.pioying the minds and
faculties of the French, he should best prevent any con-
spiracies against himself.

Whether the complaints he urged against England
were well founded or not, it perhaps would be impossible
at this ti;Tt; to ascertnin; but that he was exasperated
against her in the hig hrst degr. e, is • ertain from what pass-
ed ?t the iDlerviews which Lord Whitworth, the English
ambassador, had with him at the palace of the Thuilleries.
The proceedings that took place at these interviews are

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 275

so curious, and mark his character so strongly, that wa
shall give them a place in these Memoirs.

The first interview happened on the 17th of February
1S03, when, agreeable to request, Lord Whitworth went
to the Thuilienes, and was received by him in his cabinet.
This reception was tolerably cordial ; and, after talking
on difterenl subjects for a few minutes. Napoleon desired
his Loidshi;) to sit down, as he himself did, on the othejr
side of the table. Napoleon instantly began by declaring
the necessity of making known his sentiments in the
most clear and authentic manner, in order that they
might be transmitted to the King, and that, he said,
would be done more effectually by this means than through
any medium whatever. He then lamented that the treaty
of Amiens had not been followed by conciliation and
friendship, but hud been productive only of jealousy and
mistrust. He next enumerated the various provocations
which he pretended to have received from England, and
made the non-evacuation of Malta and Alexandria the
most prominent objects of complaint; saying, that no
consi ieration on earth slioidd tuaki him acquiesce in this;
and tiiai, oi the two, he would rather see us in possession
of one of the suburbs of Paris than of Malta. His next
complaint was the state of the British press; after which
he accused us oi" pensioning assassins, &c. He acknow-
ledged that th>j irritation he ffit against England increased
daily, because " every wind which blew from England
brought notliing l)ut enmity and hatred against him."
With respect to Egypt, he said, that if he had felt the
smallest inclination to take possession of it by force, he
could have done so ; but that this he should not do, what-
ever might be his desire to have it as a colony, because he
did not think it worth the risk of a war, in which he might
perhaps be considered as the aggressor, and by which he
should lose more than he could gain, since, sooner or later,
Egypt would belong to France. After this he asked, what
he had to gain by going to war with England ; but thei)
he held out, that a descent was the only means of offence
he had, and that he was determined to attempt, by put-
ting himself at the head of the expedition. Still, he
asked, how it could be supposed that, after having gained
the height on which he stood, he would risk his life and
reputation in such a hazardous attempt, unle«s forced to
M M 2 it

276 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

it by necessity, when thie chances were, that he, and the
greatest part of the expedition, would go to the botton^
of the sea? He said much on this subject, and never
affected to diminish the danger. He also acknowledged
that there were one hundred chances to one against him :
but still he was determined to attempt it, if war should
be the' consequence of the present discussion; and that
such was the disposition of the troops, that army after
army would be found for the enterprise. He boasted
much of the resources of France; talked of her 480,000
men, all now to be completed; at the same time he ac-
knowledged that England, by her fleet, was the mistress
of the seas, a force which he did not think he should
be able to equal in less than ten years; but very modestly,
added, that two such countries, by a proper understand-
ing, might govern the world, yet by their strifes might
overturn it.

' After this he made a political tour of all Europe, en-
deavouring to convince the ambassador that we had not
a single ally, nor even a single friend, upon the continent;
and thus he went on for upwards of two hours, without
giving Lord Whitworth any opportunity of entering into
a vindication of England, except at one or two short in-
tervals, when his Lordship endeavoured, but in vain, to
convince him that he was in error. His Lordship,
however, very properly noticed the insidious bait held
out to him about our joining France in governing the
world, by observing, that, as for participation of in-
demnities, or other accessions which the King might have
obtained, he could take upon himself to assure him that
his Majesty's ambition led him rather to preserve than to
acquire! Lord Whitworth also said, that England would
always consider the re-commencement of hostilities as a
misfortune; but that, if his Mnjesty was so desirous of
continuing a peace, it was not from any fear of the
difficulty of obtaining allies. Napolton, however, seemed
to think that we had nothing to do with the continent;
for when Lord Whitworth spoke of Piedmont and
Switzerland, he merely exclaimed that these were trifles,
and must have been foreseen even whilst the negotiations
were going on, adding, that note we had no right to speak
of them When Lord Whitworth, speaking of conti-
nental allies, said, that we were the less anxious of ob<.
* taining

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 977

taining them, inasmuch as those means which it might be
necessary to allord such allies, for, perhaps, inadequate
services, would now be: all concentrated in England her-
self, thus giving a proportionate increase or energy to our
exertions, Na[)oleon rose hastily from liis chair, said he
should give orders to Andreossi to enter upon further
discussion with the Erilish minister at home, and then,
after this long conversation of two hours, during which
he talked almost incessantly, he recommenced some
inditferent suhjects in apparent good humour, and
retired.

Much diplomatic discussion ensued after this, respect-
ing the armaments in the French and Dutch ports, and
also with regard to the King's message on tliat subject
to parliament, recommending some precautionary mea-
sures on our part; and, after several interviews with
Talleyrand, Lord Whitworth went, on Sunday the 13th
of March, to the court of the Thuilleries, where Napo-
leon accosted him, evidently under very considerable
agitation. He began by asking his Lordship, if he had
any news from England ; on which Lord Whitworth said,
that he had received some letters from Lord Hawkesbury
two days previous. " Then," said JSTapoleon immedi-
ately, " you are determined to go to war." — " No!" re-
plied his Lordship, " we are too sensible of the advan-
tages of ptace." Napoleon then said, " We have already
carried on war for fifteen years." On this he seemed to
wait for an answer, when Lord Whitworth only ob-
served, that it was too long. Napoleon said, " But you
wish to make war fifteen years longer, and you force me
to it." His Lordship now told him that this was very
far from the intentions of the King of England ; when
Napoleon abruptly proceeded to Count Marcow, and the
Chevalier Azara, the Russian and Spanish ministers, who
were standing together at a small distance, and said to
them, " The English wish for war; but if they are the
first to draw the sword, I shall be the last to sheath it again.
They pay no respect to treaties. We ought from the
very first signing, to cover our treaties with black crape!"
He then went his round. In a few minutes he returned
to Lord Whitworth, and resumed the conversation, if
5uch it could be called, with something personally civil
to the ambassador himself, and then added, " Why dq

you

278 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

you arm? Against whom are your measures of precau-
tion ? I have not one single ship of the line in ail the
ports of France: but if you will arm, I shall arm also;
if you wish to fight, 1 can fight also. You may kill
France, perhaps, but you can never terrify her," " We
wish neither the one nor the other," said Lord Whit-
worth; " we would willingly live on good terms with
her." — " You must then pay respect to treaties," replied
Napoleon. " Woe unto those who pay no rtispect to
treaties, they will be responsible for it to all Europe."
He was now too much agitated to make it advisable for
Lord Whitworth to prolong the conversation: his Lord-
ship therefore made no answer, and Napoleon retired to
his apartment, repeating his last phrase. It is to be re-
marked, that all this passed loud enough to be over-
heard by upwards of 200 people, who were present;
but Lord Whitworth observed in his dispatch, that
there was not a single person at the court, who did
not feel the extreme impropriety of his conduct, and
his total want of dignity, as well as of delicacy, upon
the occasion.

On the 16th of the month, Lord Whitworth called
upon Talleyraud to converse with him on the subject; he
had not been able to see him sooner, as that minister had
been much occupied. His Lordship then told him
plainly, that he had been placed by Napoleon in a situa-
tion which could neither suit his public nor his private
feelings; that he went to the Thuilleries to pay his
respects to the First Consul, and to present his own
countrymen, but not to treat of political subjects; and that,
unless he had the assurance from Talleyrand, that he
should not again be exposed to a repetition of the same
disagreeable circumstances, he should be under the
necessity of discontinuing his visits to the Consular court.

Talleyrand then assured him, that it was very far from
Napoleon's intention to distress him personally; but he
hiad felt himself personally insulted by the charges which
were brought against him by the British government;
and that it was incumbent upon him to take the first
opportunity of exculpating himself in the presence of the
different powers of Europe. He assured Lord Whit-
worth, however, that nothing of the same kind should

agam occuf.

No

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 279

No sooner did Lord Whitworth's dispatches reach the
British court, than a proper notice was taken of these
circumstances; and, on the 27th of March, Lord
Hawkesbury transmitted a dispatch to the ambassador,
in which he signified his Majesty's pleasure, that he
should notice it to Talleyrand, requiring a direct and
explicit engagement that such proceedings should not
again take place, and this he wished to be done in order
to shew Napoleon that such conduct would not be passed
over by the British monarch or by the British nation ; a
circumstance too of great importance, with respect to
the rest of Europe, as Napoleon had publicly boasted
that England was unable to contend single-handed with
France: this indeed was ojily in the Moniteur, and Napo-
leon as well as Talleyrand did not scruple to deny the
authenticity of that state publication, whenever it suited
their convenience.

After this, Napoleon, in every part of the negotiation,
vehemently insisted upon the evacuation of. Malta; but
when at last, after great temporizing on his part and that
of his ministers, Lord Whitworth demanded his passports,
on the ground that actual war was even better than a state
of suspense, he detained those passports from day to day
by every subterfuge in his power until the 12th of May,
when the passports were at length granted, and his Lord-
ship set off for London : in which city the declaration of
war was announced on the 18th of May 1803, after a
short peace of only one year and sixteen days.

Some time before the breaking out of this war, Napoleon
made attempts to induce Louis the Eighteenth to abdicate
his throne, which we have already noticed in our Memoirs
of Louis. This proposition was made by the Prussian
governor of Warsaw ; in which he offered him an indem-
nity for himself and family in the kingdom of Poland,
which was to be restored to its ancient splendour, whilst
Prussia should have Holland in lieu, Russia to be indem-
nified out of Turkey, and Austria to have Prussian Silesia,
for all which Holland was to be the equivalent. To these
arrangements he &upposed England would have no ob-
jection, as she was to retain Malta, to add Hamburgh and
Bremen to Hanover, or, if she pleased, she might try to
recover America ; for which purpose he would assist her
by sending 30,000 men to Louisiana! We vouch not for

the

280 NAPOLEON BUOXAPARtfi.

the truth of this extraordinary tale, but think it not unlike-
ly in the madness of his ambition; particularly as it
, would have facilitated his own seizure ot the Imperial
purple, whilst such a change of y)roperty in Europe would
have laid a sure foundation of future wars, in which
France might have helped herself as she pleased.

Another plot was now detected, the object of which
was to have been Napoleon's personal dovvnfal: the prin-
cipal persons concerned in it were Picliegru, Georges,
and Lajollais, a friend of Pichegru ; General Moreau had,
to a certain extent, implicated himself with Pii-hegru,
having had some secret interviews with him at Paris; to
which was subjoined, that the assassination of Napoleon
was the first object to be pursued.

This plot was discovered by the seizure of an agent of
the conspirators, on his return from England[: upon which
the various persons accused were instantly arrested, with
the exception of Pichegru and Georges, who contrived to
remain unknown in the capital ; and, on the 17th of the
month, the grand judge, minister of justice, made his
report upon the subject. No sooner was this read in the
Tri'bunate, than the piesident proposed that the assembh'
should declare itself responsible for the life of Napoleon^
which alone secured to France her glory and her pros-
perity. This did not, however, pass unanswered ; for
Moreau's brother, who was a member of the assembly,
immediately rose, and expressed his coni^ern that endea-
vours had been made to traduce a man who had rendered
such important services to the republic ; and who, being
arrested, was deprived of the liberty of exculpating him-
self^ He then made a solemn declaration of his brother's
innocence, demanding that the general should be brought
to trial before the ordinary tribunals, where he would
make it appear, with the utmost facility, that calumny
the most infamous was the sole ground of accusation.

Moreau's brother was then told by the president that
the accused should have every facility for his defence
that could be required ; but this, even then, was evidently
of no avail, for the servile Senate, Tribunate, &:c. had
already prejudged the cause, and now hastened with
their congratulations on the discovery of this conspiracy,
which they asserted to have been instigated by the
British ministry. They next requested that Napoleon

would'

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 281

would in future pay greater attention to his own personal
security, which they considered as so inseparably con-
nected with that of the nation, but which his own per-
sonal courage had prompted him to despise.

These addresses were followed by naval and military
ones ; and in that from the former he was told that the
seamen waited With impatience for the moment when he
should proclaim the hour of vengeance arrived.

Pichegru was soon apprehended ; and a law was
passed, making the concealment of Georges a capital
offence : every means were also taken by the police
to secure him, and all those denounced as his accom-
plices. Early in March, Georges was at last arrested,
whilst attempting to escape from Paris, but not before
he had killed one police-officer, and wounded another of
those who sprung forward to seize him. The conspirators
were soon afterwards brought to trial. Georges and a
few others were condemned and executed ; Pichegru fell
a sacrifice in prison to Napoleon's cruel policy ; and
Moreau was banished to America.

But the greatest stain upon Napoleon, and what must
ever fix the deepest stigma upon his memory, was the
illustrious victim which now fell a sacrifice to his cruel
jealousy. This was the Duke d'Bnghien; of whom he
had said more than once, that the only individual of the
Bourbons from whom any thing could be feared, then
resided in an obscure manner in a small town in Germany.
This gallant but unfortunate young prince had already ac-
quired a distinguished reputation; as during the whole of
the preceding war he had served under his brave grand-
father, the Prince of Conde, where his skill and bravery
as an officer, his unbounded generosity and humanity,
were so conspicuous, as to be adored by bis friends,
whilst even his enemies admired him. When the emi-
grant army was disembodied, the Duke took up his resi-
dence, in the most unostentatious manner, in the princi-
pality of Baden, choosing Ettenheim as his abode, where
he lived in the society of a few select friends, occupying
himself with study, with botany, and with hunting, and
solacing himself in the tender friendship of an amiable
woman, to whom he was known to be married, though
reasons of state forbade a public avowal of the legality
of the connexion.

VOL. II. N N To

*J82 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

To render his plan secure, and regardless of private or
public faith, Napoleon sent a detachment of cavalry into
the neutral territory of Baden, who seized the Duke,
together with several other individuals, and instantly
conveyed them to Strasburgh, where they were confined
in the citadel. This took place on the 15th of March
1804, in defiance of all laws, human or divine ; and the
only apology which the First Consul thought proper to
offer for it was merely a note from Talleyrand to the
Elector's ministers, which Caulaincourt carried, and
which told them what he was going to do for the arrest
of some emigrants, whom he accused of being concerned
in plots against his life, and whom he had in vain re-
quested the Elector to dismiss from his territories.

Napoleon now ordered the Duke d'Enghien to be
instantly brought to Paris, which was done with the
greatest expedition ; and the devoted victim was first
placed in the Temple. He was then hurried to the castle
of Vincennes, and brought before a military tribunal
prepared for the purpose by order of Napoleon, and under
the selection of Murat, who was then the military governor
of Paris *.

During

• The following few particulars of this transaction have been given
to the public in a recent pnblication, which pretends to great authen-
ticity : —

" On the 19th of March a courier brought information to the Consul
(Napoleon), that the Duke d'Enghien was then within 36 leai^ues of
Paris. In the morning of the next day, another brought advice that
the Prince would bt at the barrier of St. Martin, at the latest, about
five o'clock in the afternoon. A courier was instantly dispatched to
meet him, with orders that the carriage should go round by the walls,
and that the Duke should be lodged in the castle of Vincennes. Buo-
naparte's aide-du»camp was at the same time sent to the governor of
Paris, with instructions immediately to summon a special council of
war, consisting of seven members, of which General Hullin was to be
the president ; the said council to assemble at ten o'clock in the evening
at the castle of Vincennes, for the purpose of trying a prisoner accused
of conspiring against the safety of the state, and the person of the First
Consul. Tlie name of the Duke d'Enghien was not mentioned in
these instructions.

" A large company were assembled the same evening at the Thuil-
leries. About two in the morning a courier arrived from Vincennes,
with a letter for Buonaparte. He went into his closet, where he re-
mained for a shott time; then calling an aide-du-camp, he gave him a
letter, with orders to hasten to Vmcennes, and not return without an

Answer.

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. ^SS

During the whole of this last day the unhappy Duke
had not been permitted to have the slightest nourishment;
and in this exhausted state, at nine in the evening, his
trial commenced, and, after every possible mockery of
justice, closed at the end of two hours, with a sentence
of death. All the charges were, of communicating with
the people in France who were disaffected to Napoleon,
of being in the pay of England and joining with English
intriguers, and of having borne arms against the re-
public.

The sentence was immediately carried into execution;
and so eager was Napoleon for the fatal moment, that
Murat had been ordered to proceed from Paris to Vin-
cennes under an escort of Mamelukes, attended by four
aides-du-camp, and accompanied by Mortier, Durop,
Rufin, and Louis Buonaparte (since King of Holland).
The most pointed means were taken to surround the
castle, and to guard the avenues of that part of the woq^

answer. He afterwards rejoineH the company; but, whatever efforts hp
made, he could take no part in the conversation. At five o'clock in
the' morning the aide-du-cainp returned, and put a note into his hands^
be broke the seal eaj^erlv, and haviug read it, said aloud, ' T have beep
troubled long enough — I shall then hear of him no more.' The nejs^
day it was known all over the chateau, that the Duke d'Enghien ha.d
been shot that night at the castle of Vincennes.

" It is impossible to form an idea of the impression that the death
of this prince made upon all who were usually about Buonaparte.
A gloomy and reserved air pervaded tlicni all ; there were even some
who took so little pains to disguise their sentiments, that he perceived
them. This was particularly the case with M. C . ' Citizen Mi-
nister,' said the Consul to him before a number of people, ' you liad
better, I think, write down what you have to say; you will then be
spared oral communication with me, which I perceive gives you pain.
If half measures be to your taste, this is not the a.ae for you,' Citizen.'

{Given word for word.) M. C answered, " There are circum-

etances. Citizen Consul, in which a man has not sufficient self-command
to be capable of rendering himself agreeable to every body, yet without
having the least wish to wound any one.' This scene was not nttcnde^
with any further consequences. Buonaparte, however, perlectly con-
vinced that the death of the Duke d'Enghien had alienated many per-
sons from him, did all he could to efface the impression. His cliaj'acter,
naturally severe and despotic, became on a sudden more pliant and
engaging. Then was the season for asking favours; whoever solicited
one might almost depend upon not being refused. When force ajid
power united are presented to us under the mask of mildness and
affability, few are they who can withstand then),

N N 2 of

284 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

of Vincennes which led to the place of execution, by
Italian troops, whilst the Mamelukes carried torches in
order to light up this deed of darkness.

For this speedy mode of punishment the unfortunate
victim was quite prepared, having merely answered to
his sentence, " I am ready and resigned;" and it is said,
that whrn told that his executioners were to be Italians,
he exclaimed, " Thank God! they are not Frenchmen.
I am condemned by a foreigner, and God be praised that
my executioners are foreigners also : it will be a stain
less upon my countrymen."

When the Duke was brought to the place of execution,
he lifted up his hands to Heaven, fervently uttering,
*' May God preserve my King, and deliver my country
from the sway of a foreigner." On this they proposed to
bind a handkerchief over his eyes; but he refused, ob-
serving, " that a loyal soldier, who had often been ex-
posed to fire and sword, could face death with open eyes
and without fear;" after which he cast his eyes upon the
soldiers, who had now levelled their pieces, and told them
to point lower, otherwise they would miss, or perhaps
only wound him. Nine grenadiers then fired, and seven
hit him; of which two balls went through his head, and
five into his body, when the corpse was instantly put into
a coffin, filled up with lime, and then interred in a grave
previously dug in the garden of the castle. Thus perished
in the prime of life the only son of the Due de Bourbon,
a prince^ who inherited all the virtues of the illustrious
house of CondL And thus did Napoleon tarnish, with
the blackest crime he could possibly be guilty of, the
lustre of his great victories.

Napoleon, having now got rid of all those whom he
thought capable of thwarting his ulterior designs, began
to unfold the great views he had formed upon the go-
vernment. Whatever his projects might now have been,
(says a popular writer whom we have already quoted),
there was nobody to oppose him. Moreau had gone for
America; Pichegru was no longer in existence; the
royalists wei'e every day led to the scaffold ; and the
blood of the Duke d'Enghien, now shed, had the effect
of drawing all the Jacobins round the ambitious Consul.
Most of the foreign courts felt the necessity of repose,
and merely waited for the decision upon the proces

against

NAPOLEON BUONAPAJITE. 285

against Moieau before they declared in favour of the new
Emperor, and to acknowledge him by that title. In all
the cabinets there were ministers bribed to support the
cause of the First Consul. Prussia alone cost him thirty
millions ; and it is certain that it was this craving venality
of the Prussian cabinet which was the principal cause of
the hatred that he bore towards that unfortunate king-
dom, so that some years afterwards he loaded it with
the most vexatious oppressions. The ministers at Berlin,
it must be confessed, possessed a degree of rigour and
harshness without example.

The Consul was extremely angry at their proceedmgs,
but that was not the proper time to make a noise about
it; yet if the correspondence with his ambassador had
been intercepted, the King of Prussia would easily have
discovered the sentiments of the new Emperor with
respect to him.

On the 14th Germinal of the year twelve, he wrote thus
to his ambassador— " You shall receive a torrent of gold;
soak these sponges as much as possible; but be assured
that they will prepare for me a future pleasure of the
sweetest kind— that of shewing to them that I have a
good memory."

On the 12th Floreal, his secretary composed for hmi
the speech which he made at the secret committee that
took place at St. Cloud, on the 17th of the same mo^th.
This committee consisted of only forty-three persons, se-
lected from the first bodies of the state, but principally
from the senate; and amongst them his own secret
emissaries had been slily slipped in for the purpose of
giving a proper direction to the proceedings. The
Consul, having taken eight days to prepare himself
adequately for the occasion, then delivered the following
speech in the most humble tone: —

" Gentlemen — In thus assembling you round me,
I have no other views than to give you timely notice of
an event whose consequences cannot fail to insure the
glory, the tranquillity, and the happiness of our country.
For this long time past, not only the capital, but also
the departments have been busily occupied in presenting
me with a heap of addresses, in all of which a wish is
very strongly expressed of seeing the government cen-
tralized in one single family.

286 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

" If we are to credit these addresses, then a single
chief, elected according to the constitution of the re-
public, and agreeable to the will of the French people
on their being consulted — a single chief, to whom all the
©ther authorities might attach themselves — would break
for ever the point of aim to which the ambitious look,
would annihilate all culpable hopes, and would give not
only more certain stability to the state itself, but also a
stronger pledge to foreign courts.

*' The good opinion of my fellow-citizens, too in-
dulgent in my behalf, imposes on me however a law not
to expatiate to you upon the advantages resulting from
an hereditary authority, limited by wise and sacred laws.
Yes," Gentlemen, of all the troubles that may occupy me
to-day, the most cruel, without doubt, would be that of
finding myself, for a single instant, suspected of ambition.
At that single idea, I feel my heart shudder with horror:
and yet I am ambitious- — Yes, Gentlemen, I confess it;
yes, I desire in the most ardent manner to see France io
the first rank amongst the European powers ; to^e her
tranquil at home, respected abroad, and invincible against
whomsoever may dare to declare themselves her enemy.
To attain this great end, there is nothing that I would not
undertake, particularly with the pleasing certainty that
you would still support me with your knowledge and
your advice. There is then, Gentlemen, my sole am-
bition, but an ambition which devours me-~the precious
sentiment to which I abandon myself with delight, and for
which I would sbed, if necessary, the last drop of my
blood.

" These honourable dispositions you, no doubt, feel
and share equally with myself, and I now dare demand
from you a splendid proof of it. Although first magis-
trate of the state, I entreat you. Gentlemen, to foiget me
during your consultation, and in your decision. An in-
quisition of such high importance ought neither to be
influenced by my dignity, nor by any slight services I
may have done the state, and which have acquired for
me your honourable approbation. Your opinion ought
to be a virgin one; it ought to spring from the sincerity
of your hearts, and from the purity of your principles,
bat, above all, from the sacred interest which each of you
ought to take in the prosperity of the state."

" Return,

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 287

•' Return, Gentlemen, to your colleagues, and inform
them of my sentiments: tell them that the individual,
whosoever he may be, is nothing when put in the scale
against the general happiness. Advise and persuade
them to examine narrowly, to scrutinize carefully the
different men of merit whom France to-day possesses.
If amongst that number they find one more worthy than
I am to hold the reins of government, assure them that I
will give them up without regret; that I shall be the first
to acknowledge his new title, and that I will serve him
with all my best abilities ; for if it is a glorious lot to
preside at the head of the laws of the first people in the
universe, it is not less so to serve him whom the nation
has rendered the depositary of these laws."

This speech, an historical monument of the reign of
Napoleon, is indeed a chef d'ceuvre of address and of
ambition ; for though, throughout the whole harangue,
ambition pops out in every word, though in every phrase
he puts himself forward, proposes, nay, even names him-
self, yet it is all done with so much frankness, with such
loyalty to the nation, with such noble sentiments, that
one is almost forced to confess that he alone is worthy
of that which he attempts to make us believe he does
not wish for. It is necessary, however, to leap over
time and place, in order fully to understand the merit of
this discourse. It was, for the Senate, an open trap,
which under existing circumstances they could not
avoid. This harangue was not alone prepared for those
who heard it, but also for the purpose of their causing
its various expressions to be circulated amongst their
colleagues, and in different societies.

Buonaparte, in his delivery, spoke in the most oily
manner, and with the utmost softness, though some
points of the speech were given with much warmth,
and even dignity; but never before was any orator more
speedily convinced of having produced the promised
effect, for scarcely had he done speaking, when his
auditors shewed that they could not confine themselves
to a slight approbation. It was in effect, not the ap-
proving clamour of a few courtiers, sold to the will of
their master; it was the frank expression of a natural
emotion, and one that was generally felt.

Mons. R-'— ■, a creature of the Consul, had received

secret

288 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

secret instructions to answer him ; but he had not occa-
sion for any grand phrases, nor for much eloquence, to
acquit himself of his commission. " Citizen Consul,"
said he, " my colleagues and 1 refuse to give you to-day
an answer: that, after the sentiments that you have just
expressed, would, no doubt, cause a severe wound to
your modesty. In a few days, the Senate, as a body, will
transmit to you their answer, an answer whose purport
you may at this very instant read in the countenances of
those who surround you."

" . i thank you. Gentlemen," replied Buonaparte :
" whatever may be the answer of the Senate, it shall
always find hie disposed to follow its decisions; well
convinced as I am, that they will always be conducive to
the general happiness, and to the welfare of the state."

The whole affair was closed with a grand dinner, at
.which Napoleon beamed with hope and satisfaction;
for his end was accomplished, and his designs were
crowned. Unhappily for him, he knew not how to form
a quiet idea of the part which he was now about to per-
form ; for the immensity of the space which he had
leaped over had actually turned his head. In that, how-
ever, he was certainly excusable ; for it is not in the
nature of man, whoever he may be, not to be dazzled
with the splendour of a crown, unless, indeed, that he
has been cradled on a throne. Every thing being thus
prepared, a proposition was made in the Senate for de-
claring himEmperor; which was, of course, unanimously
carried.

On the 1st of May, a proposition was also submitted to
the Tribunate, that the rank of Emperor of the French
should be conferred on the First Consul, and that the
same should be hereditary in his family, accordijig to the
laws of primogeniture. To this the only opponent was
Carnot, who also opposed the Consulate for life; but
though he displayed great classical knowledge and an
intimate acquaintance with all the tyrants of antiquity,
yet his speech had as little effect as he expected, or per-
haps intended.

The various topics of Carnot's speech made some
impression upon his hearers; but a set of answerers were
ready, who seemed to think, that the crimes committed
by republicans for the destruction of monarchy could

only

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 289

only be prevented in future by the regal power; and that
theij thought would be most convenient under an Eni-^
peror of their own making, as they supposed he vs^ould
own himself to be, than by the restoration of the ancient
family. It is unnecessary, however, to notice the deve-
lopement of events, which were ail pre-arranged with as
much accuracy as the scenes of a drama; so much so
indeed, that on the 3d of May the Tribunate agreed to
the proposition which had been submitted to them, but
with the proviso, that all due provisions should be
made for preserving equality, liberty, and the rights of th*
people !

On the following day the resolutions and decree of the
Tribunate were read to the Senate: which assembly post-
poned the final discussion to the 18th of the month, when
an '• Organic Senatus Consultum'* was passed, conferring
the title, rank, and power of an Emperor, on Napoleon
Buonaparte, and directing that a deputation should wait
"upon him at St. Cloud ; which immediately took place,
headed by Cambaceres, who presented the offering with
a speech suited to the occasion.

To give the heads of this Organic Consultum would be
far beyond our limits; but we may observe that it pos-
sessed so much of the ancient law of regal succession as
to preserve that part called " Salique" rendering fe-*
males incapable of inheritance. In other respects it was
an ex post facto constitution, conferring the titles of
Royal Highnesses upon the whole Buonaparlean family,
and placing them directly under Imperial control with
respect to marri^g^s, &c. It also revived many of the
ancient hereditary" offices of royalty in France, conferring
them upon Napoleon's brothers, and upon some of his
choicest favourites; so that, with the exception of a few'
steneral promises in favour of liberty, this entire Senatus
Consultum was evidently drawn up for the aggrandisement
of one family alone.

The new Emperor immediately wrote to his new
"cousins," the French bishops; informing them that he
was called by Divine Providence to this office, and
desiring them to thank God for the same, and to ex:-*
cite the piety and zeal of all the faithful in theif
dioceses.

Napoleon, says the writer we have iaefore quoted, tiov\f
YOL. II. o o prepared

290 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

prepared to give to his new dignity all that splendour of
which it was susceptible; and he wished at first, after
the usage of the ancient kings of France, to be conse-
crated at Rheims; but he was afraid that Pope Pius VII.
would make some difficulties, and would not permit a
bishop to prostitute the sacred ministry for this ceremony.
However, the Pope, to whom he had given previous in-
timation of this affair, made him a very satisfactory an-
swer upon the subject. Notwithstanding, he had com-
municated his fears respecting it to General L , who

answered, " If I was in your Majesty's place, I would
leave the vicar of Jesus Christ to sit quietly upon his
stool, and would do whatever I wished at home, and by
my own authority. We live no longer in those times
when the holy oil was an article of faith. That form,
moreover, is not absolutely required: there are mon-
archs who reign very well without it — witness Spain, and
several others."

" That," replied the new monarch, " is reasoning like
a soldier; but do you forget that there are five-and-
twenty millions, to whom I am to give laws, of whom at
least eighteen millions consist of fools, pedants, and old
women, who would not believe me to be a legitimate
sovereign, if the grease of the Lord did not fall upon me.
In a case so peremptory, we must not neglect to dazzle
the eyes of the many: splendour always prevents reflec-
tion"

" 1 feel that, as well as you do," replied the courtier;
" but permit me to tell you, that you will do much in-
jury to your plans, if, after asking the concurrence of the
holy fnther, you should meet with a refusal."

" ^What do you speak of — a refusal? The Pope dares
it not^ The good things of this world touch him as
nearly as those of Heaven. I know Pope Pius VII. : I
took measure of him during the concordat."

" He is an Italian, cunning, sly."

" Well, well, General, I shall be glad to convince you
that the Father of the Faithful gives me no trouble, and
that I know how to model him to my wishes. No, I shall
not cause myself to be consecrated at Rheims : a simple
archbishop shall not lay hands on me. The Emperor of
the French ought only to kneel before the Vicar of God.
I can assure you then, that I shall be consecrated in my

own

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 29 1

own capital, and that Pins VII. shall travel from Rome
to Paris in order to preside at that important ceremony.
Great promises upon certain points, and great honours to
be shewn both on the road and at Paris, will be sufficient
to bring hither that holy man."

At the close ol" October, the humbled pontiff set out
from Rome, after informing his Consistory, that Napo-
leon, by his Concordat, had not only restored the Catholic
religion over his vast and populous territory, but that the
same most powerful Prince, " our dearest son in Christ,"
who had so well deserved of the Catholic religion for
what he had already done, had also signified his strong
desire to be anointed with the holy unction, and to re-
ceive the Imperial crown from the Pontifical power, to
the end that the solemn rites, which were soon to place
him in the highest rank, should be strongly impressed
with the charactc r of religion, and thus call down more
effectually the benediction of heaven. It is impossible
to conceive any thing more degrading or insulting to
religion than the subserviency shewn by the Pope on this
occasion. It is not to be wondered at, that Napoleon, a
military character, should care little about religion only
as it served and administered to his ambition; but it is a
matter of surprise and indignation, that the head of the
church should so prostitute himself.

The important ceremony of the coronation took place
early in December, when the new Emperor had ordered
every previous preparation to be made. The whole of
the streets through which the procession was to pass,
were strewed with sand; and the cathedral church of
Notre Dame, in which the ceremony was to be per-
formed, was fitted up for this occasion, both inside and
out, with all that magnificence and splendour suited to
so great an occasion. The military escort was numerous;
and the procession, which consisted of an immense train
of splendid carriages, was filled with all the people of
consequence belonging to the once Consular court, in the
midst of whom Napoleon and Josephine proceeded, ac-
companied by the Pope, through lines of curious specta-
tors, until they reached the sacred spot where the cere-
mony itself was to be performed.

It would be tedious to give all the details of this grand

ceremony; but it has been much animadverted upon,

o o 2 that

^9g NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

tbat he placed the crown upon his own head, without
•vv^aiting to receive it from the hands of the Pope, from
whom he impatiently snatched it. But the fact appeafs
^ be, from the autliority of eye-witnesses,, that although
he placed the crown on his own head, yet he did not
»natch it from the hands of the Pope, as said : for the
crowns, both for himself and Josephine, were laid upon
the altar; and the Pope, having anointed the foreheads
of both Napoleon and his spouse with oil, which he had
COinsecrated for that purpose, he proceeded to bless and
consecrate the crowns, taking them in his hands as he
pronounced the benediction. He then replaced them on
the altar, and retired to his own seat; when Napoleon
advanced, and taking in his hand the crown destined for
himself, which was a simple wreath of laurel, he pro-
nounced the oath to the nation which had been decreed
by the Senate, and then repeated a declaration, import-
ing that be acknowledged to hold the crown by the
favour of God and the will of the French people; after
which he placed it upon his own head.

Josephine then advanced, when Napoleon laid hold of
the crown destined for her, and which was made exactly
like those formerly worn by the Queens of France ; he
then made a speech, stating, that she held the crown only
as his true and lawful wife, and not from any right inhe-
rent in herself; and he then placed the crown upon her
bead also.

Soon after the ceremony of the coronation, the Con-
servative Senate waited upon Napoleon at the palace of
the Thuilleries, when Neufchateau, the president, ad-^
dressed him in a pompous speech. To which his Impe-
rial Majesty answered, that he ascended the throne, tos
which the unanimous wishes of the Senate, of the people,
and of the army, had called him, with a heart penetrated
with the great destinies of that people, whom, from the
midst of camps, he first saluted with the name of GreaL
From his youth, he said, his thoughts had been solely
fixed upon them; and even, then his pleasures and hisr
pains were derived entirely from the happiness or misery
of the people. To this he added, " My descend anits
shall long preserve this throne. In the camps they will
he the first soldiers of the army, sacrificing their liwes
fpc the defence of their couiatry ; as magistrates,, they wiH

never

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 29S

never forget, that contempt of the laws, and the confusion
of social order, are only the result of the imbecility and
uncertainty of princes. You, Senators, whose councils
and support have never failed me in the most dilficalt
circumstances — your spirit will be handed down to your
successors, be ever the props and first counsellors of that
throne so necessary to the welfare of this vast empire."

The Legislative Body was opened ou the 26th of De*-
ceraber, when that assembly was convened in extraordi-
nary state to receive him. There he took his seat on a
throne erected for the occasion, and was present during
the administration of an oath to each of the members^
who swore to support the empire.

On this occasion he addressed them by the title of
" Princes, Magistrates^ Soldiers, and Citizens .'" and they
were told, that he had come to preside at the opening of
their session, as it was his anxious desire to impress a
more august and imposing chai:acter upon their pro-
ceedings. He then assured them, that if the throne to
which Providence and the will of the nation had raised
bim was dear in his eyes, it was because that throne
could alone maintain and defend the most sacred interests
of the French people. As a soldier, or as First Consul,
he declared that he entertained but one thought — as Em-
peror he was influenced by no other — that was towards
every thing which could contribute to the prosperity of
France. He then boasted of having had the good fortune
to illustrate France by victories, to consolidate her by
treaties, to rescue her from civil broils, and to revive
among her inhabitants the influence of morals, of social
order, and of religion. Should death not surprise him
in the midst of his labours, he fondly hoped that He
might transmit to posterity a durable impression, serving
as an example or as a reproach to his successors. And
he then expressed how highly gratifying it would have
been to him, on so solemn an occasion, to see the bles-
sings of peace diffused all over the world. He, for his
part, was not anxious to enlarge the territory of France,
but to assert its integrity — he felt no ambition to exert
a wider stret9h of influence in Europe ; but then he was
determined not to descend from that which he had ac-
quired. He added this memorable expression — how
well he has adhered to it, our future sheets will shew —

" No

294 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

" No state shall be incorporated with the empire ; but
I shall not sacrifice my rights, or the ties which bind me
to the states that I have created." In addition to this,
however, be broadly stated, that as, in bestowing the
crown upon him, the people entered into an entjagement
to exert every etFort which circumstances might require,
so would he call out those energies when necessary, to
preserve unsullied that splendour which was necessary
for their prosperity, and indispensable for their glory, as
well as for his own; concluding, that he was lull of con-
fidence in the energy of the nation, and in the sentiments
it entertained for him; so that its dearest interests should
be the constant objects of his solicitude.

Napoleon, being thus stated upon the Imperial throne,
directed his ambitious views towards Italy, which still
preserved the name of a republic, of which he himself
was President. His elevation iu France led him to pro-
ceed in these further views of ambition; and, to imitate
Charlemagne more closely, he resolved to revive the an-
cient iron crown of Italy; which would, of itself, give
him, if not actual possession, at least a kind of feudal
claim over the whole of that peninsula, while at present
he merely could boast a jurisdiction over that part which
was republicanized.

It was not very diificult for him to attain this new
honour; and so quickly were affairs arranged, that he
was able to set off for Milan early in May, accompanied
by Josephine. On his arrival in this city he was received
with all that adulation which must have now become fa-
miliar to him ; and on the 26th of May he was crowned
King of Italy, with all the pomp, splendour, and magni-
ficence, to be expected on such an extraordinary occasion.
Seated on a most superb throne, he had, on his right
hand, the diadem of France, with all its regalia, whilst,
on his left, sparkled the brilliant ornaments of the iron
crown*: before him- he caused the honours of Charle-
magne to be placed, thereby giving Austria and Germany

* This was called the " iron crown," from part, and the most
valuable part, being made of iron, in the old one; for, though gold
and diamonds formed the principal part of the workmanship, yet the
iron part was a nail of the cross of our blessed Redeemer, or said
to be so.

a pretty

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 29i

a pretty broad hint of his views upon that empire. The
Cardinal Archbisliop next invested hini vi'ith the various
insignia; when this boUl adventurer rushed up the steps
of the altar, seized upon the crown, which lay there upon
his left hand, and placed it immediately upon his head,
repeating part of the ancient ceremony, whilst he fu-
riously called out, with a loud voice, and in a tone of
defiance — " God has given it to me — Let him take care
who presumes to touch it."

This ceremony being over. Napoleon presented his
new subjects with a constitution, which was to replace
the two which they had already received. By this he
was empowered to choose his own successor ; after which
the line was to be hereditary, with a proviso, that all
future Kings of Italy were to reside in that country,
whilst, in the present case, Napoleon was to appoint a
viceroy ; and, in every case, the imperial and iron diadems
were never to be upon the head of the same individual.

This business being settled, he immediately proceeded
to annex Genoa to France, in direct opposition to that
constitution which he had given it, and to that treaty
which he had formed with the Ligurian republic. It is
needless to repeat all the processes of threats and bribery
which he used upon this occasion: it is sufficient to
record, that he had ordered the Doge of Genoa to attend
his coronation at Milan ; and that, on the 4th of June, a
formal surrender of the Ligurian territory was made to
him in the name of that people, with much ceremony,
when, in a full convocation of all the great officers, and
of the legislature of his new kingdom, the Doge addressed
him, and solicited him to grant to the Ligurian people
the happiness of being his subjects. To such a request
it was impossible he could do otherwise than return a
most gracious ansv/er; in which he told the Doge, that
he would realize his wish, and that his people would
receive them with pleasure. " You will find," says he,
*' in your union with my people, a continent. You
have only ports, and a marine. You will find a flag
which, whatever may be the pretensions of my enemies,
I will maintain, on all the seas of the urdverse, constantly
free from insult and from search, and exempt from the
right of blockade, which I will never recognise, except
for places really blockaded as well by sea as by land."

Having

296 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

Having settled all these affairs in Italy, Napoleon re-
turned to Paris, where he was received with great pomp
and splendour. From Paris he hastened to Boulogne,
to expedite the preparations which were making for the
invasion of England. He had not long been here before
his intelligence from the capital informed him that a new
coalition, more formidable than any preceding one, had
been entered into between Great Britain and Russia; by
which it was proposed to liberate Hanover and the north
of Germany, to re-establish the independence of the
Swiss and Dutch republics, to restore the kingdom of
Sardinia, secure that of Naples, and, in short, to re-
establish the order of things in Europe at large, and form
barriers against future usurpations.

Sweden and Austria, as well as Russia, were privy to
these plans ; but it was at first intended to try negotiation
before proceeding to force, until the annexation of Genoa
convinced all parties that negotiations would be in vain,
when Austria became formally a member of the coalition.

Whilst the negotiations were proceeding. Napoleon
was making every preparation to meet the storm; and,
no sooner was he prepared, than he resolved to march
with his whole military force, without delay, in order if
possible to crush the coalition before it could become
formidable. To him, promptitude was now every thing;
for there was a dilatoriness not to have been expected on
the part of the confederates, particularly a8 they had their
own time foF preparation, but the Russian troops destined
to CD-operate with Austria had not yet passed their own
frontier.

All was now hurry and bustle throughout France; the
army of Italy was immediately augmented; the camp
at Boulogne was broken up, and the flotilla dismantled;
whilst the greatest part of the army of England was
inarched into Holland and Hanover, in order that they
might proceed by the most rapid movements upon the
Danube, where the Austrians were assembled. In order
to increase his military force. Napoleon now got a con-
scription levy of 60,000 men; and at the same time be
directed a note to be sent to the diet at Ratisbon, in which
he laid the whole blame of the war upon the hostile
dispositions of Austria.

Before Napoleon placed himself at the head of his

array

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 297

army, he called together the Senate, in which assembly
he strongly professtd his inclination to peace, and attri-
buted the war entirely to the ambition of his enemies:
upon which the Senate decreed a new conscription of
80,000. Having appointed his brother Joseph to act as
his vicegerent during his absence, on the 24th of Sep-
tember he departed from Paris, accompanied by Josephine
and a most magnificent suite; arriving on the 26th at
Strasburgh, where he was received with all municipal
honours, and where he first placed himself at the head of
his army, then estimated at about 140,000 men, which by
this time was rapidly advancing towards the field of ope-
rations, moving in six divisions. The first of which, com-
manded by Bernadotte, the present Crown Prince of
Sweden, pushed on from Hanover, and arrived at Wurtz-
burgh, in Franconia, on the 23d of September, the day
previous to Napoleon's setting off from Paris. The
troops in Holland, under the command of Marmont, had
already reaciied Mentz, and pushed on for Cassel, where
they passed the Rhine; whicli river was also' crossed at
Manheim, by the 3d corps under Davoust, who immedi-
ately took post in advance on the Neckar, where he was
soon after joined by Soult, who threw a bridge over at
Spires, and marched on Heilbrun, on the Neckar, so
that he was soon in communication with the 5th division
under Ney, then at Stutgard ; to which position this
latter general had advanced, by means of a bridge thrown
over the Rhine opposite to Durlach. The last division
of the army had been for some time at Kehl, under the
command of Lasnes, who immediately advanced across
the Rhine on the 25th, and took possession of Louis-
bourg; on which latter route Murat had also crossed
with the reserve of the cavalry, pushing on for the
defiles of the Black Forest, in order to serve as a ruse de
guerre, so as to impress the Austrians with an idea that
the whole French army meant to take that route as their
line of advance.

The whole of the invading army was now on the Ger-
man side of the Rhine, being joined on the 30th by the
great park of artillery which had been brought across the
river at Kehl along with the 6th division of the army.

Every thing being ready for action on the 29th, Napo-
leon on that day crossed the Rhine with his househoid

VOL. n. p p troops.

298 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

troops, and immediately issued a proclamation to his army,
in which he told them, That the third coalition had com-
menced; that the Austrian army had passed the Inn, and
thus in violation of all treaties had attacked and driven
from his capital the elector of Bavaria, his friend and
ally, so that he declared he w^ould not stop until he had
secured the independence of the Germanic body, relieved
his allies, and confounded the pride of unjust assailants.
•* Our politics," said he, " shall not again suffer by our
generosity; for v^'e will not make peace without a gua-
rantee for its execution. Soldiers! your Emperor is in
the midst of you. You are but the vanguard of the Great
Nation; if it be necessary, it will in a moment rise at
my voice, to dissolve this new league, which British gold
and hatred have woven. We have to expect privations
and hardships of every description ; but we will conquer
every obstacle, and we will not rest until we have planted
our eagles in the territories of our enemies!" He now
advanced to Ettlingen, where the Duke and Duchess of
Baden paid their compliments; after which he took up
his residence, the following day, at Louisbourg, the pa-
lace of the Duke of Wurtemberg.

The main divisions of the French army had by this
period formed a junction, so that on the 4lh of October
the whole line extended from Weissemburg to the bor-
ders of the Danube; and opposed to them was the whole
Austrian force, amounting to at least 80 or 90,000 men,
commanded by General Mack.

The Austrian army was now advanced as far as the
defiles of the Black Forest, through which they had sup-
posed it was tlie intention of Napoleon to advance; and,
with that view, they had not only fortified the banks of
the river Iller, but were also now busily occupied in
adding fortifications to Ulm and Memraingen — tasks of
little importance, as Napoleon had with great judgment
taken a different route, and had now got completely in
their rear before such a measure was even suspected.
This great object to the French operations was attained
by Soult, who had made forced marches so as to reach
the bridge at Donawert, then defended only by a single
regiment, which was defeated and forced to retire, after
attempting, but inefficiently, to destroy the bridge ; to
which Murat also advanced with the cavalry, and, having

crossed.

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 29$

crossed, moved on towards the Lech, driving the Aus-
trians from the whole of that line of positions with consi-
derable loss.

Soult, taking under his command Vandamme's and Le
Grand's divisions, advanced on the 6th of October to-
wards Augsburgh, where he was soon after reinforced by
General St. Hilaire, who, pushing on by the left of the
Danube, had penetrated without opposition in that direc-
tion ; whilst Murat was manoeuvring with the same intent,
but met with some resistance at Wettingen, where were
posted four squadrons of Austrian cuirassiers, together
with a considerable body of Austrian infantry. Murat
was not in sufficient strength to force his passage; but,
being reinforced by Oudinot's corps, under the command
of Lasnes, an action took place, which ended in the com-
plete defeat of the Austrian detachment, the greatest part
of whom were taken prisoners, together with the whole
of their baggage and artillery, to the amount of four
thousand men, including a number of officers, as well
as eight standards, &c.

The whole of the French corps had now advanced,
and in some measure concentrated at the village of Zur-
mershausen, for the purpose of cutting off all communi-
cation between Augsburgh and Ulm ; and, on the 8th of
October, Napoleon reviewed great part of the army.

Several slight affairs now took place between the de-
tached corps of the two armies, in particular on the right
wing, where Marshal Ney had followed the line of the
Danube as far as Guntzburgh, w^iere he found a consi-
derable body of Austrians posted, who had been detached
from Ulm in hopes of assembling other corps on that
point, who were advancing to join the main army. This
small Austrian force made a most gallant resistance to
the passage of the Danube, being posted in a pretty strong
position in the town of Guntzburgh, reaching from the
village of Lumpach on the right to Keisersburgh on the
left, and even covering all the bridges and fords of the
Danube as far as Leipham.

Ney advanced with his division to the river, and drove
in a small advanced Austrian corps, which found it ne-
cessary to recross the Danube, and fall back upon the
main body: and having ordered his troops to push on
for the river, a general attack was made along the whole
p p 2 line

goo NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

line of the bridges, which were defended by the Austrians
with great obstinacy and resolution, but in vain; for
the French General Malher having forced the bridge,
as well as the causeway leading to Guntzburgh in the
very centre of the Austrian position, the Archduke
Ferdinand, who commanded, was obliged to retreat to-
wards Ulm — a measure which he effected, but with a
loss of all his artillery, and upwards of 3000 men. The
loss of the French was perhaps even greater, for the
fire of grape from the Austrian batteries was extremely
heavy; but the superiority of force at length enabled
them to obtain possession of a position of the first im-
portance to Napoleon's plans, who, whilst those move-
ments were going on upon the right, had moved the
centre of his army in divisions across the Danube at the
bridges of Newburg and Donawert, whilst Bernadotte
with the left wing occupied the village of Pfufferhausen,
which commanded the road to Munich.

Napoleon next ordered the main body of the army
to push on from Zurmershauseu towards Augsburgh,
where he fixed his head-quarters; and now having
placed the whole of his forces in such a position as com-
pletely to cut off General Mack's communication with
Vienna, and that too by a succession of bold and rapid
movements, in crossing the Lech, he made a speech to his
troops, in which he informed them that a general and
most important battle must shortly be expected, as he
had now placed the Austrian army in a most critical po-
sition.

He now determined to march against the Austrians at
Ulm ; but having received intelligence that some Austrian
and Russian troops were expected to pass the Inn, he
instantly ordered Bernadotte to advance in that quarter,
with the whole of his own division, reinforced by 40,000
Bavarians. That officer advanced in consequence towards
Munich, where he arrived on the 12th of October, having
capti,:tda small Austrian force on his route, together
with the whole of the baggage of the Austrian guards.
No sooner had he got to Munich than he crossed the Inn,
and advanced towards BrannaU, hut not in sufficient
time to oppose the advance ot the first Russian column,
which had alreaHy arrived and formed ajunction with
those Austrian troops under General Kienmeyer, who

had

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 301

had found themselves obliged to evacuate Bavaria, and
had now taken post in the fortress of Bratmau and its
vicinity. Bernadotte therefore contented himself with
taking up a strong position on the banks of the Inn, so
as to keep in observation of that force, and even to attack
them with advantage if they should attempt to form a
junction with the main army at Ulm ; and whilst he thus
kept them in check, he gave great facilities to Napoleon,
who had already detached Soult to occupy Landsperg,
which he did, after a sharp action with a corps of Aus-
trian cuirassiers, who were forced to retire upon the main
body at Ulm, after losing some artillery and prisoners.

Mack's army, by this occupation of Landsperg, had
now its communication completely cut off from the
Tyrol, and was of course only in possession of the ground
which it occupied, extending:; from Ulm to Memmingen:
its situation was still, however, far from desperate, as it
had abundant magazines within its own limits, principally
within the lines of Ulm, where the greatest part of the
Austrian force was stationed.

Hitherto Mack's force, though completely cut off from
the Austrian dominions, was not entirely surrounded,
but might have advanced in other directions; yet, owing
to some most extraordinary dilatoriness upon his part,
or perhaps treachery, no movements whatever were
made, so that Napoleon was left perfectly at liberty to
put in execution his plan of surrounding it entirely, which
he now accomplished, unmolested^ by directing Soult
to advance with the left wing of the French army towards
Memmingen, where the Austrian right was posted, and
where a considerable depot of stores of all kinds had
been collected, in addition to those at Ulm, towards
which place he now advanced in person with the main
body of his army.

Ney now pushed on with the advanced corps, but was
resolutely checked by a large body of Austrians on the
11th of October. The gallantry of this corps was most
conspicuous, and it was only on the arrival of Napoleon
himself with large reinforcements, that they were forced
to retreat from their entrenchments ; but this they did,
after a most obstinate resistance, leaving the French
masters of all the works thrown up on one side, of the
town.

Soult

30^ NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

Souit in the mean time was no less successful: for
having appeared before Memmingen on the 13th of Octo-
ber, he instantly surrounded it, when a capitulation took
place on the following day, the terms of which were gene-
rally considered as a proof of treachery on the part of
the Austrian General in command ; in fact, though the
troops were made prisoners of war, yet the officers were
not only allowed to retire upon parole, retaining their pro-
perty, but carriages were even provided for its conveyance
by the French army !

Liberated from opposition, in a manner so little to be
expected, Soult instantly pushed on upon the 15th to-
wards Biberach, whither the Archduke Ferdinand had
retired. But, on his arrival there, finding that this small
Austrian force had continued its retreat towards Ulm,
perhaps with the intention of retiring into the Tyrol by
the pass of Bregentz, he instantly marched upon this
latter place; by which operation the Austrian army was
now completely surrounded by the whole of Napoleon's
force, with the exception of that corps which occupied
Bavaria under the command of the present Crown Prince
of Sweden.

In order to complete these manoBuvres of Soult, Napo-
leon gave a pretty fair specimen of his regard to neu-
trality : for with Prussia he was still at peace, yet he did
not hesitate to pass through her territories, both Bay-
reuth and Anspach, which his troops occupied, though
part of the dominions of the Prussian monarch.

By the various movements which had previously
taken place. General Mack had most injudiciously
diminished his army to little better than 40,000 men,
opposed to nearly 150,000, and he 'had now no chance
of escape except that of cutting his way through
some part of the line that surrounded him. It is in-
deed impossible, without having recourse to the idea
of treachery, to account for that absolute stupidity
with which Mack had all along clung to this position
at Ulm.

That such would have been a most judicious one, if
Napoleon had advanced by the route of the Black Forest,
cannot be doubted ; but why he should still have stopped
there, weakening his army at the same time, by detach-
ments which were cut off by the French in detail, is a

circumstance

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 303

circumstance of the most inexplicable nature. Had he
advanced in any direction whatever, even after Napoleon
had crossed the Danube, he must have succeeded in cut-
ting otf some of the French corps, previous to their con-
centration ; but he now found himself cooped up in a
town but little capable of defence, whilst the whole of
his outworks and the heights that commanded the place
itself were in the occupation of Napoleon ; who now, on
the 15th of October, seemed anxious to avail himself of
his positions, and accordingly, as if to hasten the final
surrender of the Austrian army, made every preparation
for storming the place, telling his soldiers that the follow-
ing day should be a hundred times more celebrated than
that of Marengo, in a position similar to which the
Austrian troops were now placed. Indeed, he even went
further, and assured them, that as merely conquering
the enemy would be doing nothing worthy of them-
selves or of their Emperor, so now not a single man
should escape, whilst that government which had first
violated its engagements, should first learn the cata-
strophe, by the arrival of the French army under the walls
of Vienna.

No sooner had Napoleon made his preparations, than
he sent in a summons to General Mack, in which he
called upon him to capitulate instantly, or to abide the
event of a storm ; but no sooner had these demands been
received, than Mack, after the appearance of a short
hesitation, agreed to all the terms proposed ; which were,
that Ulm should be surrendered with all its magazines
and artillery, the garrison to the number of 30,000 men
being allowed to march out with the honours of war, but
to lay down their arms, whilst the principal officers
should be allowed to return to Austria upon parole; the
subalterns, however, and privates, were all to be sent
prisoners into France until exchanged.

This took place on the IJth, but Mack stipulated for
delay until the 25th of the month ; and Napoleon agreed
that if either an Austrian or Russian force should arrive
before midnight of that day, sufficiently strong to
blockade Ulm, then the capitulation was to be of no
effect; but this stipulation was really of too absurd
a nature to deserve a moment's notice, except that it
marks, if possible, more strongly, the treachery of Mack,

which

304 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

which he thus attempted to cloak under such a futile
agreement and condition.

Indeed it is evident, that Napoleon merely acceded to
it for form's sake, for it was to him of great importance
that he should be able to direct his steps upon the Inn,
where a large Austrian and Russian force was now con-
centrating. He therefore invited General Mack lo a per-
sonal intervifew on the 19th, wliere Berthier assured him
that it was impossible that any diversion could be made
in his favour by the allied army; and Mack, taking him
on his word, immediately agreed to fulfil the capitula-
tion on the ensuing day, the 20th, but again stipulating
that such part of the French army as was commanded
by Marshal Ney, and which merely was composed of
sixteen regiments of cavalry and infantry, should not
proceed more than ten leagues beyond Ulm, until the
25th, a stipulation of the most absurd and useless nature:
but Napoleon's object was gained, and he had no
objection to sign any stipulation which it was in his own
power to break.

On the 20th, the treaty of capitulation was put in
force; Napoleon being present when the Austrians laid
down their arms, and became prisoners of war. Whilst
this ceremony was going on. Napoleon sent for General
Mack and all the principal officers; and, on their arrival
in his presence, he addressed them as follows: — " Gen-
tlemen, your master wages an unjust war: I tell you
plainly, I know not for what I am fighting; I know not
what can be required of me. My resources are not con-
fined to my present army. Those prisoners of war now
on their way to France, will ohserve the spirit which
animates my people, and with what eagerness they flock
to my standards. At a single word 200,000 volunteers
crowd to my standard, and in six weeks become good
soldiers; whereas your recruits only march from com-
pulsion, and do not become good soldiers until after
several years. Let me advise my brother the Emperor
to hasten to make peace. All states must have an end ;
and in the present crisis he must feel serious alarms lest
the extinction of the dynasty of Lorraine should be at
hand." And he concluded with these memorable words,
" I desire nothing further upon the continent: I want
ships, colonies, and commerce; and it is as much your

interest

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 305

interest as mine that I should have them !" To this
speech General Mack is reported to have answered, that
the Emperor of Austria would not have gone to war if
he had not been stimulated by the Emperor o\ Russia.
" If that be the case then," replied Napoleon, *' you are
no longer a power /"

In order to reward his troops, Napoleon decreed that
the month in which this great success had taken place
should be considered as one complete year of servitude
for all the individuals forming the grand army in Ger-
many ; ordering that it should be not only so in regard
to service, but also in pay, at the same time giving to the
army, or promising to give, whatever war contributions
might be levied in the circle of Swabia, together with
all magazines of every kind which had been captured,
provisions and artillery only excepted.

Before Napoleon put his army again in motion, he
issued an address, telling his troops, that they had thus,
by a campaign of fifteen days, completely liberated the
dominions of his Bavarian ally from the military force
of an enemy; whilst, of 100,000 men forming that army,
not less than 60,000 should replace the French con-
scripts whx) were taken from the labours of the field.
He proceeded to tell them, that they must not yet halt;
that they were impatient to commence a second campaign,
and that the Russians should undergo the same fate with
the Austrians. " Then," said he, " shall be decided the
question, which indeed has been already proved in Swit-
zerland and Holland, whether the French infantry are the
first or second in Europe;" and he concluded with assuring
them, that as there were no generals among the Russians,
by the defeat of whom he could acquire any glory, so
his sole care should be to obtain victory with the small-
est effusion of blood, because his soldiers were his chil-
dren!"

Napoleon having ordered the prisoners at Ulm to be
marched directly into France, and having caused the
works both of Memmingen and Ulm to be demolished,
he directed that all the territorial property in the Swa-
bian circle, belonging to Austria, should be seized by his
commissaries ; he then ordered his army to march at
midnight of the 21st, whilst he himself set off at the
same time towards Augsburg, in his way to the dominions
yoi;-. II. q a of

306 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

of his ally the Bavarian Elector. At the same time lie
directed that all the bridges over iheLech should be for-
tified wiih Utes-du-pont, in order to defend the approach
to the magazines which he ordered to be formed on their
rear. He then left Augsbiirgh, and arrived at Munich,
where all the honours of loyalty were lavished upon
him. Here Murat formed a junction with part of his
detached corps, the remainder being left to form an army
of observation to keep in check the force under the Arch-
duke Ferdinand.

The Austrian troops in Italy having already commen-r
ced some military movements, he instantly ordered the
whole of his force to advance upon the Inn; and he him-
self took the personal command of the principal part,
with the intention of marching at once to V^ienna ; in
which movement there was nothing to oppose him, but
the force under General Kienmeyer, reinforced by the
first Russian column that had arrived to the assistance
of Austria — a force which at the utmost could not
exceed 45,000 men, and was therefore totally unable to
give any effectual resistance to his progress. Yet Napo-
leon still advanced with caution; for he was rather sus-
picious of the intentions of Prussia, in consequence of his
infringement of her neutralit> by the occupation of Bay-
reuth and Anspach. He therefore directed Augereau to
remain in Swabia,on the borders of the lake of Constance;
by which means any attempt to annoy the rear of the
French army by the passes of t!ie Voralberg would be
kept in check, and resistance also be made to any Prussian
corps that should be put in motion to operate upon his
flank.

Ney at the same time was ordered to observe the
motions of the army under the Archduke John, upon the
right flank, whilst his left flank was protected on the
side of Bohemia, by Mortier with a large force.

On the e7th the corps under Bernadotte had reached
Altenmarkdt on the Inn : but, the bridge at that place
having been destrpyed, he found it diihcult to cross the
river in the face of a considerable force, advantageously
posted ; nor is it likely that he would have succeeded,
had not another place been found practicable, by a corps
of Bavarians and French, who crossed at Rothenheim,
and, taking the Austrians in flank, obliged them to re-
treat.

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 30]

treat, so that the bridges in this quarter were repaired
without opposition.

At Muhldorf some resistance was offered to Davoust's
corps, but it was not effectual ; and he was followed by
Murat, who not only directed all the cavalry to cross at
that place, but also ordered over the whole of the reserve :
so that the whole of the French army was across the Inn
b}' the 28th, the centre: having passed on that day at
Brannau, from whence the allied army proceeded by slow
marches upon Vienna, followed by Napoleon in person.

At Vienna all was alarm and consternation. The
inhabitants, with the utmost promptitude, began to
form corps for its defence, to which they were called
by an Imperial proclamation, in which their Sovereign
declared his resolution to trust to the justice of his cause,
and to theeneigy and patriotism of his subjects, to whom
he promised also the powerfutaid of the Russian columns
now advancing to their relief. The Emperor had, how-
ever, no force adequate to the exigency of the case, al-
though he had already drawn the .whole of his troops
from the line of defence of the Inn, which was now com-
pletely occupied by Napoleon's army; a division of which
under Lasnes^ had also taken Brannau, where they found
considerable depots of military stores and clothing, as
well as of provisions, which enabled Napoleon to refit a
great part of his army, which had been very slenderly
equipped on leaving France at the commencement of the
campaign.

No sooner had Napoleon arrived in person at Brannau,
which was on the 30th of the month, than he'detached
Bernadotte to take possession of Saltzburgh ; by which
means all communication would be cut off between the
capital and the Archduke Charles, whose army was then
in the northern parts of Italy. At that period Saltzburgh
had been occupied by a column of Russians, amounting
to about 6000 men; but this force was quite insufficient
to make any resistance to Bernadotte, so that they im-
mediately retreated, followed by Kellerman, who came
up and attacked them with the advance at Pasling — a
strong position, but yet not capable of being maintained,
so that it was soon carried by the French, who took some
prisoners, and thus opened a route for Napoleon himself,
who now followed at the head of his principal force,
Q Q 2 and.

308 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

and, by rapid marches, soon came up with the allied
army, which was retiring in this direction.

On the 30th, the Austrian rear-guard, to the number
of 6000, took post on the heights of Ried, where they
were attacked by Murat, who charged at the head of the
cavalry, and instantly broke them ; yet the Austrians^
anxious to secure their baggage, again formed, when a
smart action took place, but ended in favour of Murat,
who took about 400 prisoners; indeed, the retreat of the
rear-gtiard was now absolutely necessary, as Napoleon
with the whole of his force was in sight.

The pursuit still continued ; and, on the Slst, the
advance of the French army again came up with the
rear of their antagonists, when another partial action
took place, which enabled the allies to make good the
retreat of the main body, but with a loss of 400 men,
and some artillery.

The river Ems was now in front of the retreating
army, and there they took post in hopes of making an
effectual resistance; but this position they did not
reach until the evening of the 1st of November, being
all the time of their march followed by Napoleon's
advance ; and as he had reached Lambach soon after,
where he fixed his head-quarters, he instantly prepared
for storming the allied positions, the success of which
would leave Vienna at his mercy. Accordingly, Mar-
mont was ordered to Leoben to turn the allied left,
whilst Murat was detached to take possession of the
city of Ems; an operation of little difficulty, as the
force opposed consisted only of a few hundred xAustrians,
who retired after a slight defence.

No sooner did the allies perceive that the movements
ordered by Napoleon would have completely cut them
off from the capital (for the force which had turned their
left was a powerful one, whilst the whole main body
was advancing in front), than they broke up from their
position, and again retreated upon Vienna; whilst Napo-
leon ordered his whole army across the Ems, and rushed
on with much impetuosity, to the great terror of the in-
habitants of Vienna and its vicinity, who now saw them-
selves without any hopes of his progress being stopped,
except by the Russian division of the allied army, which
had taken a position on the heights of Amstettin, where

a most

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 309

a most tremendous conflict ensued, in consequence of
their being attacked, not only by the cavalry under Mu-
rat, but also by the grenadiers, all of whom were now
in advance, forming a strong corps under the command
of Oudinot.

Though a great part of Napoleon's force had advanced
to this attack, yet the Russians made a most gallant re-
sistance, nor did they give way until they had made their
assailants suffer severely ; yet, at last, they were obliged
to retire, with a loss of 400 killed, and upwards of 1000
taken, after which they marched slowly upon a strong
position not more than ten leagues from the capital,
called St. Polten, having first destroyed the bridges over
the river Ips, which gave a temporary check to their
pursuers.

The Austrian cabinet, alarmed at Napoleon's rapid
advance, his head-quarters on the 7th of November
being at Lintz, instantly dispatched the Count Guilay, in
the name of the Emperor and of the Russian commander-
in-chief, to request an armistice, in order to prepare the
way for negotiations for peace.

The reception which Napoleon gave to the Austrian
envoy was, apparently, very flattering ; but his demands
were exceedingly humiliating: for he required that the
Emperor should send home his Russian allies; that he
would order his own troops back into Hungary and
Bohemia, disbanding the levy of the former kingdom ;
and permitting not only the Tyrol, but also the Venetian
states, to be given up to French detachments.

Guilay, with a heavy heart, carried back his ulti-
matum ; but Napoleon did not make the slightest altera-
tion in his military projects, for he instantly directed
Murat to cross the Ips, and to place his advance at the
abbey of Moelk, whilst his light troops penetrated even
so far as St. Polten, where the Russians were posted ;
and, in the mean time, he himself advanced in front with
the centre of the army, consisting of the divisions of
SouU and Lannes, and also of the Imperial guards. The
right, under Davoust, had already made movements for
turning the left of the Russians, and Mortier was on the
left bank of the Danube, in full co-operation with the
advancing army.

All the troops which the Emperor of Germany could

collect.

310 NAPOLEON BU0NAPART£.

collect, were now ordered to push forward for the de-
• fence of the capital ; and General Meerfeldt, with a con-
siderable force, was advancing on the side of Neustadt;
but, whilst a few miles from Meininzel, he was attacked
by Davoust's corps, on the 8th of November, when an
obstinate and bloody action took place, ending however
in the total defeat of the Austriaus, who lost many killed
and wounded, besides 3000 taken, together with sixteen
pieces of cannon and three standards; so that it was
with the greatest difficulty that the remaining fugitives
were able to take shelter in the defiles of Hungary,
whilst Davoust's corps pushed on for Vienna, with
every facility, being now in the great road for that ca-
pital. At this moment too, it was unfortunate for the
Austrian cause that Massena had such a superiority over
the Archduke Charles, in Italy, that the gallant prince
was obliged to fall back; yet, as his line of retreat was
in the direction of Vienna, Napoleon found it necessary
to guard against his movements in that quarter, and he
accordingly directed both Marmont and Bernadotte to
remain in force on his right flank, whilst he 'advanced in
front upon St. Polten ; where the Russians found tlie
position no longer tenable, and accordingly determined
to cross the Danube, which manoeuvre they put in exe-
cution on the 9th of November, destroying the bridge
of Krenis as soon as they had passed over.

Napoleon now advanced to Murat's head-quarters at
Moelk, from whence his road to Vienna was open; and
there he received a deputation of the citizens, who came .
out with the humble request that he would spare their
unhappy city, and treat it with lenity, as the unfortunate
inhabitants were not the cause of the war. The only
answer which the haughty conqueror deigned to make,
was, that the inhabitants must take care not to open
their gates to the Austrian or Russian army, but only to
the French ; he was disappointed, however, of making a
prisoner of the Austrian Emperor, as that monarch, with
his whole court, had retired to Brunn in Moravia ; whilst
the greatest part of the noblesse, and of the opulent
citizens, took refuge in Hungary, though a great portion
of the population, unable to retire, or anxious if possible
to preserve their property from an hostile army, awaited
the arrival of the conquerors, merely establishing a

national

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 31

national guard for preserving the police antl quiet of the
city.

Napoleon's army Jiow advanced, and was quartered in
the suburbs of ViL-nna by the 1st of Noven)l)er, and on
the following day. He himself did not venture to reside
in the capital, hut established his head-quarters about six
miles distant from it, at a place called Rukersdorf ; his
troops, however, who were in the city, conducted them-
selves in a quiet and steady manner; and he still per-
mitted the citizens to perform that part of the military
police necessary for the preservation of general tran-
quillity.

Napoleon now took possession of all the military stores
and ammunition. In the arsenal he found a quantity of
artillery, which, in former wars, had been taken from
the Bavarians; these he immediately restored to the
Elector, and, at the same time, made him a present of
15,000 musquets; whilst, for the immediate use of his
army, he made very heavy demands of cloth and wine,
which the citizens were obliged to furnish.

The occupation of Vienna not having led to peace, the
Austrian army having retreated into Moravia, Napoleon
directed Murat to push on through the city with the
advance of the army, who immediately crossed the Da-
nube, even whilst the Austrian troops were stationed at
the bridge. Prince Aversburg was the Austrian officer
in command ; and his orders were to defend the bridge,
or to destroy it if that was impracticable. Murat, how-
ever, aware of this, played him a trick, which, even
amongst the stratagems of war, was not strictly justifi-
able; for he rode up full speed to the Prince, and assured
him, " upon his word of honour," that an armistice had
been concluded. The Prince, deceived by this stratagem,
and believing that he had a man of honour to deal with,
neglected those steps which his duty required him to
take, and the French troops came up so fast, that the
destruction of the bridge became impracticable, so that
the advance into Moravia, in pursuit of the Emperor and
of his retreating army, was pompjetely facilitated and
secured.

Napoleon now ordered both Davoust*s and Soult's
porps to follow Murat, whilst part of Davoust's division,
ijistead of pushing on for Brunn, were to march upori

the

:J1^ NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

the city of Presburg, the capital of Hungary. As
soon as these corps had crossed the river. Napoleon,
having inspected the outposts, and appointed General
Clarke governor of Austria, set off to join his advancing
army, which, under the command of Murat and Lasnes,
had already come up with the Russian army at Hol-
brunn. Previous to this an affair had taken place between
the Russians and the advance under Murat and Lasnes,
who, having charged at the head of the cavalry, drove
their opponents from their position, and forced them to
abandon a considerable quantity of their baggage.

As the rest of the French army was now coming up,
there was every probability that the Russian corps would
be completely annihilated ; when Kutusoff, who com-
manded, instantly determined to gain time by a military
stratagem. He dispatched General Winziugerode to ask
leave for the Russian army to capitulate and leave the
Austrians to their fate, an offer whicb. was instantly ac-
ceded to by Murat; but no sooner was Napoleon in-
formed of it, than he suspected the intention of the
Russian general, and refused to agree to any suspension
of arms, unless ratified by the Emperor. Some time,
however, was gained by the Russians by this manoeuvre,
so that the principal part of their army were able to
reach Guntersdorff; but here they were attacked by Na-
poleon, who pushed his troops on by forced marches,
and, though the Russians behaved for a long time with
great gallantry, repulsing their assailants in several
charges, yet their left being turned by General Dupass,
with a brigade of grenadiers, whilst Soult manoeuvred on
their right, and Lasnes attacked in front, they were at
last forced to give way, and were only saved from total
destruction by the approach of night, leaving 2000 pri-
soners, with 12 pieces of cannon, in the hands of the
French, besides nearly the same number killed and
wounded. This was, however, a dear-bought victory to
Napoleon, as the French loss was estimated at upwards
of 3000 killed and wounded. Marshal Oudinot being
among the latter; but it did not impede the march of
the main body, which Napoleon himself led to Znaim on
the 17th, wheie he fixed his head-quarters, and captured
all the Russian hospit-als, besides a corisiderabl^ depot of
provisions and forage.

On

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 313

On the following day he detached Sebastian! in pursuit
of the retreating Russians, who canae up with them, and
captured upwards of 2000 of their rear-guard ; whilst
Murat, who had pushed on for Brunn, found it completely
evacuated, and entered it without opposition, although
it was a fortress of considerable strength, and might have
made U4i obstinate resistance to a besieging army. The
loss of this place to the allied cause was of great im-
portance, whilst its occupation was of the utmost service
to Napoleon, who thus became master of sixty additional
pieces of heavy artillery, together with a large quantity of
gunpowder, besides considerable magazines of provisions,
and clothing for several thousand men.

StilU however, Kutusoff was not idle, but attempted
to make a stand with the whole of his cavalry between
Brunn and Olmutz; yet, as this force did not exceed
,6000 men, they were unable to withstand an overwhelm-
ing detachment of the French cavalry under Bessieres,
Hautpoult, and VValther, who attacked them with the
greatest impetuosity; and, though the Russians fought
with obstinacy the greatest part of the day, yet they were
obliged to retreat under cover of the night. Leaving the
French army masters of the whole of that part of
Moravia.

Napoleon, in order to guard against any reverse, halted
^he wboie of his troops, and gave directions for the works
at Brunn to be put in the best possible order; nor did he
attempt to move forward until that object was completed,
when be again advanced towards Olmutz, between which
place and Wishau he found the allied army strongly
posted, and strengthened by some considerable reinforce-
ments, so that he found it necessary to take up a position
at tlie latter place, previous to an action, wiaich now
seemed inevitable.

Before the dreadful contest took place, the Emperor
of Austria dispatched his minister, -Count Stadion, along
with Guilay, his former enyoy, for the purpose of offering
pacific overtures; the Prussian cabinet also sent Count
Hnugwitz to offer the mediation of his sovereign. Na-
poleon well knew that the politics of the court of Berlin
were at this time hostile to him ; he therefore determined
to strike whilst the object was within his reach : but he
pretended to listen with a favourable ear to all the pro-
ve l, ii. R R posals;

U NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

posals; and his policy was so refined, for the purpose of
throwing his adversaries off their guard, that he took
measures forgiving every appearance of relaxation in his
own movements, and that at a period when he was pre-
paring every thing which couhi insure him success.

Previous to the great battle of Austerlitz, the Emperor
Alexander had, with a considerable force, joined the
allied army; and, he being ybung and inexperienced, the
crafty Napoleon immediately determined to take advan-
tage of it. He dispatched Savary, then on his own per-
sonal staff, to present his compliments to the youthful
monarch. This was the ostensible purpose of the visit;
but as Savary was, most injudiciously, permitted to stop
two days within the Russian lines, he became completely
acquainted with the whole internal dispositions of the
allied army. His report, on returning to Napoleon, was,
that great confidence and presumption existed on the part
of the newly-arrived Russian officers, most of whom were
young men, and said to possess great influence over the
Emperor. Napoleon did not fail to take advantage of
this circumstance; and, in order to confirm them in their
confidence, he actually gave directions for the retreat of
his army on that very night, but carefully placing it in a
good position, three leagues in the rear of Wishau, where
he instantly began, with great apparent hurry and trepida-
tion, to fortify himself by extensive works, as if he feared
an instant attack. He now, in his turn, pretended a wish
to negotiate, and accordingly requested that a confiden-
tial person should be selected on the part of the Em-
peror Alexander; who dispatched, for this purpose, the
Prince Dolgorucki, a young nobleman of sanguine mind,
upon whom Napoleon began his operations, by at first
pretending that he was unwilling to let him witness the
extreme assiduity with which the French were defend-
ing their entrenched camp. Nay, he even went to receive
him at the outposts, as if unwilling to permit him to see
the interior arrangements of bis army; and so completely
was the envoy deceived by these manoeuvres, that he did
not hesitate to offer the most extravagant demands to
Napoleon, calling upon him to give up Belgium, and also
to relinquish the iron crown of Italy. Napoleon was pre
pared lor these demands, and did not even seem sur-
prised at them ; but he avoided any thing like a definitive

ansu'cr.

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 3\5

answer, though he still affected to conceal the fears both
of himself and of his army.

A policy so refined could not fail of success; and ac-
cordingly the Ecnperor and his whole army had no other
wish than to bring the matter to an issue by a decisive
action, of whose result they did not permit themselves to
doubt for a moment. Each side, therefore, prepared for
the great contest. The French army consisted of eight
divisions of 7000 men each, to which we must add the
reserve of the Imperial guards, commanded by Bessieres,
which, with a corps of grenadiers under Duroc, amounted
to 15,000; making, in all, a force of 71,000 veteran troops,
under the command of Napoleon himself, assisted by
Murat, Lasnes, Soult, Bernadotte, Davoust, and Oudinot.
The allied army amounted to 70,000 men, consisting of
84 Russian, and 20 Austrian battalions of infantry, to-
gether with 103 Russian and 54 Austrian squadrons of
cavalry ; along with which were 40 pulks of cossacks.
The Russians were commanded by General Kutusoff,
and the Austrians by Prince John of Lichtenstein.

The allies being the assailants, the 1st of December
was opened with their movements, which were so simul-
taneous, and the advance of each army was so near, that
a smart firing was begun early in the morning, along the
whole line; and, in the course of the forenoon. General
Kiennieyer pushed on the right of the allied army, ad-
vancing ills outposts as far as Sitchen, and then towards
Menitz, a village which the French had occupied, but
which Napoleon, in pursuance of his plan, now ordered
to be abandoned ; and here he was reinforced, in the
course of the evening, by General Camville with five
additional battalions.

The centre of the combined army was under the
personal direction of KutusotF, who dined early, and im-
mediatel}' ordered it to advance in five columns, in
junction with the left, under the command of General
Buxhowden.

Lieutenant-General Doctorow led the first column,
consisting of twenty-four Russian battalions, whom he
posted at the village of Hortieradat, where they were
formed in two lines; whilst their communication with
the rest of the army, between the foot of the mountain at
Anjut and the lake of Menitz, was kept up by a regiment
R R 9 of

3\6 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

of Chasseurs, so as to unite with the two lines on their
right on the heights of Pratzen, where Lieutenant-General
Langeron was posted with the second column, consisting
of eighteen Russian battalions.

To the right of Pratzen was a third column of equal
force, and commanded by General Przbyszewsky, whilst
the fourth column, under General KoUowrath, with 15
Austrian battalions, was joined by 12 Russian battalions
under General Miloradovitch; this latter column being
so posted in two lines, in rear of the third column, as
completely to command the road from Brunn to Aus-
terlitz, whilst in their rear was the fifth column, also
extending to the rear of the third, and under the imme-
diate command of the Austrian General-in-Chief, who
had with him 82 squadrons of cavalry, of which force
bis column alone consisted.

The Archduke Constautine of Russia, the Emperor's
brother, commanded the corps of reserve. This corps
was stationed on the heights which lie in front of Aus-
terlitz, witli its right hearing upon the fourth column on
the road to Brunn, whilst its left extended to Krantzwitz.
'J'he reserve was formed of ten battalions of infantry, and
eighteen squadrons of cavalry.

Previous to the third and fourth columns occupying
the ground marked out for them, it was found necessary
to detach the advance under Prince Bagration to cover
them, which was done by Hiat General pushing on in
an extended line between Blasowitz and Holubitz; a
manoeuvre which he performed whilst General CamviUe
was advancing to reinforce Kienmeyer upon the right;
and the head-quarters for the whole army were at Krze-
nowitz.

Kienmeyer's division, when reinforced, consisted of
22 Austrian squadrons of cavalry, 10 Cossack squadrons,
and 5 Croat battalions of infantry; and with that force
he took possession in front of Anjut, which he occupied
about nine o'clock at night, having put himself in mo-
tion for that purpose as soon as the corps of reserve bad
taken its position.

The whole of Napoleon's force was posted in massy
columns, so as to be ready either to attack in column, or
to extend in line for the defence of his positions, as
might be necessary. His right was between Kobelnitz

and

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE, 317

and Sokolnitz, under the command of Soult, on the flank
of which was Le Grand, who occupied the villages of
Kolnitz and Tellnitz with strong corps of infantry; the
other parts of Souk's wing were commanded by Van-
dananie and St. Hilaire. The centre was rather thrown
back, being posted in the village of Guschikovitz, and con-
sisting of the divisions of Drouet and Rivaux, under the
innnediate command of Bernadotte, in whose rear was
Murat with the cavalry; whilst the left of the whole,
consisting of Suchet's and CaiFarelli's divisions, under
command of Lasnes, posted so as to communicate with
the cavalry, was under Murat.

Such were the positions of the whole of Napoleon's
army, with the exception of the reserve; which was
under the command of Duroc, and posted near Turas,
consisting of 10 battalions of the Imperial guard, and 10
battalions of grenadiers under Oudinot; it also had some
detached corps connected with it, one of which, under
the command of General Freant, was posted on the
hanks of the river Swartza, in a strong position at the
Keygorn convent, for the purpose of observing the route
from Anspitz, in case of any advance in that quarter;
whilst General Gudia, who had received a reinforcement
of c avalry to his division, was far advanced on Napo-
leon's right, in order to check any operations on the
part or Count Meerveldt, who was now known to be
advancing with reinforcements for the allied army from
Hungary.

In the evening of the 1st of December, previous to
the decisive battle of Austerlitz, Napoleon issued a pro-
clamation to his army, in which he told them, that the
Russian army, which they had before beaten at Holle-
brunn, and wliicb then fled before them, had now ven-
tured to return in hopes of revenging the defeat of the
Austrians at Ulm. This, however, he assured them,
would be in vain, for the French army now occupied such
a formidable position, that if the allied army dared to ad-
vance to the attack of the right, as seemed to be their
intention, then they must inevitably expose their flank
to the French columns in that direction. As for himself,
he promised to be every where, and to direct the move-
ments of all the columns, at the same time pledging him-
self, that if victory should for a moment become doubtful,

he

318 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

he would, in person, expose himself in the front oi the
battle. Victory, however, he considered so certain, that
he promised them this should be the last action of the
campaign, after which a peace should follow, which
would be worthy of France, of the army, and of him-
self!

In addition to this, he left nothing unessayed to ensure
the confidence of his troops; in particular, he visited all
the outposts, apparently incognito, but so as to be easily
recognized by the troops, who received him in all quar-
ters with the loudest acclamations.

Nor were the allies idle during the night; for every
thing was arranged for the proposed attack soon after
midnight, when the dispositions were delivered to all
the general officers and heads of corps. It is said, in-
deed, that the imperfect knowledge which they possessed
of the positions of Napoleon's army, though little more
than a musquet-shot distant, rendered the suppositions,
upon which the plan of attack was arranged, extremely
indefinite: for it was believed that Napoleon had weak-
ened his centre considerably for the reinforcement of the
left; whilst, under the idea that the Austrian left had
far outflanked his right wing, they imagined that by
passing the defiles of Kobelnitz and Sokolnitz, they
would turn his positions in that quarter, so as to be
enabled afterwards to prosecute the attack in the plain
between the wood of Turas, and the town of Schlapa-
nitz. They also considered that Napoleon's real front
was covered by the defiles of Schlapanitz and Bellowitz;
but, by the proposed plan, these defiles would be avoided;
and it was also intended that the attack should com-
mence on the right ; in order to execute which, with the
utmost vigour, the valley between Sokolnitz andTellnitz
was to be promptly passed over under cover of the Prince
John of Lichtenstein's cavalry, and the advanced corps
of Prince Bagration, which corps formed the extreme of
the allied right.

Prince John, in compliance with this plan, was to take
possession of a plain which lies between Schlapanitz and
Krug, through which runs a long causeway, and, at the
same time, he was lo order his artillery to occupy some
heights near Dwaroschna, a movement which he put in
execution as soon as the five columns of attack began to

advance.

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 319

advance, which was not, however, before seven o'clock
in the morning, when a simultaneous movement took
place, the whole descending from the heights of Pratzen
into the valley.

The French had been prepared for the attack at a
much earlier hour; for day had scarcely dawned, when
Napoleon took post on a commanding position, sur-
rounded by all his generals. There he waited with the
utmost impatience, until the sun appeared. As soon as
his first beams broke on the gloom of night, he issued
his final orders, when the whole of his generals set otF
at full gallop to their destined posts, after which he
passed rapidly in front of the line, whilst the hdls re-
sounded with the acclamations of the soldiery.

No sooner did the allied army begin to move, than Na-
poleon, watching all their manoeuvres, waited in silence
for their advance, in order to take advantage of such
circumstances as the nature of the ground might render
disadvantageous to them.

Such, indeed, was the state of the intermediate space,
that the allied army, on its approach through the dif-
ferent defiles in front of Kobelnitz, Sokohiitz, and Tell-
nitz, was obliged to leave some very large intervals,
which also increased as they advanced, particularly on
their left, where the battle first began, by a movement of
General Kienmeyer's, who being farthest in advance and
in front of Anjut, now marched with the intention of
forcing the defile of Tellnitz.

This defile was covered by the village of that name ;
and it was impossible for the first column of the allied
army to advance, so as to communicate in line with the
second, until a passage should be opened by the posses-
sion of the village, in front of which a height was occu-
pied by a detachment of infantry from Napoleon's riglit.
This height it was then necessary should be instantly
attacked : but, in this attempt Kienmeyer was twice re-
pulsed; nor did he carry it, until General Stuttcrheim
bad advanced with a reinforcement of two fresh batta-
lions. The contest here was severe; and the loss fell
particularly heavy on the Austrian cavalry, who wep^
obliged to advance through vineyards and other inclo-
sures round the village, and which had been previously
lined with some picked corps of French tiralleurs: nor

did

320 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

did the possession of the heights oblige the French to
evacuate the village ; indeed, they stdl held it for up-
wards of an hour, until Kienmeyer, was reinforced by a
Russian column under Buxhowden, when they were
forced to retire.

This, however, was a post of too much consequence
to be easily yielded; and accordingly Davoust instantly
detached 4000 men, from that corps stationed at the
Keygorn convent, under Freant; which, soon after, ob-
tained possession of both the village and the height,
undercover of a thick fog which iia i just conie on in
that quarter. For some time a pause ensued ; but the
fog clearing up, the allied left advanced in great force,
when the French were obliged, once more, to evacuate
the post, so that the assailants not only passed the defile
without further opposition, but also formed in the plain
between Turas and Tellnitz, according to the proposed
plan.

It was expected that the second and third columns
would now be in communication with the first advanced
colunm; but it appears not oniv that considerable ditri-
culties had been opposed to them by Le Grand's corps,
which occupied Sokolnitz, but also that some confusion
had taken place in their movements, so that the junction
did not take place at the time and place expected. By
this means, the advanced corps of the allied left re-
mained without its intended support, a circumstance
which did not pass unobserved by Napoleon, whose
troops had hitherto remained upon the defeitsive, with
the exception of the movement of part of Davoust's
corps upon Tellnitz : he therefore waited patiently for
the expected want of concert and consistency in the
mancEuvrts of the allied armies, particularly as he saw
that the further advance of their left, which was still
continued, produced a greater separation of the left and
centre, in consequence of the circuitous route which the
direction of the defiles required. This was the very
point for which he waited; and, in order to be ready to
^vail himself of it, he instantly put some of his massy
columns in motion, intending to push through the in-
terval of the allied line, and thus cut off the wing in ad-
vance completely from the rest of the army. In this
mancEuvre, too, he was greatlv assisted by the ignoranqp

of

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 321

of the allied generals respecting the extent of his posi-
tions; for, as they imagined that his army was in line,
and not in column, they supposed his right to extend
much further than it really did, under which idea the
first columns had been directed to take a route much
more circuitous than was absolutely necessary.

Napoleon's reserve, as already noticed, was posted in
the rear, upon some heights which lie between Kobelwitz
and Schlapanitz; though in a great measure within the
line of attack, this reserve was hitherto disengaged, and
had not fired a single shot, when part of the French
columns began to advance under Soult, who, with Van-
damme's and St. Hilaire's divisions, now pushed on
through the villages of Puntwitz and Kobelwitz, in order
to make an assault upon the village and heights of Pratzen,
a position occupied by the allies previous to the attack.

The moment was now most important, and Napoleon
instantly put the greatest part of his troops in motion;
and, as the possession of the heights of Blasowitz must
tend much to the discomfiture of the allies, be ordered
Bernadotte to pass the rivulet at the village of Gusche-
cowitz, whilst Davoust's division on his right, and Ri-
vaud's on his left, advanced in the same direction, in
order to keep up his communication.

The whole centre and right also of the allies became
now completely engaged in all directions; not so much
by their own advance, as by the advance of several of
Napoleon's columns; for Lasnes had now pushed as far
as to the left of Bernadotte, with Caffarelli's division on
his right and Suchet's upon his left, whilst Murat filled
up the interval with his cavalry, advancing in full pace
between Krug and Gerschecowitz.

The heights of Krug, which are close to those of
Blasowitz, it was intended to occupy with the reserve of
the allied right, consisting of the Russian guards under
the Archduke Constantine. That Prince previously oc-
cupied the heights of Austerlitz; but no sooner had he
left that position, and advanced towards Krug, than he
found himself unexpectedly engaged with General Kel-
lerman, who had advanced with part of Murat's division
of cavalry, as well as with the tirailleurs of Rivaud's
division, who were now well in front. Promptitude of
movements now became absolutely necessary, in order

VOL. n. s s to

322 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

to fulfil that part of the plan so unexpectedly opposed ;
the Archduke therefore pushed on a part of his force,
consisting principally of the light battalion of the Im-
perial guards, himself at their head, in order to occupy
Blasowitz before the French would arrive at it; and in
this movement he v^^as covered by Prince John of Lich-
tenstein's cavalry : but this latter officer novj^ found him-
self obliged to detach ten squadrons of his force in order
to cover the left flank of Bagration's corps, which was
then assailed by part of the French cavalry of Murat's
advance. With the remainder of his corps, Prince John
hastened up to the assistance of the Archduke, whom he
found with Kellerman's cavalry in his front, whilst part
of the infantry of the divisions of Lasnes and Bernadotte
supported them in force. The moment was critical, and
a charge was instantly determined on, which was begun
in a fine style by the Archduke's battalion of light in-
fantry. They advanced, however, with too much preci-
pitancy, which the French took advantage of; for the
cavalry, by Kellerman's order, refusing the charge, and
retiring through the intervals of the infantry, the allied
cavalry were tempted to pursue them, by which means
they were completely taken in flank by Rivaud's and
Caffarelli's divisions ; and the loss in consequence, from
a cross fire, was so great, that they left 400 Uhlans be-
hind them; whilst the Archduke's infantry, no longer
supported by them, was completely routed in its at-
tempted charge, and forced to fly until it came back upon
Bagration's positions, which were near the advance of
Pororsitz, to which he had moved, occupying the villages
of Holubitz and Krug with some battalions of Russian
infantry, in order to check any advance from Kovalowitz,
where part of Lasnes's division was posted.

These extended movements, on both flanks of the allied
army, had now reduced their centre to little more than
12,000 men; a fact well known to Napoleon, who was
waiting for these events with about 24,000 men, in heavy
columns, and that too without weakening his own left,
which was still in sufficient force to oppose any attempt
of the allies in that direction. His troops, being prin-
cipally in column, were now able to advance in force,
particularly against the allied centre, which, though
almost separated from its wings, had began to advance

about

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 323

about eight in the morning, an hour after the advance on
the left, but they did not venture on this movement until
the Emperor Alexander came up, at the head of the fourth
col umn, accompanied by Kollowrath, the Austrian general.
The centre now formed into line, and began to move by
platoons to the left : but scarcely had they broke ground,
when the divisions of St. Hilaire and Vandamme, now
forming a heavy column, and stationed in a bottom in
front of Pratzen, were seen for the first time by the
commander-in-chief, Kutusoff, who was indeed com-
pletely taken by surprise, as hitherto he had imagined
the allied army to be the actual assailants in all parts of
the line. The tables were thus completely turned against
him; and, finding himself actually attacked in conse-
quence of this forward movement of Soult, he judged it
absolutely necessary to re-occupy the heights of Pratzen,
as Soult was in full march towards them, and their pos-
session was of the utmost importatice to both parties;
for Pratzen was the key of that position from which the
allied army had just debouched ; and such was their now
hazardous situation, from the separated state of the dif-
ferent columns, that their very existence depended upon
retaining possession of the position. No sooner therefore
was intelligence brought to Kutusoff of the advance of
Soult's column, than he gave directions to shew a front,
and at the same time directed a part of his force to return
to the heights. Aware that his centre was too weak for
both these operations, he also sent to Prince John for
reinforcements, which general dispatched four regiments
of Russian infantry, whose arrival was not delayed, as
the distance yet between Prince John's corps and the
fourth column of the allies, was not very considerable.
But part of Bernadotte's corps was now in communica-
tion with Soult's column, and had actually at this moment
made its appearance on the right of Pratzen ; vyhen the
corps of reinforcements from Prince John was instantly
ordered in' the same direction, as Bernadotte's corps
seemed intending to push for the interval between Prince
John and the fourth column*.

Some

* On this occasion Soult commanded the right wing of the army ; and

early in the day, we are told, upon the authority of General Sarrazin,

that Napoleon sent him an order for an immediate attack, and that he

9 5 2 should

324 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

Some of the allied troops were at this momeBlsin Prat-
zen ; and a small reinforcement from the Russian infantry-
was detached to co-operate with their advance on a hill
in front of that village. This force was, however, too small
to defend it, and accordingly was obliged to give way
before the head of Souk's column, which advanced
slowly and steadily to that position ; so that the Russians
had no chance left but that of a general attack, which
was accordingly commenced: but it is said that they
opened their fire at too great a distance, whilst Soult's
column continued to move on without firing a shot,
until within an hundred paces of their opponents, when
they poured in such a destructive fire of musquetry,
as completely to check the Russian line, after which
they instantly rushed on for the heights in several
lines, and immediately oocupied them, resting their right
on the highest ground whilst their left was posted in the
village close to the church.

This brilliant manoeuvre was followed by a most mas-
terly disposition on the partof Soult; who, finding his
right flank threatened by a brigade of the third column
under General Kaminskoy, which, in its separation from
its own corps, was still enabled to deploy in front upon
Pratzen, instantly formed his column in an angular direc-
tion, so as to shew two fronts to the two corps which
threatened him.

Here Soult remained, and sustained repeated attacks

should possess himself instantly of the heights of Pratzen. To the
aides-du-cainp who brought this order Soult answered, that he would
connmence the attack as soon as he could do it successfully, but that it
was not yet time; but no sooner was this reply hrouuht back to Napo-
leon, than he was filled with the utmost rage, and immediately sent
another nide-du-camp, who arrived precisely at the momeut when Soult
had ordered his division to advance, a movement which he had only de-
layed until the Russians should extend their line so far to the left as to
weaken their centre. So well-timed was Soult's movement, that all who
opposed his march were either killed or taken; and Napoleon being on
a height from whence he could plainly discern all the manoeuvres of
the army, was so charmed with the precision and brilliant results of
Soult's prudence and spirit, that he set off towards him at full gallop,
and, in the presence of his staff, which but a few minutes before had
witnessed his extreme irritation against the general, he embraced him,
and exclaimed loudly, " My Lord Marshal Soult ! I esteem )ou as the
most able tactician of my empire !" — " Sire ! 1 believe it," replied Soult,
" since your Majesty has the goodness to tell me so !"

of

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 323

of the allies, who were anxious to regain the heights, as
a post of the last importance. The Emperor Alex-
ander himself displayed the greatest energy ; he not only
accompanied the infantry of his own column, during the
most tremendous moments of this arduous and almost
desperate conflict, but also, with consummate judgment,
actually advanced with his own battalion in order
to turn Soult's right flank, whilst Kollowrath, accord-
^ ing to Kutusoff^'s orders, was occupied in harassing his
left.

In order to press harder on all quarters upon Soult's
position, a part of the Russian reserve, consisting of two
regiments, were now directed, not having yet been en-
gaged, to proceed towards that part of the third column
which, under Kaminskoy, was now menacing the right
of the French column ; but Soult was most advantage-
ously posted, and the nature of his ground now per-
mitted him to keep his troops much under cover from
the allied fire, even whilst the allies were exposed both
to his artillery and musquetry. His movements, too, being
in part concealed by the broken nature of the position,
the allies were checked in every assault; so that they
had no alternative left, for the recovery of this important
position, but an attack with the bayonet, a resource of
such a desperate nature as only to be justified by the im-
perative circumstances of the case.

The assailants were therefore concentrated in massive
bodies, and a general charge took place; but in their ad-
vance they were completely mowed down by the heavy
and well-directed fire of the French. A most dreadful
scene of carnage now took place; but the allies still ad-
vanced, most gallantly led, on their right, by General Mi-
loradovitch ; liowever, as two of the other leading gene-
rals. Berg and Reprinsky, were wounded before bayonets
were crossed, a part of the line wavered, and the slaughter
increased. Destruction now seemed certain to the left
of the assailants, had not some of their officers gallantly
rallied, and again led them on ; and that with such effect,
as to force the part of the French line opposed to them
in their turn to give way, so that Soult was obliged
to change his defensive plan, and himself become the
assailant.

This

326 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

This he did with such rapidity, that the whole corps
of the allies opposed to him instantly gave way, and fell
back upon the remains of the fourth column ; but Soult
having now brought up his artillery in front, the fire be-
came so destructive, that, after a contest of two hours,
the whole of that column was in rapid retreat, leaving
behind them great part of their artillery, which the heavy
clay rendered it impossible for them to move along with
sufficient celerity, and they retired in the utmost con-
fusion to the heights of Harspitz and Hodiegetz, where
they endeavoured to collect their scattered forces.

The fate of the centre of the allied army might now be
considered as decided ; and so rapid had been the advance
both of the French infantry on the wings, and of the
cavalry under Murat, that a difficult task fell to the lot
of Prince John of Lichtenstein, who was obliged to detach
his cavalry to both flanks, in order, if possible, to check
Napoleon's progress. Under cover of this arm, he also at-
tempted to rally several Austrian corps now in considerable
confusion; but having his horse killed with a grape-shot,
some delay took place in his arrangements, and little
more was done by his corps during the remainder of the
day, except to occupy the ground at the foot of the
heights of Pratzen, and also the village of Rozenovitz.

In other quarters the battle still raged, particularly at
the village of Blasowitz, which had for some time been
occupied by the Russians under the Archduke Constan-
tine. To this post Bernadotte had now advanced with a'
strong force, where the Archduke was in possession of a
position on some heights easily defensible; from these,
however, he thought proper to descend as soon as he
saw the French columns advancing, covered by numerous
sharp-shooters, whose fire was so galling, that he found
it at last necessary to advance in line, and to force them
back with the bayonet on the main bodies.

No sooner had this charge taken place, than a sharp
cannonade commenced, in which the grape-shot caused
dreadful carnage on both sides; and the Archduke's corps
now advancing upon the French columns, the cavalry of
their guards, who had come on in the interval of the in-
fantry, then rushed forward, charging the whole Russian
line, which, after a brave and inefficacious resistance, was
obliged to retire.

Whilst

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 327

Whilst these operations were going on at Blasowitz,
Marshal Lasnes was manoeuvring upon the allied right,
in heavy columns, and his advance had now enabled him
to interpose between General UwTirrow, who was at
Holubitz with a strong corps of cavalry, and Prince Ba-
gration, who had taken post in front of Posornitz : a
mancEuvre which enabled him not only to prevent the
junction of those two corps, but also to occupy a very
commanding eminence on the road to Brunn, the posses-
sion of which had been one of the objects of Bagration's
movements, but which Lasnes now strengthened with a
regiment of inftmtry, and no less than eighteen pieces
of artillery, so as completely to secure any advance of
the left wing in case of disaster. ^

No sooner were these arrangements made, than Lasnes ^
again advanced in column, supported by part of Murat's
cavalry, in order to drive Bagration from his position at
Posornitz ; a manceuvre in which he finally succeeded,
in consequence of the villages of Krug and Holubitz being
occupied by the corps sent to attack General Uwarrow,
when the Prince retreated upon the right of Rauswitz, a
post which he was able to maintain for some hours, the
advance of Lasnes being now checked by General Ulanus
and a strong corps of Russian cavalry, with a degree of
promptitude and gallantry highly commendable. General
Uwarrow also, though forced from his positions, was still
able to make a slow retreat with his cavalry, so that it
was not until late in the evening that Bagration com-
menced his retreat, in the most orderly manner, upon the
rear of Austerlitz.

The heights of Austerlitz had been for some time
occupied by Prince John with a great proportion of the
attied cavalry ; but this concentration of the allied line
upon Austerlitz had completely laid open the road to
Wishau, so that no opposition was made to the advance
of several corps, which Napoleon had ordered in that
quarter, and who were thus enabled to take possession
of the principal part of the baggage of the allied army,
whose right and centre were also completely driven in
from their extended line, whilst their left were suffering
severe reverses, from neglecting to pursue that system of
concentration voluntarily to which the right had been
forced.

The

328 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

The fact is, that the possession of the heights of Prat-
zen had now given Soult a commanding position with
respect to the first first three columns of the allies, who
had advanced by Tellnitz and Sokolnitz, and who, by
their unnecessary extension beyond the right of the
French columns, had permitted the advance of Soult to
cut them off from the other parts of their line. This error
on the part of the allied left, by entangling them in defiles
whose line led them further from the scene of action in
proportion as they advanced in front, was the grand
point on which Napoleon had depended for eventual
success ; for though their force was considerable (con-
sisting of fifty-five battalions, together with Kaminskoy's
brigade, w.hich was destined to keep in check part of
Davoust's corps, together with the brigade of Le Grand),
yet Napoleon well knew that its insulated position must
place it upon the most unfavourable terms with respect
to any defensive resistance, as soon as he could spare
troops for that purpose. That period was approaching;
and it was even early in the day, and soon after the oc-
cupation of Pratzen by Soult, that a part of the allied
left was so completely surrounded, as to oblige a corps
of 6000 men at Sokolnitz to surrender en masse, with the
whole of the numerous artillery in that quarter. This
corps was part of the first column ; and the second co-
lumn being also broken, now began to fall back upon
Anjut in great disorder, where a small part of the first
column was still in some force, having proceeded so far
in its march with the intent of reintbrcing the allied
centre.

This proposed movement was undoubtedly a judicious
one, and might have even turned the fate of the day,
had not the column been led on in a wrong direction,
so that it was unable to undertake the proposed co-
operation, and had no other alternative than to make a
stand at Anjut, whither General Buxhowden was also
marching.

The fate of the allied left may here be considered as
decided ; for they were now opposed by the French re-
serve, then for the first time brought forward by Napo-
leon himself, to the amount of twenty fresh battalions,
which hitherto had not been engaged, but now occupied
the whole brow of the heights, where the allies had been

posted

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 329

posted in the early part of the day. Their line now ex-
tended from the chapel above Anjut as far as Pratzen,
though they had not yet brought up their artillery in
any great force: but no sooner did Napoleon find that
the first column had arrived at Anjut, than he ordered
Vandamme's division to advance, which was done with
the utmost rapidity; in short, they rushed like a torrent
upon the village, of which, after a short resistance, they
took possession, capturing upwards of 4000 men, besides
artillery, so that it was with the utmost didiculty that
General Buxhowden was enaibled to rejoin the broken re-
mains of the allies at Austerlitz.

So rapid had been the preceding movements, that the
fate of the day may be considered as decided so early
as two in the afternoon. In fact, the advance of Yan-
damnie's corps may be considered the last decisive move-
ment of the general battle; in which all parties fought
well, notwithstanding the injudiciousness of the move-
ments upon the part of the allies, whose cavalry, during
the whole of what may be called a scene of confusion,
are described as having behaved with the greatest courage.

The left wing of the allies, harassed and fatigued as
it was, effected its retreat to Newhoff to the amount
of about 8000 men; but there they found it impossible
to remain, although it was then four o'clock in a cold,
dark, winter's night; and they continued their retreat
upon Boscovvitz, which place they did not reach until
the next morning, leaving the whole of their artillery
behind them in consequence of the almost impassable
state of the roads, a heavy and continued rain having
fallen during the whole of the night.

In the course of the night, the whole of the allied army
was in some measure concentrated behind Austerlitz,
being principally posted at Holr:2getz, very much re-
duced in numbers, and in artillery, whdst Napoleon with
his victorious bands occupied those heights from which
they had been driven. He was now in possession, not
only of the field of battle, but also of the greatest part
of the allied artillery and baggage, besides forty stand-
ards and a great number of prisoners ; independent of
which, it is said that the wounded left upon the field
were so numerous that they could not all be dressed until
two days after the battle.

VOL. II. T T Napoleon

330 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

Napoleon now took measures for following up his
victory. He detached Murat on the 3d of December
with the cavalry as far as Kremsin, whilst Lasnes was
ordered to turn the right flank of the allied army in the
direction ofStanitz; and Bernadotte and Soult directed
the cutting off the retreat towards Hungary with the
reserve, Davoust at the same time turning the allied left
flank by the route of Anspitz.

Dispirited by his reverses, and anticipating the worst
consequences from a prolongation of the war, the Em-
peror Francis sent Prince John of Lichtenstein to Na-
poleon's head-quarters, to propose an armistice, and an
interview between himself and Napoleon, They accord-
ingly met in the open air, near a mill, close by the road
side, and not far from the village of Nasidlowitz. The
interview lasted a long time; and Napoleon, flushed with
victory, insisted that his own army should remain in pos-
session of its present conquests, until the ratification of a
definitive treaty, or until the rupture of the negotiations,
which however was not to be followed by hostile operations
for the space of fourteen days. He also demanded that
the Russian army should evacuate all the Austrian states
instantly, by a prescribed route; and that Austria should
engage to discontinue the Hungarian levies, and should
promise not to admit any foreign army into her terri-
tories ; and also that a diplomatic meeting should instantly
take place at Nicholsburg, in order to prepare the defini-
tive treaty. To all these conditions the Emperor Francis
was obliged to assent; after which he returned to his
head-quarters. Napoleon also stipulated that General
Savary should accompany the Austrian officer who was
to be detached to the Russian Emperor with the issue
of this interview.

The Emperor Alexander received them with polite-
ness, but refused to sanction the insulting proposals; he
found it however necessary to put in practice that line of
conduct for which Napoleon had stipulated, and accord-
ingly directed his whole army to commence its march
homeward on the 6th of December, whilst Napoleon de-
puted Talleyrand, as his representative, to meet Prince
John of Lichtenstein, in order to perfect his various
diplomatic arrangements in the treaty of Nicholsburg.
Thus ended, by a glorious triumph to the arms of Na-
poleon,

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 331

poleon, a war which at first threatened the extinction of
his power. His pronnpitude and decision were mani-
festly displayed in its progress; and from his policv, as
well as his conduct in the field, he was indebted for all
the advantages which he now possessed; for although the
allied army had suffered so signal a defeat at Austeriitz,
yeV their force was so far from being annihilated, that
they were still in a formidable condition. The Arch-
duke Ferdinand, who commanded a corps of 20,000
Austrians in Bohemia, had actually, before he received
intelligence of the armistice, attacked and defeated, with
considerable loss, a corps of Bavarians under General
Wrede: immediately after this success, he advanced
rapidly in the rear of Napoleon's army, and almost at
the very same instant the Archduke Charles had made
his appearance from the side of Hungary, within a day's
march of Vienna, with an army in the highest order and
amounting to 80,000 men.

Of these circumstances there is no doubt that Napo-
leon was well aware; and it is very rationally believed
that if the Emperor of Austria had not been so precipi-
tate in the pacific arrangements, the fortune of war might
have taken a very different direction, and Austria might
have obtained terms much more honourable than those
to which she was forced to submit. Napoleon's genius,
however, succeeded ; and in this instance, as well as in
many others, shewed, that in the cabinet, he could not
only guard against the dangers, but also repair the dis-
asters of the field.

The battle of Austerlitz, so fatal to the the allies, was
immediately followed by the treaty of Presburg, by
which Austria was compelled to give up a considerable
portion of her ancient possessions as the price of peace.
Shortly after the ratification of this treaty^ Napoleon had
an interview with the Archduke Charles of Austria, in
the neighbourhood of Vienna, to which city he had now
removed his head-quarters.

After this he left the Austrian capital, and proceeded
towards Paris, but stopped at Munich, the capital of
Bavaria, where he had arranged a matrimonial union be-
tween the Princess of Bavaria, and his son-in-law Eugene
Beauharnois. At the Bavarian court he stopped upwards
of a fortnight; and, in compliment to the union, not only
T T S declared

SS2 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

declared Eugene his adopted son, but also announced
him to be his successor in the kingdom of Italy. His
reception at Munich, as might naturally be expected, was
extremely flattering, and the grossest adulation was
offered to him without scruple. He was compared to
Titus; and it was said, that of all persons who had worn
the Imperial purple, the one most resembling to Napo-
leon was Titus, because Titus had been called " the de-
light of the human race;*' and, to convey to him this
pleasing discovery in a manner sutficiently delicate not
to wound his modesty, the Opera of " La Clemenza de
Tito," front the pen of Metastasio, was performed in his
presence, at the Theatre Royal at Munich, when, as was
stated, " all eyes were instantly directed to the Titus of
France, and all voices raised in prayers for his life and
happiness."

The remainder of his journey to his capital was a con-
tinuation of this gross flattery, and in all places he en-
joyed similar homage and adoration.

On the 26lh of January 1806, he arrived in the French
capital ; where he found the people completely intoxicated
and dazzled with his splendid victories, and offering,
without reserve, every species of flattery that the imagi-
nation could invent. Soon after his arrival he convoked
the legislative bodies, on which occasion he made a pom-
pous display of his victories ; and on the 5th of March,
his minister made an extraordinary Expose, in which a
statement was given of the condition of the French
empire. In this document two new cities were promised
to the French, both to be called Napoleon Ville; one of
them to be raised in the Morbihan, and the other in La
Vendue. It was also stated that the Port Buonaparte,
which was to be worthy of its name, would soon be an
object of terror to England.

The aggrandizement of his family was now the prin-
cipal object of Napoleon's attention ; and he notified
to the legislature, that he was about to marry his
niece Steplianie Beauharnois to the young Prince of
Baden, the same prince whose union he had prevented
with the Princess of Bavaria. He also informed them
at the same time of the annexation of the Venetian
territories to the kingdom of Italy, and of his conferring
-the kingdom of Naples upon Joseph Buonaparte, to-
gether

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 333

gether witli his formation of the grand-duchies of Berg,
Guastalla, &c.

It would extend this work to too great a length, if
we were to enumerate all the acts of aggression com-
mitted by Napoleon, in furtherance of that system which
he had adopted of extending his sway over the Euro-
pean states. The effects of that policy, which he as well
as his predecessors had followed, of dividing the Euro-
pean powers, and exciting jealousies amongst them, be-
gan now to operate to the destruction of the most pow-
erful of them ; and Prussia in particular, whose narrov/
■views had contributed to lay the contment at the feet of
Napoleon, was now to experience, in her turn, the bitter
fruits of her selfishness.

After the humiliation of Austria, whose misfortunes
might have been averted by the prompt co-operation of
the King of Prussia, Napoleon, ever active to extend his
power and consolidate his empire, founded, upon the
ruins of the German empire, that remarkable confederacy
of states known by the name of the Confederation of the
Rhine. This formidable association, at the head of
which was Napoleon, threatened the entire extinction of
every power which dared to oppose the views of the am-
bitious Emperor; and Prussia, when too late, saw in
these plans the destruction of her independence, if not
her entire overthrow.

Notwithstanding the alarming measure which Napo-
ieon had now taken, and his power to enforce it in spite
of any opposition, he yet thought it prudent to cajole
Prussia, and to soothe her alarms. He accordingly pro-
mised to the cabinet of Berlin, that he would consent
to her forming a confederation in the North, similar to
that of the Rhine; a combination which was really be-
come necessary to her very existence. But no sooner
had he accomplished his plans, and consolidated his
power, than he plainly intimated to the Prussian cabinet
that he would not allow her to include the Hanseatic
towns in her confederacy. He also told her, that al-
though not averse to the plan of a northern confederacy,
yet his regard to justice, and respect for the law of na-
tions, would not allow him to witness any compulsion
that might be used to make independent princes become
members of it against their will ; in particular, the wise

prince

334 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

prince who governed Saxony, not being inclined to con-
tract new obligations, it was innpossible that he could
dee him enslaved, or forced to act against the interests
of his people. As for Hesse Cassel, the Elector of that
§tate was informed, by tlie French minister at his court,
that it was impossible for Prussia to do any thing for
her allies, and therefore Napoleon invited him to join bis
own Confederation of the Rhine; in return for which he
promised him those dominions which still remained in
the hands of the illustrious House of Orange. The fur-
ther objects of Prussia, also, in the occupation of Swe-
dish Pomerania were frustrated ; so that, completely
duped and left to herself, she found herself once more
on the eve of hostilities with France, without an ally,
and almost without a friend, or the prospect of obtaining
one, except for political reasons, which might induce
England or Russia to engage in a mutual co-operation.

The cabinet of Berlin, relying upon the support of
England and Russia, now determined on war, knowing
that longer to delay it would give strength to Napoleon;
and whilst she made secretly every preparation for this
event, she also practised every expedient to gain time.

At last, after considerable diplomatic intrigue had
been practised on both sides, and war became inevitable.
Napoleon, on the 21st of September, sent orders to all
the princes of the Confederation of the Rhine to furnish
their contingents ; and, on the 24th, he himself set off
from Paris to take the command of the army, which was
hastening in all directions to the scene of action.

The preparations of Prussia were formidable, and cor-
responded to the importance of the occasion. Her army.
was commanded by the Duke of Brunswick; and early
in October its principal magazines were collected at
Naumburg, whilst its line extended along the Saale, from
which position it moved forward, and had its head-
quarters at Weimar on the 10th, the whole being dis-
tributed in the following order. General Ruchel had
the command of the right wing, which was posted as
far as Muhlhausen, and in communication with the
centre; the centre was under the immediate orders of
the Duke of Brunswick in chief, accompanied by Mar-
shal MoUendorf and the Prussian monarch himself, and
was quartered from Erfurt to Weimar, Gotha, and Eise^

nach :

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 335

nach ; whilst the left occupied Saalfield, Hof, and
Schleitz, under the immediate orders ot" Prince Holien-
lohe, assisted by General Tauenzein, and accompanied
by Prince Lewis of Prussia. At Gastrin, Prince Eu-
gene of Wirtemberg had the command of the reserve.
The whole army amounted to aUout 150,000 men, in-
cluding the Saxon troops, which, either by choice or
compulsion, had joined the Prussians.

So intent was Napoleon upon striking an immediate
blow, that, only two days after his arrival to take the
command of his army, he ordered all the corps to ad-
vance by a simultaneous movement towards the Prussian
position, which was so strong in front as to be considered
almost impregnable in that quarter, though rather unpro-
tected on their flanks, where their magazines were open
to the assaults of an enterprising enemy.

On the 8th of October, Napoleon advanced with hrs
whole force in three divisions, in order to attack thq
depdts of the Prussian army at Naumburg, at VVeissen-
feis, and Zwickau, and Hofl", which were left exposed;
and he knew that if he was once possessed of these ma-
gazines, he could either starve the Prussians ij their
strong position, or force them to leave it and fight at a
disadvantage; for, in the post which that army occupied,
particularly in the barren districts round Weimar, forage
was so extremely scarce, that from this period up to the
decisive battle of Jena, the cavalry horses, as well as the
artillery, were without corn, and had very little of any
other kind of food, nay, it is asserted, that the occupa-
tion of their magazines actually left the troops without
bread, beer, or brandy, for sonie days, and totally without
food for two nights and a day previous to the battle.
Movements, whose results were likely to be of such im-
portance, could not be neglected by Napoleon, whose
military eye fully appreciated the consequences of the
fatal error in the Prussian tactics; for their army being
now stationed oii the left bank of the Saale, thev not only
exposed the dominions ot their ally, the Elector of
Saxony, but even their own strong places to the asaults
of an active enemy.

The first movement of Napoleon was directed against
the left of the Prussian army, whose position was so ex-
tended as to be weak in all points. Marshals Soult and

Ney

336 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

Ney were ordered to advance in that direction: these
two generals bad two strong French corps under their
command, besides a corps of Bavarians; and these,
having jomed at Bayreuth, advanced upon Hof, still
communicating with the centre of Napoleon's army,
which was under the immediate command of Murat and
Bernadotte.

No sooner did the right of the French, under Soult,
advance upon the Prussian left, than the most distant
part of the Ime found it necessary to evacuate Hof and
its vicinity, failmg back upon Schleitz, in the direct route
of the French centre, and leaving the French in pos-
session of the whole of the magazines at that depot.
After which, Soult pushed forward for Plauen, m Upper
Saxony, arriving there on the 10th, followed by Ney;
whilst the centre of Napoleon's force was occupied in
the passage of the river Saale at Salburg ; an operation
which they put in force on the 9th, advancing the same
day to Schleitz. where they found General Tauenzein
posted with a Prussian corps, amounting to about 10,000
men, with which he attempted to make some resistance,
but being repulsed with considerable loss, he I'ell back ;
so that Napoleon, by the 1 1th, was in a position to make
an attack upon the principal magazines of the Prussian
force at Nan m burg.

The left of the French army under Lasnes, having
reached Coburg on the 9th, pushed on for Graffenthal on
the following day, and on the 10th came in sight of
Saalfield, where the bridge, the principal point of defence,
was entrusted to Prince Lewis of Prussia. That young
officer, however, with more gallantry than prudence, aban-
doned his strong position, and advanced to attack Lasnes;
but he was completely defeated, with a loss of GOO killed,
many wounded, 1000 prisoners, and 30 pieces of artil-
lery; the prince himself falling in the battle.

Napoleon, t>y his rapidity of movement, had thus turned
both flanks of his opponents; and, in fact, had cut off
the communication between Berlin and Dresden, and the
main Prussian force. The consternation and dismay
that now prevailed at the Prussian head-quarters was
very great : nor would they believe it possible, that Napo-
leon's advance could have been so rapid, until the night
of the 12lh of October, after the advance of part of the

centre

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 3S7

centre under Davoust to Naumburg; when the burning
of the magazines by that general, at last, convinced them
that Napoleon was rushing on in all quarters, determined
to destroy that which he could not occupy, and to re-
duce them to the necessity of fighting him for their very
existence.

Finding it impossible to avoid a battle, the Prussians
spent the whole of the 13th in making preparations for
it. Their position was considered almost impregnable ;
and Napoleon found himself only separated from them
by the heights of the Saale, which formed the main
part of the Prussian defence. To advance in front
would have been madness; his only move, therefore,
was by the flanks; but even that would have been im-
practicable, if the Prussians had defended the important
passes of the Saale. This, however, they neglected,
merely occupying the line of the high road from Jena
towards Weimar, an oversight which Napoleon did not
let pass unnoticed ; for no sooner did he find that the
military movements of the Prussian army, on the 13th,
had left those passes unoccupied, than he gave orders
for a night march to those positions, transporting artillery
for their occupaticjn with the greatest rapidity and si-
lence, so that by dawn of day on the 14th he was in a
position to commence a cannonade upon the most ele-
vated posts of the Prussian army, points which they had
considered as injpregnable. The pass of Raukthal,
which was nearest to the Prussian line, and which was
only to be approached by another difficult one at Swet-
zen, had been so neglected that part of the French
actually penetrated within 300 paces of one of the
Prussian columns, before it was even imagined that an
attempt had been made to advance upon them in this
quarter.

On the morning of the 14th, the day on which the great
battle of Jena was fought. Napoleon's whole force was
under arms by break of day. Soon after which, a heavy
fog having arose, prevented hostilities from taking place
for a short time; but the fog having cleared up, the bat-
tle commenced, by Napoleon ordering possession to be
taken of a small village in front, from whence the Prus-
sians in vain attempted to dislodge the French battalions ;
for the two divisions of Soult and Lasues now advanced,

VOL. II, u u the

338 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

the former with the intent of occupying a wood in which
a Prussian corps was posted, and the other in order to
support the advance in the contested village.

Augereau, also, at the same time advanced, so that the
action, in less than an hour, became general along the
whole line; for the Prussian right had now, with great
gallantry, pushed on, as if with the intention of turning
his flank, which made it necessary for that oflficer to
bring his force forward something sooner than Napoleon
had intended.

It would greatly exceed our limits, were we to detail
every military operation which took place in this great
and important battle, in which there were between 250
and 300,000 men, with 7 or 800 pieces of artillery,
scattering death and destruction in every direction, and
exhibiting one of the most awful scenes which the mind
could contemplate. The Prussian infantry, though worn
down with hunger and privations, from the loss of their
magazines, behaved, through the whole of the day, with
their usual firmness and courage; but their cavalry, from
their long want of forage, were so reduced as to be
wholly unable to withstand the vigorous charge of the
French horse.

Although the Prussians and Saxons manoeuvred as on
a field-day, under showers of grape and musquetry, yet
their steadiness could not avail against the rapidity of the
French movements, supported as they were by the
rapid advance of their artillery. The moment now be-
came most critical ; and, at the end of a contest of two
hours for the wood in front, Soult at last succeeded in
carrying it, when he again advanced, on which Napo-
leon directed the whole second line in reserve to advance,
when the cavalry and infantry both fell into the intervals
of the first line, which being thus reinforced by fresh
troops, the Prussians, unable to withstand the impetu-
osity of their movements, were soon forced to retire in
great disorder. Though broken and retreating, the Duke
of Brunswick succeeded in rallying them; but he was,
unfortunately, at this moment wounded in the face by a
grape shot, and obliged to leave the field. Although the
Prussian army rallied, and renewed the contest for nearly
an hour after this unfortunate event, they were unable to
withstand a charge made by Murat at the head of the

dragoons

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 330

dragoons and cuirasseurs of the reserve; and, being
broken and dispersed, they were forced to fly in all direc-
tions towards Weimar, closely pursued by the French,
and leaving their artillery and every thing behind
them.

The loss of the Prussians in this great and decisive
battle, so fatal to the monarchy, according to the state-
ment of Napoleon, amounted to 20,000 killed and
wounded, and the prisoners to nearly 40,000, amongst
the former of whom were 20 general officers : 60 stand-
ards, and 300 pieces of artillery were also taken. He
stated his own loss to be only 4000 killed, and 3000
wounded.

Napoleon lost no time in following up his victory, and
in detaching ditferent corps of his army, in pursuit of
the columns which had escaped after the battle, the
whole of which successively were obliged to surrender.

Immediately after the battle of Jena, Napoleon di-
rected his march towards Berlin ; and so rapid was his
advance, that the Prussian monarch found il necessary
instantly to abandon his capital, and to retire into West
Prussia, whilst the garrison was withdrawn to Custrim;
the magistracy forming a civil provisional administra-
tion in order to insure public tranquillity. Davoust,
with the advanced guard, marched in on the 26th of Oc-
tober; and, the day after, he was followed by Marshal
Augereau. On the 27th, Napoleon himself made his
public entry, and continued here nearly a month ; in
which time he was busily employed in various acts of
diplomacy, and in making preparations for the extension
of his conquests and the consolidation of his power.

Whilst engaged in those measures at Berlin, he re-
ceived intelligence of the rapid march of the Russians
mto Poland, and of their having occupied Warsaw in
great force; he therefore left Berlin on the 23th of No-
vember, and proceeded to Posen, where he was met by
the Elector of Saxony, with whom he concluded a
treaty, by virtue of which that prince, and all the princes
of his house, were admitted to become members of the
Confederation of the Rhine.

Posen had been occupied by Napoleon's troops as

early as the 10th of November, and here he stopped

until the IGth ; after which he set off for Warsaw, and

u u 2 arrived

340 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

arrived there on the 18th, from whence he proceeded to
join the main body of his army then at Narew, the pas-
sage of which river had been already secured. We have
already stated that the Russian troops had previously
advanced to Warsaw; after which they detached a
corps to Lowrez, in order to defend the passage of the
river Bzura : but Murat having driven in this advance.
General Benningsen, who then commanded the Russian
army, found it necessary to evacuate Warsaw and to
recross the Vistula, having received intelligence of the
extensive force which Napoleon was bringing against
him ; so that Murat took possession of Warsaw, and
began to fortify it with the greatest celerity. Ney in
the mean time took possession of Thorn; and Auge-
feau having also advanced to the banks of the Vistula,
both these generals threw bridges over that river, for-
tified by tetes-de-pont, so as to be prepared eithe'r for
advance or retreat. At the same time, all the fortresses
of Prussia in possession of Napoleon were supplied with
French garrisons, thereby forming a strong connected
Ime between the army and the allied states of Germany.
At this period, Benningsen's corps having been joined
by Buxhowden with the second division of the Russian
army, the former general took the supreme command;
soon after which he received reinforcements under Ka-
menskoy ; with which force he was so confident of
success, that his plan was now to advance to Pultusk,
where he fixed his head-quarters, intending from thence
to commence the plan of operations which should drive
the French across the Vistula.

In this measure he was checked by the advance of a
small French detachment across the river Narew, who,
passing in the night, had entrenched themselves so
strongly before morning, that it was judged imprudent
to attempt to dislodge them. This corps therefore pro-
ceeded to throw another bridge across the Vistula, under
cover of their position, and at the same time fortified it
so strongly that the whole French army was able to pass
without molestation, and to move forward in full force
in order to bring the allied Russian and Prussian armies
to a decisive action. Such were the movements pre-
vious to Napoleon's joining the army.
No sooner had Napoleon joined, than he ordered a

general

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 341

general advance, which began with the right that very
evening; for the Russians being strongly posted with a
numerous corps, particularly of Cossacks, at the village
of Czarnowo, which is on tlie banks of the Narew, and
having erected considerable batteries on their front and
flanks, it was necessary that they should be dislodged
in the first instance; an event which took place after a
most obstinate resistance.

Napoleon now ordered a strong force to advance
against Golomyn and Pultusk, where the Prussian corps
were posted, which were soon broken and dispersed : in
consequence of which, the Russians were left alone to
combat the victorious Napoleon, who ordered up a most
commanding force in the two separate lines of Pultusk
and Golomyn ; which was succeeded by a total defeat of
the Russians in both places, who were compelled to re-
treat with great loss.

After the battle of Pultusk, Napoleon put his army
into winter cantonments, and he himself xetunied to
Warsaw. But he soon found that he would not be per-
mitted to rest quietly in them ; and, as he knew that the
operations of the Russians would be directed upon the
Vistula, so he determined to counteract them by de-
monstrations on the Niemen and the Pregel. He there-
fore instantly began arrangements for active warfare,
having, m a great measure, refitted his troops from the
magazines captured by Bernadotte, in Elbing. Anxious,
also, to avail himself of the important depot of Konigs-
berg, Bernadotte, supported by Ney, was ordered to at-
tempt it by surprise; but this was completely frustrated,
by a rapid march of the Generals Gallitzin and Pahlen,
who, advancing upon the Aller, where Ney was posted,
obliged him to fall back upon Murat's division, and,
having kept these corps upon the alert for some time,
they then turned upon Bernadotte at Mohringa, where
an action touk place on the 25th of January, in which
both parties claimed the victory.

Having now determined to make an attack upon the
main body of the allies, on the 29th of January Napo-
leon ordered his whole army to break up their canton-
ments, in order to cross the Vistula ; and, as Von Essen's
corps would have been a serious obstacle to a retreat, in
case of defeat, he first detc^ched Savarv to keep it

in

34^ NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

in check, whilst another detached corps of the allies,
at Culm and Marienwerder, was observed by Le Febvre.
Havingr. appointed for these services a small force, he
pursued his usual plan of concentrating at one point the
whole flower of his troops, in order to advance for the
intended attack on the Russian centre; a plan in which
he was much assisted by the injudicious extension of the
allied line: and, for this operation, he had not less than
120,000 men, consisting of the cavalry, under Murat, to
thf number of 36,000; the Imperial guard, under Bes-
sier. s, at least 15,000; and the corps of Soult, Augereau,
Ney, avjd Davoust, amounting at least to 80,000.

On the 31st of January he arrived at Wildenberg,
about 60 miles from Warsaw, and right in the line of the
Russian advance. At this place, and in its vicinity, the
whole of his own disposable force was assembled, and
from this point he proposed to put in practice his favou-
rite manoeuvre of outflanking his enemy, and cutting off
his reserve in the rear. For this purpose, on the 1st of
February, Napoleon ordered his army to advance from
Wildenberg towards Passenheim, a post of great impor-
tance, as it forms the key of several roads through a
very diflicult country, covered with lakes, and inter-
sected with rivers. The Russians had hastened to avail
themselves of this position, but were not in sufficient
force to resist the assault of Murat with the cavalry, who
entered, sword in hand.

Whilst these operations were going on, Napoleon,
who expected that a general action must soon take
place, ordered the corps of Soult to form in order of
bfittle on the right at the village of Galkendorf, whilst
that of Augereau took up a position in the centre,
and the left, consisting of the Imperial guard, acted as
a reserve.

The town of Gulstadt was the principal depot of the
Russian army, and was in front of the bridge of Bergfried,
a pass that led to their rear; this, therefore. Napoleon
determined to make himself master of, and accordingly
ordered Soult to advance for that purpose. The latter
general accordingly detached General Guyot, with the
light cavalry, who was completely successful, though
after an obstinate resistance, taking also the depots of
Altenstein and Liebstadt; whilst Soult himself advanced,

with

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. ^43

with two divisions, towards the bridge of Bergfried, a
place of such importance to the defence of the Russian
left wing in particular, that Benningsen had detached
twelve of his veteran battalions for its protection. Soult
now commenced a cannonade at three in the afternoon
of the 3d, which was spritedly returned by the Russians;
but the attack of the French was so impetuous, and their
numbers so superior, that the Russians were forced to
abandon the bridge after an obstinate contest. Napo-
leon now ordered his cavalry to advance, under Murat,
on the morning of the 4th, in order to push the Russian
corps, which had defended the bridge at Bergfried; but
they had taken advantage of the night, and retreated with
great skill, leaving merely a rear-guard, which kept up
an action, with great gallantry, for upwards of six
hours.

A number of operations now took place on both sides,
previous to the battle of Eylau, which would afford but
little of either amusement or instruction to our readers.
It is sufficient to observe, that a general action was now
become inevitable, and both parties instantly com-
menced the necessary preparations, which led to some
hard fighting, previous to the battle itself: for. Napoleon
having found it necessary to occupy a rising ground
about two miles from Hoff, as it commanded the en-
trance into the plain, or rather the valley behind which
the Russian army was posted, it was necessary to dis-
lodge a considerable force that was posted to defend it.
A large French corps was accordingly ordered up; but a
column of Russian cavalry having charged them in flank.
Napoleon was defeated in his object, and the Russians
remained masters of the position. They were not so suc-
cessful, however, at the village of Eyiau, from whence
the battle of the ensuing day took its name; for there
a most bloody contest took place, principally in the
church and church-yard, which were fortified by Benning-
sen's orders, and defended by several regiments. This post
was taken at ten o'clock at night, after a most obstinate
resistance, and most bloody carnage; after which the two
armies passed the night in bivouack, nearly within mus-
quet-shot of each other.

The positions of the French army on the following
morning were as follows:— St. Hilairewas posted on the

right

344 NAPOLEON BUONAJPARTE.

right of Eylau, and Augereau on its left, whilst Le
Grand was in great force on its front; but the principal
part of Napoleon's force was occupied in attempting to
outflank their opponents, for which purpose he, early in
the evening of the 7th of February, had detached Da-
voust, with orders to pass Eylau, and to get into the
rear of the allied left, whilst Ney was manoeuvring to
outflank their right, movements which were in execu-
' tion, when, at the dawn of day, on the 8th, the Russian^
began a very heavy cannonade upon Eylau ; St. Hilaire,
at the same time, advancing in order to drive in the
allied outposts. Napoleon himself now advanced to the
church-yard of Eylau, where the dreadful carnage of the
preceding day still lay, unburied ; and from thence he
was able to lake a complete view of the whole scene of
action, the most important part of which was, evidently,
the hill or plateau, in the attack of which, on the pre-
ceding day, his best troops had been repulsed. In fact,
as long as the Russians should possess this post, it was
utterly impossible for him to bring the centre of his
army into action, as their way was directly through the
plain which those heights commanded. On this arduous
attempt, then, he ordered Augereau to pusii on with a
large force, principally of artillery, to tlje amount of
forty pieces, of the Imperial guard; but the Russians
were also very strong in that arm, in the same quarter,
so that a very heavy cannonade took place before the
troops could come within range of musquetry. The
assault, however, was very gallant, on the part of Auge-
reau, as he did not permit a gun to be fired, until within
half-gun shot ; so that the carnage, both with round and
grape, was of the most dreadful nature.

The Russians stood the attack, for a long time, with
cool courage, but became at last so galled, that, in order
to put an end to it at once, they began a series of move-
ments which announced a detern)ination to outflank the
left of Augereau's force; in this, however, they were
checked, their attention being drawn off" by the tirailleurs
of Dav(just's corps, which now got into their rear. No
sooner did Augereau ascertain this fact, than he began to
put in practice the preconcerted plan, which was, that his
corps should file off, in columns, for the attack of the
allied centre; whilst Hilaire, at the same time, pushed

off

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 3't6

off iurther to the right, in order to support the pro-
posed junction of Augereau's and Davoust's corps, by
which the allied army would have been completely cut
in two.

The moment was ciitical and important; but no
sooner did the French columns advance, than a heavy
snow storm commenced, so that it was totally impos-
sible to see a yard in any direction. In consequence of
this, the French columns lost their line of direction, and
Augereau's division having moved too far to the left, St.
Hilaire's corps was almost unsupported; when, at the
end of half an hour, aud at the cieaiing up of the storm,
he found hitnseif opposed to a Russian corps, consisting
of 20,000 infantry, besides artillery and cavalry, who
were then turning his flank.

At tliis moment the destruction, not only of Hilaire's
corps, but even of the whole of Napoleon's army, was
almost inevitable, had not the i;apid advance of Muiat
with the cavalry, and of Bessieres with the Imperial,
guard, saved them ; for these two generals, pushing round
St. Hilaire's flank, came in contact with the Russian in-
fantry, whom tljey instantly charged, routing them with
great slaughter. Two lines of infantry, in this affair,
were com|deLely broken and annihilated, and the third
only escaped by falling back and supporting itself in the
wood.

The battle now raged upwards of twelve hours, with
doubtful succtss, and with destructive slaughter, there
being upwards of 300 pieces of artillery in full play. At
length, after prodigious exertions, the Russians gave
way, leaving the field of battle in possession of the
French. The loss of the Russian army must have been
very great; nor could that of Napoleon be trifling: but
it would be an arduous task to attempt, amidst the vari-
ous and contradictory reports of both sides, to ascertain
what the loss of each really was.

Notwithstanding the defeat of the Russians at Eylau,
they were still formidable to Napoleon, whose detached
corps were continually harassed by the Cossacks, and so
much was he annoyed by their movements, that he
found it necessary to fall back from Eylau on the 16th of
February. After this he resumed his old positions,
covering the whole line of the Vistula, in order tofacili-

voL. II. XX tale

3\6 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

tate the siege of Dantzic and some other places ; whilst
a corps under the orders of his youngest brother, Je-
rome, was emplo^'ed in attacking the various fortresses
in Silesia.

The Emperor Alexander had now determined to re-
join his army, and by his presence endeavour to retrieve
the disasters which the allies had sustained, and, if pos-
sible, to save Dantzic. A force of 80,000 men was ac-
cordingly assembled, under the command of the Arch-
duke Constantine, at Konigsburg, whither the King
of Prussia also repaired from Memel.

The bombardment of Dantzic had commenced on the
24th of April; and it was determined by the allied mo-
narchs to attempt some relief to that place by sea, as
any attempt to force the French lines was deemed im-
prudent: for this purpose, a large force was sent in
transports and landed near Dantzic, on the 10th of May,
under General Kaminskoy.

No sooner had Napoleon got intelligence of these in-
tended movements, than he detached Marshal Lasnes
to reinforce Le Febvre, and to oppose the Russian and
Prussian reinforcements, in their movements from Weis-
chelmunde, where they landed; in which those generals
were so successful as to defeat the allied advance, and
oblige the others to seek refuge in the fortress where
they had first landed. In the mean time, the repose
which Napoleon had promised his troops was com-
pletely broken in upon by extended attacks on the part
of the Russians along his whole line: but these efforts
had little effect with respect to Dantzic, which surren-
dered on the 19th of May.

Many attempts at negotiation having been made with-
out success, the Russians commenced active operations ;
and on the 5th of June they made several attacks on
various parts of the French line; in none of which they
were very successful, except at Altkirchen and its vici-
nity, where they forced Ney to fall back, and on the 6th
they gave a severe check to Soult.

No sooner did intelligence of the Russian advance
reach Napoleon, than he set off to join the advance,
directing his route to Ney's corps; but he did not join
that oliicer until the night of the 7th, when he found
him at Deppen. Having passed the night in the field,

after

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. s^y

after assuming the comiuancl. Napoleon put all his forces
in motion on the 8th, lie himself pushing on for Gul-
stadt at the head of the Imperial Guards, reinforced by
the reserve of cavalry, and accompanied by tlie divisions
of Ney and Lasnes.

On the 9th he entered Gulstadt, and on the 10th he
moved his whole army towards Keilsburg; near which,
after carrying several positions of the allied army, he
came up with their rear, amounting to about 15,000 ca-
valry, together with several lines of infantry. Napole(jn
immediately ordered this rear-guard to be attacked by
a division of Murat's dragoons, by the cuirassiers of
another division, and also by a brigade of light cavalry ;
yet these were again and again repulsed, though not with
such decision as to prevent tliem from renewing the at-
tack under cover of Soult's corps, which came up and
was formed ready for action about two o'clock in the day.

The battle was now become serious ; and Napoleon
found it necessary to detach two whole divisions to the
right, whilst another deployed on the left of his army
in order to get possession of a wood, from whence his
cavalry might otherwise have been much annoyed; for
the Russians had now halted their whole force, and had
detached several reinforcements to their rear.

I'tie principal position of the Russians was in the town;
but their rear was now in strong force in its front, de-
fended by upwards of 60 pieces of artillery. The rapid
advance of the whole of Napoleon's force, however, de-
cided the fate of the day ; and the Russians were driven
from all their positions.

The important battle of Fried land was now approach-
ing; previous to which the Russians had assembled the
whole of their army at Keilsburg, a place of such
strength and importance, that they had trusted all their
magazines to its protection, and upon wliich they had
bestowed upwards of four months hard labour to the
perfecting of its defences. Napoleon, expecting to be
attacked from this position, about four in the evening
gave directions to Davoust to change the front of his
division, and to advance towards the Lower AUer, by
moving forward his left wing so as to block up the road
to Eylau ; whilst every other division was ordered to its
position, in expectation of an important result.

X X 2 It

348 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

It. appears, however, that General Benningseti did not
think It prudent either to make an assault upon the
French army from this position, or even to defend it
from their attack; for though, v\'hilst Napoleon was
drawing up his army, he formed his troops in columns,
under cover of his heavy batteries, yet at ten o'clock
in the night of the 11th, he began his retreat from Keils-
burg, leaving not only his depots, but even his wounded,
to tlie number of 4000, to Napoleon's protection.

No soonier had Napoleon understood that tlie Russian
army had evacuated Keilsburg, than he instantly ordered
it to be occupied at so early an hour as four in the
morning; and there he was enabled to supply himself
not only with ammunition and other military stores, but
also with a great quantity of provisions, including se-
veral thousand quintals of grain.

He then directed the main body to advance, and in the
course of the evening passed Eyiau, the scene of l)is
former victory. On 'the succeeding day, he advanced
to Friedland with a very strong force, consisting of the
Imperial guard, of the divisions of Ney, Mortier, and
Lasnes, &c.; whilst Murat, Soult, and Davoust, had or-
ders to make some demonstrations upon Konigsburg,
so as to distract the attention of the allies with fears
for the safety of that important position.

Though determined on retreat. General Benningsen
seems still to have retired but slowly; for though Na-
poleon had ordered the 9th regiment of hussars to take
possession of Friedland, yet a' body of Russian cavrdry
to the number of 3000 were sufficiently near to drive
them out of it, and to re-occupy the place.

Benningsen now determined to retreat upon Konigs-
burg: and for that purpose, early in the morning of the
14th, he took possession of the bridge of Friedland,
along which his route lay: here, however, he was op-
posed by the French ; and a brisk cannonade com-
menced as early as three in the morning. Napoleon
now gave orders for the different corps of his army to
harass the Russians in their advance without coming
to a close action until every thing was prepared for that
purpose. His orders were executed so skilfully by his
otFicers, that the Russians could not advance bevond the
village of Postenheim until five in the evening, at which

late

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 349

late hour a general action appeared unavoidable, and both
armies accordingly prepared for the tremendous co,nflict.

General Benningsen arranged his army in the best order
that the time and his position would admit of, forming a
front of four miles and a half, with his left resting upon
Friedland, and the whole line extending on a wide flat
on the left bank of the A Her.

In front of the Russian positions the plain was inter-
sected by a deep ravine, then full of water, and at all
times almost impassable; for though it was not to be
called a river, yet it fed a lake of some extent near
Friedland, and ran on for some distance, in a line to-
wards Donmow ; but then, unfortunately, it separated the
right wmg from the centre of the Russian array. Some
other points in their front were real points of defence,
particularly a thick wood about one mile and a half
distant from Friedland, reaching towards their centre,
and forming an elevated semicircle along the plain, but
with a small interval between it and the river. Further
and in front of this wood, and about a mile distant from
Friedland, was the village of Henrichsdorf, nearly op-
posite to the Russian centre; between the left of which
village and the AUer^was the principal seat of the battle;
for immediately in front of it, the French army was
drawn up in the following order. On the right was Ney,
with a division of dragoons for his reserve; in the centre,
Lasnes, with a reserve of a division of dragoons, and tlie
Saxon cuirassiers; whilst the left was under the orders
of Mortier, supported by the cavalry under General
Grouchy: the reserve being formed of the Imperial
guards and the corps under Victor.

By five in the evening these arrangements had taken
place; and as Napoleon had closely reconnoitred the
Russian positions, he gave orders for his army instantly
to advance in order to take Friedland, now occupied by
the Russians; to execute which manoeuvre, and at the
same time to confuse the Russian generals by an unex-
pected movement, he instantly changed his front, and
ordering twenty pieces of artillery to be fired from an
advanced battery as a signal along his line, the attack
was begun by the advance of the right wing, wliilst the
principal point of assault was entrusted to General
Marchand, who pushed on with his whole division,

sword

350 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

sword ill hand, for the steeple of Friedland, without re-
gard to any obstacles in the way, but supported by
another division in case any dilFiculties should have
arisen from the ruggedness of the line of march.

This advance was from Napoleon's riglit wing, and no
sooner did Benningsen perceive that the whole of this di-
vision of the French army was in motion, than he or-
dered up a large body of cavalry, with several pulks of
Cossacks, in hopes of cutting otf the communication
with the main body; but in this he was frustrated by La
Tour Maubourg hurrying up to Ney's assistance with his
division of dragoons, who, coming up at full gallop,
threw the Russian advance into check. From the whole
of the operations of this awful evening, it is evident that
Benningsen's design was rather to be the assailant than
the assailed; but any effective advance on his part was
checked by a battery of 30 pieces of artillery, which
Victor had advanced about 400 paces in front of the
centre of his reserve, and which, by Napoleon's change
of front, was novi' directly in the line of the proposed
Russian operations. Still did the Russians act with their
accustomed bravery, though repelled in every attack by
Ney's division, when several Russian columns that had
attacked the right of his wing, were received on the
point of the bayonet and driven into the Aller; thou-
sands being lost in that river, and a few only escaping by
swimming across it.

There is no doubt, however, but that the right of this
wing was completely kept for some time in check; but
the left were enabled to push on, and even to advance
close to the works which surrounded Friedland, when
they were instantly attacked by great part of the Rus-
sian Imperial guards, both cavalry and infantry, and that
with such unexpected rapidity, that the French columns
were thunderstruck, and even wavered so long, that a re-
pulse of a most serious nature must have ensued, had
notDupont come up to their assistance with the right of
the reserve, which the Russian guards were unable to
withstand, and a great slaughter ensued.

This point of the town of Friedland seems to have
been the main object throughout the whole of the action :
but it was now almost too late for the Russians to at-
tempt its further defence; for so far was Napoleon's

army

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 3s\

army in advance, that, although several heavy columns
were sent up successively to its succour, yet the im-
mense superiority of the French, whose greatest force
was directed to this point, enabled them to enter the
place under cover of their numerous artillery. Even
here, however, they met with a most obstinate resist-
ance on the part of the Russians, so that in a short
time, the whole of the streets were filled with dead
bodies.

Whilst these operations were going on upon Napo-
leon's right, his left, under the command of Mortier,
still kept its position without advancing, but not without
being assailed by the Russians, who advanced repeatedly
to assault it. These assaults were, indeed, so gallantly
repulsed, that Benningsen directed an attack upon the
French centre, in hopes of creating a diversion in favour
of that part of his own line posted at Friedland ; at that
moment, however, Mortier took the opportunity of
advancing, and, supported by the fusileers under Savary,
he pushed on his columns by the ravine so as to have
them completely under cover, so that he was soon in the
very heart of the Russian lines, when victory was no
longer doubtful.

The field of battle presented a most horrible scene of
blood and devastation, being covered with the dead and
dying, and being more dreadful in appearance than any
which the French themselves had ever before beheld;
for the dead alone were estimated at near 18,000.

The Russians having left the field of battle, with a
loss of 80 pieces of artillery, together with an immense
number of baggage-waggons as well as military standards,
were pursued by the French on the Konigsburg road until
near midnight; after which several columns that were
cut off, endeavouring to pass the Aller, were almost en-
tirely destroyed, so that in the morning that river was
filled with dead men and horses, baggage-waggons,
artillery, &c.

On the ensuing day, the 15th of June, Benningsen
attempted to re-assemble his troops on the right bank of
the Aller, whilst Napoleon manoeuvred on the left bank
in hopes of cutting off his communication with Konigs-
burg. Pushing on thus on two sides of the river, and
with equal rapidity, it happened that the advanced corps

of

352 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

of each army arrived nearly at the same instant at the
town of VVeyhui, which is situated at the confluence of
the Alltr and Pregel ; the French were not in sufficient
force, however, to annoy the Russian corps, who then
crossed the Pregel, aiid pursued their route towards the
Niemen, after having destroyed the bridges on the
former river.

Napoleon advanced to the Pregel with his whole army
on the 16th; and, liaving thrown a bridge across it, he
passed over, and halted, having at the same time occu-
pied Weylau, where he found a small quantity of corn.
At Konigsburg Soult was more successful ; for that place,
not being considered tenable after the retreat of the Rus-
sians, was surrendered to him ; and there he found a
quantity of grain, to the amount of several hundred thou-
sand quintals, besides capturing 20,000 wounded, toge-
ther with all the arms and ammunition which had been
sent from England for the use of the allies.

The Russians still retreated towards the Niemen, in
which line Napoleon also advanced, and arrived at Tilsit
on the 19th of June, in the evening, accompanied by his
guards. Here, however, he was forced to halt, as the
bridge had been burnt by that part of the Russian force
which had been pursued by Murat; at which time also
both the Emperor of Russia and the King of Prussia left
the town, after having made it their place of residence
upwards of three weeks, it being a large and liandsome
town, and next, for size and population, to Konigsburg.
Here Napoleon received a message from Benningsen, re-
questing an armistice, to which he assented; when a sti-
pulation took place, that hostilities should cease for an
indefinite time, not to comnjence without a month's
notice. Another article provided for the same cessation
with respect to the Prussians. It was also agreed, that
a negotiation for peace should instantly commence, and
that an exchange of prisoners should take place.

On the 25th of June, Napoleon succeeded in his great
object of obtaining a personal interview with the youthful
Emperor of Russia, trusting to his own powers for ob-
taining an ungenerous influence over a generous monarch,
when the conference took place on a raft prepared for
tlie occasion, floating on the river Niemen, in a fcentral
situation between the armies.

Two

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 553

Two tents were prepared on the raft, and both sove-
reigns landed from their boasts at the same instant; and,
having met, they embraced each other. This friendly
intercourse on the part of the two Emperors was imitated
by the odicers and men of both armies; and Napoleon's
guards gave a magnificent dinner to the same description
of troops in the service of the two other monarchs; when,
in the festivity of the moment, the two parties were so
friendly, that they actually exchanged uniforms, and
thus presented a motley spectacle to the inhabitants of
'Tilsit.

This interview gave rise to the famous treaty of Tilsit,
which was concluded on the 7th of July ; the principal
contents of which were, that amity should exist between
France and Russia. The stipulations with regard to
Prussia were ruinous to that power, which was reduced
to a secondary state. Nearly half of her annual revenues,
and upwards of live millions of her subjects, were taken
from her; and she was reduced to the same condition
she was in in 1772, previous to the partition of Poland.

Napoleon, having now no enemy to fear, determined
to establish a new kingdom in the northwest of Germany,
by the nan)e of Westphalia, which he gave to his brother
Jerome ; on which occasion he made use of the following
remarkable expressions to the Senate — " If the house of
Brandenburgh, which was the first to conspire against
our independence, yet reigns, it owes it to my sincere
friendship for the powerful Emperor of the North / A.
French Prince shnll reign on the Elbe: he will know how
to conciliate the atfections of h'\s new subjects with his
first and most sacred duties."

The next important event in the life of Napoleon is his
attack upon the independence of Spain, and his attempt
to fix his brother Joseph upon the throne of that kingdom.
These events have been sufficiently noticed already, in
another part of this work, to render it unnecessary to
detail them afresh, excepting so far as Napoleon himself
was personally engaged in these transactions. We shall
therefore brietly observe, that, finding the subjugation of
Spain a more difficult task than he had imagined, and
that the resistance of the Spaniards baffled the skill and
bravery of his troops, he found it necessary to put him-
self at their head, hoping that his presence would in-

voL. ir. r Y stantlv

354i NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

stantly put an end to all opposition, and finally terminate
tlie war. Accordingly, having put in motion 160,000
French conscripts for Spain, he himself set out from
Pans, on the 30th of October, and arrived at Bayonne on
the 3d of November. From that city he set off on the
5th of the month, to meet his brother Joseph at Vittoria,
carrying with him a reinforcement of 12,000 men.

The history of this part of the Spanish campaign is too
insignificant to require notice. No opposition could be
expected to be made to the progress of Napoleon and his
veteran forces; and the Spanish patriots wisely retired
from the contest, reserving their strength and energies
for a more favourable opportunity. It is unnecessary,
therefore, to enter into the affair at Tudela, on the 22d
of November, which completely opened the road to
Madrid, which was taken possession of by Berthier early
in December, but not until a peremptory summons had
been sent in, requiring its surrender. When the Spanish
deputies came out, and were conducted to Napoleon's
head-quarters, he told them with a stern countenance,
and in a decided tone of voice, that if the city' did not
agree to a capitulation by five or six o'clock on the en-
suing morning, it should be taken by assault, and every
person found in arms put to the sword ! At the same
time, with the most hypocritical but affected magnani-
mity, he promised to extend his clemency to the Junta,
in order to conceal the treacherous part which they had
acted, in concert with him. He also issued a proclama-
tion, in which he threatened, that if they did not submit
to the new order of things, he would put" the crown upon
his own head, and treat Spain like a conquered province,
and find another kingdom for his brother, " forGo^l had
given him both the inclination and the power to surmount
all obstacles." Madrid surrendered ; and the consequences
are well known.

Important events in the life of Napoleon were now
rapidly developing themselves. The continued and never-
ending encroachments upon the independence and safety
of almost every country in Europe had long opened the
eyes of Austria to a just sense of her danger; and she
secretly wished for an opportunity, when resistance to
his plans of ambition might be made with some ap-
pearance of success: she had long been making prepara-
tions.

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 365

tions, and a favourable opportunity now offered, when
the military force of France was employed in the pen-
insula.

So obstinate was the contest in Spain now become, and so
much did it employ the military force of Napoleon, that he
was extremely anxious to avoid a rupture with Austria.
For this purpose, he made use of every art to persuade
the world that the greatest harmony prevailed between
him and that power; and, in order to discourage the
court of Vienna from interfering in the Spanish affairs,
and at the same time to banish from the minds of the
Spaniards themselves every hope of assistance from that
power, he took care, both in his Polish and German news-
papers, to describe the cause of the Spanish patriots,
whom he chose to call " Insurgents," as totally desperate,
representing their tumultuous and undisciplined bands
as broken and dispersed, and asserting boldly that Sara-
gossa was taken many weeks before that event actually
took place. These falsehoods, and all his arts, were of
no avail ; for the Emperor Francis declared war against
him in April 1809-

The policy of Austria at this moment, in a military
point of view, was necessarily a cautious one ; for such a
hold had Napoleon got of the rest of Germany, that any
attempt at the concentration of her forces would have
exposed Vienna to iio less than five different French
armies; viz. from the different points of Silesia, in th^
north-west of Saxony, Franconia, Bavaria, and the north
of Italy. From all of those points Napoleon was ready
to penetrate; but, as the shortest and easiest was by way
of Munich, it was in that direction that the Archduke
Charles, who was invested with the suprenie command,
proposed to lead on his principal force; and in this de-
termination he was doubtless influenced by hopes of
recovering the Tyrol, part of the ancient Austrian domi-
nions, and now a point of great importance in the mili-
tary operations.

If the Austrian force was as great as represented.
Napoleon had leason to be anxious to delay hostilities ;
for it is asserted, that the Austrian force was divided
into nine corps, each amounting to nearly 40,000 men ;
six of which were under the Archduke's personal com-
mand, and the others were commanded by the Count de
Y Y 2 Bellegarde,

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

Bellegarde, Kollowrath, the Prince of Hohenzollern,
General Hiller, &c. ; but of these, one corps was in Po-
land, and two in Italy, where the Archduke John com-
manded. The Prince of Lichtenstein, and General Kien-
meyer, who had fought so bravely in former campaigns,
were entrusted with the reserve, which, with several
small corps, were in motion in the various provinces.
If to these we add the landwehr, or local militia of the
Austrian provinces, we may contemplate the whole force
of Austria at nearly 400,000 men.

No sooner had the Austrian army passed the Inn, on
the yth of April, and advanced to the Iser, in the vicinity
of Munich, than intelligence of the event was transmitted
to Paris by the line of telegraphs; when Napoleon in-
stantly set off from the capital for the army, and on the
16th arrived at Diliengen, where he was received by the
King of Bavaria, with whom he had an interview, in
which he not only promised to replace him in his capital
in the course of a fortnight, but even to make him a
more potent prince than any of his ancestors had ever
been.

On the 17th, he established his head-quarters atDona-
werth, where he issued a proclamation to his army, in
which he says, "Soldiers! the territory of the Confede-
ration of the Rhine has been violated. The Austrian
general wishes us, on the sight of his army, to fly and
abandon our allies. I come to you with the speed of
lightning. Soldiers, I was in the^midst of you, when the
sovereign of Austria came to my bivouac in Moravia.
You heard him imploring my clemency, and promising
me eternal friendship. Austria, vanquished in three
wars, owes every thing to our generosity. Our past
successes are a pledge of the victory that awaits us. Let
us then march on : and let the enemy, on seeing us,
recognise his conqueror."

The first affair in this new contest was at PhaffenhofTen,
to which place Oudinot had advanced, for the purpose
of attacking a small Austrian corps posted there, whom
he defeated. At this place he was joined by Massena on
the following day, whilst Newstadt was occupied at the
same time by Davoust. These operations completely
manifested the line of policy and of military detail which
Napoleon had marked out; his plan being, according to

his

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 3SJ

his own first bulletin, to manoeuvre on the extended
Austrian line, reaching from Landshut to Newstadt, and,
whilst the Archduke should suppose himself to be the
assailant, and was marching on to Ratisbon with that
intent. Napoleon should thus attack him, and be thereby
enabled to break the line of the Austrian army, and,
cutting off all communication, then attack each part
successively.

At the period of issuing this bulletin, the Archduke
Charles had found himself obliged to cross the Danube at
Ratisbon, for the purpose of forming a junction with
Bellegarde, inconsequence of several actions, beginning
on the 20th at Abensberg, where were two of the Austrian
corps, under the Archduke Lewis and General Hdler.
These Napoleon had attacked at the head of the Bavarian
and Wurtemberg contingents ; and, four days afterwards,
he engaged the Archduke Charles himself at Eckmuhl,
who was obliged to retreat, with considerable loss.

Napoleon now advanced to Ratisbon, which he took,
after some resistance on the part of the corps destined to
'cpver it; and thus completely deranged the Austrian
plans, removing the seat of war from the right to the
left bank of the Danube, whilst he himself pushed on
with such rapidity as to anticipate the Archduke in his
movements, and to arrive at Lintz, before the junction
with Hiller's corps could take place, as was intended, in
the vicinity of that fortress.

So great was the rapidity of Napoleon, that on the 10th
of May he appeared before Vienna, which almost in-
stantly surrendered to him ; for though some shew of
resistance was made whilst the Austrian army was se-
curing its retreat, yet, no sooner had Napoleon got pos-
session of the islands of the Danube, than all further
opposition was considered as useless, and the Emperor
Francis once more retired to Znaim in Moravia, to which
place he had set out after the battle of Eckmuhl. .

A second time in possession of the Austrian capital.
Napoleon published a proclamation to the Hungarians,
in which he said, that the interference of Providence had
granted him those victories over their Emperor, in order
to punish him for his ungrateful perfidy. After accusing
Francis of taking arms against him who had thrice g\vtn
kim that crown, which he could have deprived hmi of, he

reminded

358 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

reminded the Hungarians of the glories of their ances-
tors; and he insidiously to!d them, that he who had
broken their bondage, under the line of Austrian princes,
now desired nothing so ardently, as that they should
display their independence by choosing a king for them-
selves. He even went so far as to call on them to as-
semble on the plains of Racos, as in ancient times, and
there to choose their sovereign ; a choice which he pro-
mised to support against all opposition : the Hungarians,
however, had too much loyalty t6 listen to these sugges-
tions.

The Austrian forces having again concentrated them-
selves, Napoleon directed his attention to the Archduke
Charles, who, with a force of about 75,000 men, had
moved down towards Vienna, on the left bank of the
Danube, in order to watch the movements of the French
army, and check any attempt which they might make
to pass the river; but as, by the fall of Vienna, the Aus-
trians had lost a point of support on which to rest their
military operations, he fixed his head-quarters at Ebers-
dorf on the I6th of May. It was in this situation of
affairs, that the Archduke resolved to collect his army
at the foot of the hill Bisamberg, and allow it a few days*
rest, which, after so many forced marches, it urgently
wanted. The cavalry, for the convenience of water was
posted along the Russ, a small rivulet which is concealed
by ground covered with bushes ; and the advanced guards
pushed forward to the Danube.

No sooner had Napoleon ascertained the movements
of the Archduke, than he resolved to attack him in his
position; and for that purpose marched his army along
the south bank of the Danube, until he had arrived
within six miles of Vienna, where he determined to cross
the river, as its breadth and rapidity are broken by two
islands : and no sooner had his engineers established two
bridges across from the south side of the smallest of the
islands, and thence towards the larger one, than he fixed
his head-quarters in the great island of Lobau, which is
not more than 70 fathoms from the northern bank, to
which in less than three hours he threw across a bridge
of pontoons, and soon after extended his army along the
whole of that bank; for as, by the retreat of the Aus-
trians, he was in some measure left to choose his own

field

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 359

field of battle, he posted the right wing of his force at
Essiing, and his lelt at another village called Aspern,
preparative to the great events now about to take
place.

These movements were completed by Napoleon on
the 20th, but on the preceding day the Austrian out-
posts had reported his taking possession of Lobau. At
that time, from the top of the Bisamberg, the whole
of the opposite country appeared to be enveloped in a
cloud of dust, and the glitter of arms evinced a general
movement of troops towards Kaiser's Ebersdorf, where
Napoleon's head-quarters were on that day. The Arch-
duke, understanding that Napoleon was by his own
presence hastening and promoting the preparations for
passing the river, immediately resolved, on the 20th
at day-break, to reconnoitre the island of Lobau, and to
employ for that purpose part of the advanced guard,
supported by some cavalry and artillery.*

The Archduke soon perceived by the strength of Na-
poleon's columns, which advanced upon the island, and
placed their cannon so as to support the second passage,
that he meditated a serious attack. The advanced guard
maintained a tolerably warm engagement, and the cavalry
routed the first division of Napoleon's advance, which had
debouched from the low grounds on the edge of the river,
late in the evening. Upon which the Archduke, whose
intention was not to prevent the passage of the French
army, but to attack it on the following day, retreated
with the cavalry, and ordered the Austrian advance to
retire also, in proportion as Napoleon should extend his
line.

On the 21st at day-break, the Archduke formed his
army in two lines on the rising ground behind Gerasdorf,
and between the Bisamberg and the rivulet Russ. Hiller
commanded the right, and Bellegarde the left; in the

* The isle of Lobau forms a convenient place of arms, and is about
six English miles l<>ni;, and four and a half broad; and, being separated
by the large arm of tiie Danube from the right bank, nothing prevents
the building of a bridge, as the spot is concealed by ground covered
vpith bushes, whilst the great extent of the island affords the advantage
of sending troops and ordnance from so many points of it, that th©
passage across the smaller arm to the large plain of Msrsli^eld may be
easily made gQod by force of arms.

centre

$60 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

centre was the Prince of Hohenzollern. For the further
security of the left wing, Prince Rosenberg's corps was
posted by battalions in columns on the Russbach, whilst
a division in reserve was placed on the heights beyond
that position : and at the same time the whole of the
Austrian cavalry was called back from its advance into
the line, filling up the spaces on the left.

The vast plain of the Marshfield spread like a carpet
before the front of the Austrian line, and appeared, by
the absence of every obstruction, to be destined to form
the theatre of some great event. The grenadiers remained
in reserve near Siering ; and the corps of the Prince of
Reuss, general of artillery, kept the Bisamberg, and the
low bushy ground along the Danube, strongly occupied.

At nine o'clock the Archduke ordered the arms to be
piled, and the troops to dine. The picquet of observation
on the Bisamberg then reported that the bridge thrown
by the French across the Danube behind the isle of Lobau,
being now quite finished, was plainly perceivable; and
that troops were, without intermission, seen filing over
it, as well as passing in boats to the isle. The Austrian
outposts likewise gave information of the gradual aug-
mentation of Napoleon's army in the town of Enzersdorft',
and in the villages of Essling and Asperu, as well as of
their advancing towards Hirschstetten ; so that the Arch-
duke now thought that the moment for giving battle had
arrived, and hastened to Gerasdorf, from whence he gave
orders that the attack should be made in five columns.
The first of which was to keep under the command of
General Hiller, along the nearest arms of the Danube,
pass along the left bank toward Aspern, and to keep
constantly near to the river and the meadows bordering
upon it, in order to check the advance of any part of Na-
poleon's army that might attempt to pass by that route.
The second and third columns were to unite near Hirsch-
stetten, and, pushing on towards Aspern, still to preserve
their communication with thecohimn under General Ilil-
ler; whilst the fourth advanced towards Essling; the
fifth towaids Enzersdoff; and the reserve of cavalry
umler Prince Lichtenstein was continually to keep at
such adisiance between the heads of the third and fourth
columns, as, in case of necessity, to be near at hand for
the purpose of repelling the main body of Napoleon's
, ' cavalrv.

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 36 1

cavalry. All the columns and corps were to march at
noon; the second lines following at proper inter-
vals, and each column forming its own advanced
guard.

By this movement the Archduke hoped to insure suc-
cess; his views however were modest and moderate, as
they were declared in public orders to be principally di-
rected towards the driving Napoleon back over the first
arms of the Danube, and there to destroy the bridges
he liad thrown over them; after which the bank of the
Lobau was to be occupied with a numerous artillery,
principally howitzers, so as to keep him at least in check :
in this latter arm, indeed, the Austrian army was strong,
as they had no less than 2SS pieces of various calibres,
forming 18 batteries of brigade, 13 of position, and 11
of horse artillery, joined to a force of 103 battalions,
and 148 squadrons, amounting in the whole to 75,000
effective troops.

Napoleon had availed himself extremely well of the
advantage of the ground to cover his passage; for the
extensive villages of Aspern and Essling, mostly com-
posed of brick houses, and now encircled all round by
heights of earth, thus resembled two bastions, between
which a double line of natural trenches, intended to draw
off the superfluous water, served as the curtain, and af-
forded every possible security to the columns passing
from the isle of Lobau. Essling had a granary furnished
with loop-holes, and whose thn^e- stories afforded room
for several hundred men, whilst Aspern was provided
with a strong church-vard.

Strong as Napoleon felt himself in those positions, yet
he had determined not to await the Austrians attacking
them, but had ordered seven divisions under Massena and
Lasnes, as well as Bessieres with the guards of the Wur-
temberg, Hesse Darmstadt, and Baden auxiliaries, to quit
the position, and to advance towards Hirchstetten, where
they were met by the first Austrian guards in advance^
who had put themselves in motion exactly at noon, at
which moment a general enthusiastn had taken posses-
sion of these troops. Joyful war songs, accompanied bv
Turkish music, resounded through the air, and were only
interrupted by shouts of *' Long live the Emperor!"
'^ Long live the Archduke Charles!" wherever that

V0I4. II. z z gallant

S69 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

gallant Prince appeared. Every breast now panted with
anxious desire for the decisive moment; and the finest
weather favoured the awful scene.

As soon as the first Austrian column had got within
cannon-shot of Stadlau, the outposts met the French
picquets, when they slowly retired upon their respective
divisions, and two Austrian battalions being drawn up en
echellon to favour the advance of the column, they soon
found Napoleon's force drawn up in large divisions imme-
diately before the village of Aspern, having, to cover his
front,' occupied all the ditches of the fields, which af-
forded excellent breastworks. Napoleon's right was
covered by a battery, and his left by a broad and deep
ditch, as well as by a bushy ground, which was likewise
occupied by several bodies of troops in close order; but
though this part of his army had the advantages of the
position all on his side, inasmuch as the freshes of the
Danube were only passable by means of a small bridge,
at which the French kept up a vigorous fire from behind
the ditches, both with cannon and small arms, yet they
could not prevent the Austrian column from passing the
bridge in force, as soon as some troops had penetrated as
far as the bushy meadows. These then formed without
delay, and coming up at once to the charge, obliged the
French advance to retreat with precipitation into Aspern,
on which occasion that village, after a vigorous resistance,
was taken for the first time.

Napoleon instantly ordered up reinforcements, who
goon retook the village ; but the remainder of the Austrian
column coming up, the French were again driven to the
lower end of the village, antihaga^n succeeded in recover-
ing what they had lost. In short, both parties were so
convinced of the importance of maintaining themselves in
Aspern at any rate, that the most obstinate efforts of attack
and defence alternately took place. The combatants en-
gaged each other in every street, in every house, and in
every barn; carts, ploughs, and barrows, were obliged to
be removed during an uninterrupted fire, in order to get at
each other; whilst every individual wall was an impedi-
ment to the assailants, and a rampart to the attacked. The
village steeples, lofty trees, the garrets, and even the
cellars, were to be conquered before either of the armies
could style themselves masters of the place ; and yet the

possession

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 3^3

possession was ever of short duration, for no sooner was
one street taken than another was re-occupied, and thus
the murderous conflict was supported for several hours.
The French and their allies always returned to the as-
sault with redoubled vigour; whilst the Austrian batteries
were supported by Hungarians, who were again assisted
by Vienna volunteers; each rivalling the other in courage
and in perseverance.

Without detailing the operations of the other Austrian
columns, which would afford neither amusement nor in-
struction to our readers, we shall describe the operations
where Napoleon was personally engaged. No sooner did
he perceive the general advance of the Austrian army than
he placed the bulk of his cavalry, supported by some bat-
talions of infantry, in order of battle between Essliogen
and Aspern, whilst the remainder of the infantry and artil-
lery were crossing the Danube. As the Austrians ad-
vanced, he was opposed to the reserve under Prince Lich-
tenstein, who, having directed his columns to advance in
two lines, Napoleon detached four or five thousand cavalry
from his position to the right of the Austrians by the
way of Esslingen, and thereby excited some apprehension
in the breast of the Prince, that he would impede the
march of the fourth column. The Prince, therefore, or-
dered four regiments to the left; but no sooner had this
taken place than Napoleon ordered up the whole of his
cavalry, accompanying it himself, and pushing on with
the greatest confidence.

Napoleon was, however, received with a firmness which
he did not expect, through the intrepidity of the Arch-
duke Francis's cuirassiers, and other regiments of Lich-
tenstein's cavalry. The latter, in particular, frustrated
completely Napoleon's repeated assaults, by means of
judicious counter attacks, by which, at length, his furious
advance was put a stop to, and the whole of his cavalry
were repulsed with considerable loss.

So close and so critical was the encounter, that one
of Napoleon's equerries, General Durosnel, was taken
prisoner within a few paces of him; as was also General
Fouler, equerry to the Empress Josephine, after being
slightly wounded.

The cavalry being repulsed. Napoleon ordered up

large bodies of infantry, who commenced a very heavy

z z 2 fire

J64. NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

fire of musquetry; but, in spite of this. Prince Lichten-
stein directed a general advance of the reserve, by means
of which Napoleon was much straightened in his align-
ment, yet he was still able to keep up such a hot flanking
fire from Esslingen, that the Austrians were held iu
check, merely answering the cannonade with their4iorse
artillery, and passing the night on the ground in a
state ot preparation for the bloody scenes of the ensuing
day.

The battle was terminated only by the darkness of
the night ; and though Napoleon still retained possession
of Esslingen, yet as Aspern had fallen, the general posi-
tion of his army was nearer to the Danube than it was at
the commenccraeiit of the action.

7'he morning of the 22d saw Aspern again in his pos-
session: but his situation was not much improved ; for,
by means of fire-ships sent down the Danube by the
Austrians, his bridge at Lobau was so far destroyed, as
to rt quire several hours' repair before the whole of his
reserve could be got over. He was indefatigable, how-
ever, in drawing over reinforcements. Oudinot had
joined him in the evening; and all the disposable troops
followed from Vienna and the Upper Danube, and were
transported across the river in vessels and boats as fast
as they arrived.

The Archduke, on his part, ordered the grenadier
corps, which had been engaged during the day, to advance
from its position near Gerasdorf to Breitenlee; but the
short night was scarcely sufficient to complete the respec-
tive preparations for the commencement of a second
tragedy !

With the morning's dawn of the 22d, Napoleon re-
newed his attacks upon Hiller's corps of the first divi-
sion at Aspern: attacks which far surpassed, in impe-
tuosity, those of the preceding day. It was a conflict
of valour and mutual exasperation. Scarcely had Napo-
leon's guards compelled the Austrians to abandon Aspern,
than. the regiment of Klebeck again penetrated into the
burning village, drove back his choicest troops, and en-
gaged in a new contest in the midst of the conflagration,
till at the expiration of an hour it also was obliged to
give way. The regiment of Benyowsky now rushed in,
and at the first onset gained possession in the church-
yard.

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 3Ci5

yard, when they pulled down the walls, and set both the
church and parsonage on fire; by which means, and being
supported by some fresh battalions, under General Bian-
chi, the Austrians were at length enabled to maintain
themselves at the entrance of the village, after overcoming
the resistance, bordering on despair, opposed by the flower
of the French army.

From the moment of the re-taking of Aspern, it ap-
peared possible to the Archduke for him to oppose an
offensive movement to Napoleon's advance upon the
centre, and to operate upon his left flank and his commu-
nications. To accomplish this, the defence of Aspern
was now entirely left to Killer's corps; and Count Belle-
garde, commanding the second column which had also
occupied Aspern, was ordered to rest his right wing upon
that village, whilst he formed his left and centre in the
direction of Esslingen, in such a manner that, by degrees,
he gained Napoleon's right flank, compelled the F'rench
divisions in that quarter to retreat, and, as the Austrians
asserted, by the complete efTect of his artillery brought to
bear upon the left wing which commanded the whole
space from Aspern to Esslingen, gave him a most severe
defeat.

In the positions of the third Austrian column, the
dawn of morning was also the signal for the renewal of
the gigantic conflict. Here Napoleon displayed his
personal powers, and here he had drawn up a great
part of his infantry in large divisions, and between
them the whole of the heavy cavalry was formed in
masses.

Prince Lichtenstein, on observing this order of battle,
perceived the necessity of keeping up a close communi-
cation with the infantry placed near his reserve; he
therefore drew up his right wing in squares with in-
tervals behind the corps of Austrian infantry, but
kept his left wing together, with reserves posted in
the rear.

A prodigious quantity of artillery covered Napoleon's
front, who is described by the Austrians as seeming de-
sirous to anniliilate their coryjs by the murderous fire of
cannon and howitzers. Upwards of 200 pieces of cannon
were here engaged on both sides; and it was said that
the oldest veterans never recollected to have witnessed

SQ

^ee NAP0Le6n BUONAPARTE.

so tremendous a fire. The Austrians, however, boasted
that vain was every endeavour to shake the intrepidity
of their troops.

The moment was certainly critical; for Napoleon
now rode through the ranks, and, according to the
reports of the prisoners who were taken, had recourse
to one of his usual falsehoods in order to encourage his
disheartened troops, assuring them, that though the
bridge was destroyed, yet this had been done by himself,
because, in that case, they had no alternative but victory
or death. Soon after this he put the whole of his line
in motion, and the action became general.

Though Napoleon's army were now the assailants in
this quarter, yet the counter attacks of the Austrians;
both with sabre and bayonet, are stated in their accounts
to have been so rapidly repeated, and so impetuous, as to
be unparalleled in military annals, and to have completely
frustrated all Napoleon's intentions, whom they assert
to have been so beaten at all points, and so astonished at
the dauntless impetuosity of his opponents, that ht was
obliged to abandon the field of battle.

The battle, however,still raged in other parts of the field,
and about noon the Archduke ordered a new assault upon
Esslingen. Five times did the Austrian troops rush up
to the very walls of the houses, burning internally, and
placed in a state of defence; some of the grenadiers even
thrust their bayonets into the French loop-holes. But all
their eflforts were fruitless, so that the Archduke directed
the grenadiers to take up their former position, and when
they afterwards volunteered to renew the assault, he
vi'ould not permit them, as Napoleon then appeared to
be in full retreat. This village had indeed been through
the day the spot for repeated attacks, even previous
to this, particularly from the fifth column under Prince
Rosenberg; and the last attack made by that officer had
been performed with redoubled bravery, his troops rush-
ing with irresistible impetuosity into the village. Still,
however, such was the gallant resohition of the French,
that the Austrians found it impossible to maintain them-
selves, particularly as Napoleon was constantly throwing
in new reinforcements ; the possession of Esslingen
being of the utmost importance to the covering of his
retreat, which he had already resolved upon, and which

he

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 367

he was only able to secure by the sacrifice of an immense
number of lives.

Foiled in his attempts upon Esslingen, Prince Rosen-
berg resolved to confine himself to the obstinate main-
tenance of his own position, to secure the left flank of
the Austrian army, and to increase Napoleon's embar-
rassment by an incessant fire from all the batteries.

In the night of the 22d, Napoleon accomplished his
retreat to the Lobau ; and, at three in the morning of the
2Sd, his rear-guard had evacuated Esslingen and all the
points which he had occupied on the left bank of the
Danube.

Thus ended, after two days hard fighting, one of the
most sanguinary conflicts that is to be found in modern
history. Neither party had gained such decisive advan-
tage over the other, as to have much effect upon the ter-
mination of the war; and they industriously prepared
themselves for fresh carnage.

Though the Austrians might claim the victory, yet so
able was Napoleon's retreat, that they only took three
pieces of artillery, seven ammunition waggons, 17,000
musquets, and about 3000 cuirassiers.

The loss during the battle was great on both sides;
and very few being taken by either party proved the
determination of the combatants either to conquer or die.
The Austrians lost 87 superior officers, and upwards of
4000 subalterns and privates, killed; in their list of
wounded were 11 generals, 663 other officers, 15,651
subalterns and privates ; and of these, one field-marshal,
8 officers, and 129 men, were taken prisoners by the
French.

The Austrian bulletins stated the loss of the French to
be prodigious, and, as it exceeded all expectation, could
only be accounted for by the eff"ect of their concentric
fire on an exceedingly confined field of battle, where all
the batteries crossed one another. Lasnes and three other
generals were killed; two were taken. Upwards of 7000
men, and an immense number of horses, were buried on
the field of battle ; 5000 and upwarfis of wounded were
taken into the hospitals. It was also said, that in Vienna
and the suburbs there were 29,773 wounded ; many were
carried to St. Pol tan. Ens, and as far as Lantz ; 2300 were
taken. Several hundred corpses floated down the Danube,

and

36S NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

and were for days afterwards thrown upon its shore.
Many of the French met their death in the ishind of Lo-
baii ; and, after the water had fallen in the smaller arms
of the Danube, innumerable bodies, thus consigned by
their comrades to oblivion, became visible. The burial
of those sufferers continued for some days, and a pesti-
lential air was wafted down the theatre of death.

After the battle, the j4Tand Austrian army had taken
up a position between Wagram and Neusiedel, the front
of which was covered by the Russbach. This small river,
though not of great breadth, is in most parts deep, and
its banks are almost every where steep. It is fordable
only at a very few places. Behind it the land rises with
a gentle acclivity, which extends from Wagram to Neu-
siedel, where it disappears, forming an angle to the left.
Though this position was chosen and marked out as a
point of assembly for the army in the event of the French
attempting to cross the Danube, and in case it should be
found impossible or thought inadvisable to oppose the
passage ; and though this defensive position had been
selected for the final decision of this important contest,
by a general battle, no attention had been shewn to the
improvement of its natural strength by entrenchments;
yet this position, by the assistance of art, might have
been made impregnable.

The force under the Archduke Charles now consisted
of the first six corps of the Austrian army, commanded
by Generals Bellegarde, Hohenzollern, Kollowrath, Ro-
senberg, and the Prince of Reuss, and General Hiller.
The vanguard was placed under the orders of General
Nordmann; and a reserve, consisting of seventeen batta-
lions of grenadiers, and another, composed of six regi-
ments of cuirassiers, three of dragoons, one of light horse,
and three of hussars (two of which, however, were newly
raised, and formed part of the Hungarian levy), was under
the command of Prince John of Lichtenstein. The whole
number, including the cavalry, which did not exceed
12,000, amounted to nearly 115,000 men.

Towards the end of June, Napoleon was meditating a
great blow. Permanent bridges, defended by tetes-de-ponty
were, near Ebersdorfl^, thrown across to the island of Lo-
bau. The banks of that island were lined with batteries,
mounted with heavy artillery; and the French army had

concentrated

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 369

concentrated itself near Vienna. Every thing, therefore,
seemed to annonnce an approaching passage.

On the 30th of June Napoleon resumed offensive ope-
rations. In order to divert the attention of the Austrians
from the point chosen for crossing the river, and on the
other hand to cover the workmen, he occupied a part of
the woody ground which forms an entering angle oppo-
site to Lobau, and where the first passage was effected.
A cross fire from about twenty pieces of cannon on this
narrow space, commanded by the island, soon dislodged
the Austrian advanced posts, which were entirely unco-
vered. A bridge was thrown over the small arm of the
Danube, and the division of Le Grand took possession of
the whole wood, the front of which, opposite to the Aus-
trian entrenchments, was covered by a morass, vi-'hich the
overflowing of the river had formed here. The posts of
the 6th corps fell back, on this occasion, to the entrench-
ments between Aspern and Esslingen. From this move-
ment no further doubt remained in regard to the vievv's of
Napoleon, which became more evident, as it had been re-
marked from various points of observation, that his army
was concentrating itself on all sides, and assembling both
in the camp at Ebersdorf and on the island of Lobau.

In the afternoon of the 1st of July the whole Austrian
army, under the supposition that the passage would be
immediately effected, put itself in motion, approached the
Danube, and continued in this situation on the 2d. On
the morning of tlie 3d, however, it resumed its old posi-
tion.

During the interval between the 1st and 4th, Napoleon
fcept up an incessant cannonade from the island of Lobau
against the Austrian entrenchments between Enzersdorf
and Aspern, and on the other hand against the island of
Lobau and the workmen employed in throv/ing up en-
trenchments before the wood, which had been occupied
by the division of Le Grand since the 30th of June.

At eleven o'clock on the night of the 4th, a courier
was dispatched to the Archduke John, with an order for
him to form a junction with the left wing of the Aus-
trian army, and to take a share in the great battle which
was now expected. At ten on the evening of the 4th,
Napoleon embarked at Ebersdorf 1500 men, who pro-
ceeded down the Danube, and landed at the extremitj'-

YOL. II. S A of

370 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

of the small wood before Muhlleitern, where the island
of Lobau is formed by the arm which unites with the
Danube. This disembarkation was covered by ten gun-
boats; but these posts being weakly occupied by the
Austrians, with a company of chasseurs, and two three-
pounders, were carried without much difficulty. At the
same time, all the batteries on the island of Lobau kept
up an incessant fire on the town of Enzersdorf, in order
to draw the attention of the Austrians to that point.
This town was occupied by the corps of General Nord-
mann ; but barely in sufficient strengh to enable it to
maintain these posts, still less to send to the points
already forced by the enemy any detachments capable
to recover them.

Napoleon, as before stated, had made himself master
of the wood before Muhlleitern, and therefore could
easily cover the bridge thrown accross the river at the
distance of half a mile below Enzersdorf, over which his
army passed as soon as it was completed. Though the
projected Austrian cannonade was anticipated by that of
Napoleon, it nevertheless took place: it began about
eleven o'clock, from the whole line of entrenchments, and
continued till the break of day. In the mean time. Napo-
leon, by his passage of the river, had broken through
General Nordmann's chain of posts.

At day- break on the 5th, Napoleon's troops were
already seen marching in considerable force upon En-
zersdorf. General Nordmann, who was too weak to
oppose them, retreated, and abandoned Enzersdorf as
soon as he saw it turned. Napoleon now rested his
left wing on the town; and the passage of his whole
force- as well as the deployment of his columns, was
effected between ten and eleven o'clock. This being ac-
complished, his left wing, which had hitherto rested on
Enzersdorf, was ordered to advance upon Esslingen.

About two o'clock in the afternoon, when the 1st, 2d,
and 4th corps of the Austrian army had been ordered
under arms, and taken up their ground behind the Russ-
bach, they began to throw up redoubts upon the front of
it; but the workmen were soon dispersed by the heavy
cannonade from Napoleon's advancing columns. These
columns having entirely disembarrassed themselves of
the (3th corps, and that of General Nordmann, deployed,

about

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 371

about six o'clock, between Aderkla and Groshoren, and
formed a flank from Aderkla towards Leopoldau. After
a terrible cannonade on the whole line between Aderkla
and Groshoven, which was continued about an hour.
Napoleon formed columns of attack on the centre of the
position: these columns passed the Russbach in two
points, between Baumersdorf and Wagram, took pos-
session of that part of the village of Baumersdorf which
lies on the right side of that rivulet, and began to ascend
the steep bank on the otber. By this attack, of which the
momentary success was perhaps owing to its suddenness,
the first line of the Austrians was broken ; but good
order was immediately restored — and on this occasion
the Archduke Charles displayed great personal bravery,
as well as the most striking presence of mind. By the
dispositions which he made, the enemy's columns were
driven back across the Russbach in confusion, and with
considerable loss. Night broke in upon these events;
and it was only under its cover, that the French, who
had been thrown into great disorder, could have again
formed, which they did beyond the reach of the Aus-
trian cannon. The Austrians secured the river by posts,
and both parties passed the night under arms.

It was determined b)^ the Austrians to make an attack
from both flanks the next day, but its execution was
mucli, impeded by the following circumstances. First,
the Austrian army was weaker, by 40,000 men, than Na-
poleon's: the latter had 25,000 cavalry, but the Aus-
trians not more than 9 or 10,000. The French were also
superior in artillery. At the commencement of the bat-
tle, there were, at most, forty twelve-pounders in play,
the remainder being six-pounders. The second impedi-
ment was not less essential. The d.sposiiions for the
attack were not completed till midnight, and tiie inver-
val was too short to admit of distant corns receiving their
orders in sufficient time for the due execution. The
distance between head-quarters and Nensiedel, where
the fourth corps was posted, was not more than one league
and a half, and this corps had been stationary on the
preceding day. On the other hand, th.- riafht wing, in-
cluding the reserve of cavalry, had been engaged in va-
rious movements. The night was dark, and rendered it
difficult, in some instances, to ascertain the situation of
3 A 2 corps.

375 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

corps, while the communication required the assist-
ance of patroles. Napoleon's patroles swept the plain of
Sussenbrunn. Finally, the post-house of Stammersdorf,
where the head-quarters of the sixth and the third Aus-
trian corps were established, was distant three leagues by
the direct road from the general head-quarters. On
this account, the orders issued in consequence of the dis-
position, did not reach this point till two or half-past two
o'clock. As the third corps encamped on the right of
the sixth, a counter-march, therefore, became necessary,
in order to give each corps of the army its prescribed
direction. It was nearly four o'clock before the forma-
tion of the columns could be completed; besides which,
the troops had two leagues to march before they could
close with the enemy; it was, therefore, not possible for
these corps to attack, at break of day, agreeably to orders.
The fourth corps, which, on the other hand, had received
orders in sufficient time, and therefore could carry them
into execution, attacked before the right wing had com-
pleted the formation of its columns.

No accounts being received of the approach of the
Archduke John, and as there was no indication of it, the
danger to which the fourth corps had been exposed, began
to be sensibly felt. To remedy this fault, orders were
sent to Prince Rosenberg to fall back, after his corps had
been pushed forward alone and unsupported to Qros-
hoven. But the French columns pressed upon its
rear ; and though they were not able to molest it se-
riously in its retreat to Neusiedel, this retrograde
movement made no good impression upon the feelings
of that portion of the army which was soon to be ex-
posed to the most violent attacks. Prince John, pre-
vious to this, had been in Italy, where he was opposed
to Marmont; but both armies being now concentrated,
Marmont's corps had been ordered, on its arrival, to
cross the Danube on the night of the 4th and otii of
July, where it formed part of the reserve, yet in the
action of the 6th it was in the centre of Napoleon's
army.

The fourth corps having attacked in front the position
of Marshal Davoust, and having crossed and re-crossed
the Russbach, under a most severe fire, it lost from 2 to
3000 men in killed and wounded, and had above 20 of its

cannon

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 373

cannon dismounted. The first corps which, at day-break,
had debouched through Wagram, found Aderkla evacu-
ated, and a part of the regiment of Klenau was pushed
forwards to reconnoitre. 'Fhe French again took posses-
sion of the village of Aderkla, but were soon obliged to
abandon it. For a long time, however, it was the bone
of contention, being repeatedly taken and lost by both
parties, till at length it remained in the hands of the Aus-
trians. In the mean time, the columns of the third and
sixth corps slowly approached to the scene of action, the
progress of the infantry being retarded by the necessity
of marching through corn-fields. The grenadiers, how-
ever, arrived in sufficient time to take a share in the con-
test for the possession of Aderkla.

The Austrian line had at length succeeded in forming
in front of this village ; and all the corps united their fire
with that of the batteries, with tremendous effect, on
Napoleon's centre, which began to fall back upon Rasch-
dorf. During this time the Gth corps, which had moved
through Hirchstetten, found the village of Aspern, and
the wood along the Danube, occupied by the division of
Boudet; but as the right wing of his division was sepa-
rated at too great an interval from Napoleon's centre,
some tirailleurs and some infantry were taken by the
hussars of Lichtenstein, which were between the 3d and
the 6th corps.

These events determined Napoleon to order General
Boudet to make an immediate retreat, which he hastily
effected through Aspern, and the wood on the banks of
the Danube. The 6th Austrian corps now advanced
through Aspern and Esslingen, and, by its tirailleurs,
cleared the wood, which was but feebly defended by the
French.

After the retreat of his centre. Napoleon, with a nu-
merous artillery, formed one line appuye on the left to
Enzersdorf, and continued behind a gentle curtain to
Neuwirtshaus, a solitary farm-house situated in front of
Raschdorf. From this point his line was retired, and
kept at some distance from the Russbach, opposite to
the village of Baumersdorf, which lay before the 2d
corps, and formed a tete-de-pont on that river.

Napoleon directed, about nine in the morning, a vio-
lent and incessant fire to be opened along the whole line

of

374 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE,

of these respective positions, from the centre to his left
wing;, which was answered from the centre and right
wing of the Austrians, without an inch of ground being
lost on either side. All the Austrian reserves were in the
line; but the cavalry of the centre, being too much weak-
ened by detachments sent to the 4th corps on the left
wing, could not take advantage of the disorder which
evidently appeared to prevail among Napoleon's troops,
when his centre was compelled to retreat. For whole
hours there was a complete suspension of movements in
these lines; but, in the mean time, reinforcements of
every arm were seen arriving at the left wing of the
French. On the other hand, events had taken an un-
favourable turn in the Austrian left wing, and great ad-
vantage had been given to the enemy by recalling the
order for attack given to the 4th corps, and by the con-
sequences of that change. Napoleon's artillery on the
right wing had also caused the 4th corps to feel, very
materially, its great superiority. No where in the whole
line was the disproportion of strength so visible as in this
point, by far the most important for the Austrians. After
a tremendous cannonade, during which one half of the
Austrian artillery was dismounted, the infantry of Mar-
shal Davoust formed themselves for the attack on Neu-
siedel. The regiment of Ferdinand and the hussars of
Hesse Homburg made, indeed, some charges on this
infantry; but they were attended with no advantage,
while the retreat of the infantry of the 4th corps became
the more indispensable, as it had long been outflanked.
This retreat, however, was effected by battalions, and in
good order, in the direction of Bockflies, across an im-
mense plain, which did not present any maintainable
ground.

During these occurrences the left wing (or the 4th corps
of the Austrian army) had been supported only by some
brigades of infantry detached from the 2d corps. The
action was exceedingly warm, particularly at Neusiedel,
which was defended for a considerable time, and where an
Hungarian brigade, consisting of Hiller and Sztaray's fe-
giments, commanded by the Prince of Hesse Homburg,
made a long resistance. The progress made by Napo*
Icon's right wing, and the loss of the village of Neusiedel,
soon exposed the left wing, and even the rear of the 2d

corps.

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. ^75

corps, to no small danger. Besides this, it had continued
engaged in a violent cannonade on theRussbach,and there-
fore found itself obliged, as Napoleon advanced, to cause
its left vi'ing to fall back, and to form with an angle, in
order to oppose the movements of the right wing of the
French ; for in proportion as the enemy followed the 4th
corps, it got farther in the rear of the positions of the 2d
corps, whose change of front was effected, like the retreat of
the 4th corps, in perfect order; and the French prosecuted
their advantages slowly, and always under a heavy tire of
cannon. Towards one in the afternoon, the position of
both armies was exceedingly singular. The Austrian
army rested its right wing upon Esslingen, whence the line
was bent back in the direction of Aderkla ; crossed the
Russbach at no great distance from that place; extended
on this rivulet to Baumersdof, and, after the loss of
Neusiedel, formed thence a flank in the direction of Bock-
flies. Napoleon's line, which rested its left wing on the
Danube, extended in a direction parallel to the Austrians,
at the distance of a cannon-shot. The left wing of the
Austrians was, at this time, in full retreat. The centre,
however, and the right wing, remained firm, and main-
tained, uninterruptedly, a brisk cannonade. But the
farther the left wing retired, the more did the 2d corps
necessarily partake of this movement, while, at the
same time, it was still engaged in the cannonade on the
Russbach. The result was, that between two and three
in the afternoon, the army formed in a line perpen-
dicular to the Danube. The right wing resting on
the Danube, extended from Esslingen to Aspern ; the
centre stood at Wagram, and the left wing towards
Bockflies.

At this period, the retrograde movement of the left wing
began to be communicated, by degrees, to the army,
and the whole line moved back in masses of battalions,
en echequier, towards the road from Vienna to Brunn ;
Napoleon's columns followed slowly, and with intervals.
The left wing of his army, strengthened by cavalry, now
defiled in column alon^ the Da )ube, with an apparent
intention of turning the right wing of the Austrians,
■whicU was certainly exposed to this danger, as it had
maintained itseh longe-t in the positions which it occu-
pied. He, however, confined himself to a demonstration;

for

376 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

for though only one regiment of hussars was attached to
this wing, it was not attacked by the French very supe-
rior cavalry.

The entrenchments between Aspern and Esslingen,
which had been again occupied with artillery, were eva-
cuated, as on the 5th, without the smallest loss. The
troops retired to Leopoldau ; and this retrograde move-
ment continued until towards six in the afternoon, step
by step, when the army made a kind of halt. After
halting half an hour, the Austrian army resumed its
retreat, although not without loss; for a battalion of
the Hungarian regiment of Duka, having protracted its
movement when the right wing quitted Leopoldau, was
attacked by the French cavalry, and lost one-half of
its men. Previous to this, when they retired from the
heights of Wagram, the Austrians had been obliged to
leave some dismounted pieces of cannon. Another bat-
tery was taken by the French cavalry as they defiled
through Aderkla; but it was almost immediately retaken
by Rosenberg's regiment of light horse. The cavalry re-
serve of the centre found itself, for a moment, opposite
to, and at a very small distance from, a much stronger
column of enemy's cavalry; but as they were separated
by a ditch, nothing of consequence took place. It was
here that General La Salle was killed by a cannon-shot.
The Polish light horse afterwards attacked some squa-
drons of the regiments of Klenau and Schwartzenberg,
behind Gernsdorf, but they were beaten back.

In regard, however, to the main object, all these petty
affairs produced nothing decisive. Both sides continued
to cannonade each other, and the Austrian right wing
gradually drew otf from the Danube, by moving towards
Stammersdorf, where the 5th corps of the army at length
also became engaged, after having remained the whole
day inactiv-e in its position. The Archduke Charles's
regiment of Hulans, with some artillery, maintained its
ground on the road to Prague, and in that point kept the
enemy in check. About nine o'clock tl>e fire ceased, and
the troops remained till midnight in the position above
described.

In maintaining the action with their left wing, the
Austrians had continued to rest their hopes on the ar-
rival of the Archduke John, and the diversion which

would

NAPOLEON^ BUONAPARTE. SJ7

would thus be occasioned. His movement was, how-
ever, executed too late to be of any use: he halted at
Marchek until eleven in the forenoon; he then conti-
nued his march, and therefore did not reach Obersieben-
brunn until between six and seven in the evening, where
having heard of the retreat of the army, he imme'liately
determined upon retrograding to Marchek. His hussars
forming the advance had penetrated as far as Neusiedel,
where they not only took some prisoners, but even gave
a momentary alarm to the French reserve, with which
Napoleon had remained at Raschdorf.

At all events, this would have secured his arriving at
day-break, and there was every probability that he would
have found means to unite himself to the left wing. It
was, however, under any contingency, dangerous to place
implicit reliance on his arrival; and there can be no
doubt that it would have been much safer to have given
him orders to march on the 3d, as he could then have
joined the army on the 4th, would not have been exposed
to any of the before-mentioned dangers, and, on the other
hand, might have taken a share in the battle with re-
freshed troops. In the morning of the 6th, the Arch-
duke Charles, having dispatched one of his aides-de-
camp, in order to hasten the march of his brother, this
officer unexpectedly fell in with the rear of Grouchy's
division, which was on the point of making a movement
on the left flank of the Austrians, and he owed his escape
to the fleetness of his horse.

We have thus given a correct statement of the circum-
stances which marked the important and decisive action
of the 6th and 6th of July. The artillery employed on
these days was numerous, and was served with great
vivacity on both sides. The Austrian army displayed
much bravery and great perseverance in its efforts; and
its eagerness to engage had not been less remarkable.
The artillery surpassed itself, and its loss in men was very
consid^raWe. The movements of Napoleon are stated
to have displayed greater boldness on the 5th than on the
6th, when his conduct conveyed an inipression, that to
maintain the ground he had gained was more his object
than a decided victory. The Austrian army lost, in
killed (among whom were four generals), wounded, and
prisoners, 20,000 men : the number of the prisoners
might be about b or 6000. The French lost, on the

VOL. II. 3 B ath.

378 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

5th, from 3 to 4000 men on the heights of Russbach. The
loss in men, upon the whole, was pretty nearly equal ;
and the case was the same in regard to trophies. The
Austrianslost, on both days, 11 or 12 cannon; the French,
on the other hand, lost 10 on the morning of the 6th, and
had about 20,000 men killed and wounded.

Such are the leading features of this important battle; in
detailing which we have followed the Austrian account,
which differs in some degree from Napoleon's ; he having
stated that the night between the 5th and 6th was passed
on his part in concentrating his force, whilst the Austrian
force was weakened in their centre, supposed to be for
the purpose of strengthening their wings, where the great-
est part of the artillery was planted ; but this seemed so
strange a measure to Napoleon, that at first he was sus-
picious of some stratagem, until, perceiving that it was
only a blunder, he boasted of having taken advantage of
it. Still does it appear that in every part of the battle, as
far as regarded musquetry and the bayonet, the superiority
lay with the Austrians, so that victory might in the end
have been their's, had not Napoleon brought almost the
whole of his cannon to bear upon the centre of the Arch-
. duke's army, already weakened by previous manoeuvres;
and this heavy fire being unanswered for want of artillery
in that quarter, a passage was soon cut through the centre,
which was in fact driven back three miles, so that both
flanks being now afraid of being cut off in their commu-
nication, found it necessary to retire into Moravia, leaving
the field of battle to Napoleon.

The military operations were now put an end to by an
armistice, which was signed on the 12th of July, very
much to the advantage of Napoleon, as all the strong places
which he demanded the possession of until a definitive
treaty, were actually given up to him. This was followed
up by a definitive treaty on the 14th of October, by
which Napoleon acquired all the sea-coasts of Austria,
and also obliged her to yield up the Tyrol and several
other territories for the aggrandisement of Bavaria and
Saxony, two powers raised by Napoleon's policy to form
a balance against the other potentates in that quarter of
Europe. By this treaty Russia also obtained a consi-
derable part of Gallicia; and the Emperor Francis was
forced to acknowledge Joseph Buonaparte king of Spain.

Napoleon

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 379

Napoleon returned to Paris; anH, on the 3d of Decem-
ber, he opened the Legislative Body vviih a pompous
detail of his various conquests: and it mu;^: be confessed,
that never had he so much reason to boast as on this
occasion, having subdued every power that Vv'.is capable of
giving him disturbance, or that might threaten the glory
and stability of his empire.

However the military glory of Napoleon might have
been raised by his recent achievements, and however
his power, might have been established by them, an event
now took place, which tended more to his aggrandise-
ment than any which we have yet recorded; and this was
his alliance with the Imperial House of Austria, by his
marriage with the Archduchess Maria Louisa. This
event must have taken place in consequence of articles
to that effect in the late treaty with Austria; for, soon
after his return to Paris, he immediately began to take
steps to bring about the intended union by obtaining a
divorce from Josephine, which was very soon accom-
plished.

As soon as his various arrangements were made, he dis-
patched the Prince of Neufchatel to Vienna, on the 25 ch of
February, to demand the hand of the Archduchess; and
on the STth of the month he notified this event to the
Senate, informing them at the same time that a contract
had already been entered into with her father for that
purpose. The business had been so completely arranged,
that, a very few days after his ambassador's arrival at the
Austrian capital, the usual ceremony was performed, the
Archduke Charles himself acting as bridegroom on the
occasion, as Napoleon's proxy. The ceremony took
place on the 11th of March, with all the splendour usually
displayed in alliances with the most powerful monarchs.
Soon after which, the new Empress set off from Paris,
by a road literally strewed with flowers*.

Having

* The following picture of the Archduchess cannot be unacceptable
to our readers: it is contained in a private letter from Vienna. " The
world is wide!}- mistaken in supposing; that the young Archduchess
Maria Louisa is about to be led like a lamb to the sacrifice. She was
herself the prime mover of Napoleon's marvellous attachment; the
whole ambition of her soul being to enslave, by her charms, the con-
queror of the universe, She has succeeded to the extent of her ambi-
tion, and within a few days will be invested with the Imperial diadem.
3 B 2 At

mo Napoleon buonaparte.

Having thus strengthened and consolidated his power
by an illustrious alliance. Napoleon would have had little
to fear from any hostility abroad, had not his own un-
principled ambition led him into enterprises far beyond
his power to accomplish ; but, thinking, from his unpa-
ralleled fortune, that every thing must yield to his mighty
force, he directed all his thoughts and attention to one
object — that of making Europe tributary to France. For
this purpose, ever since his last successful campaign, he
directed every measure for the accomplishment of this
object. It would, however, have been wiser, if, before
he proceeded in his plans, he had sent such a force into
Spain, as would have effectually put an end to the war.
It has been said, indeed, that his object m procrastinating
the contest in Spain was for the avowed purpose of carry-
ing on a financial war against Great Britain ; if so, his plan
was a most injudicious one: but we are rather disposed to
account for his conduct on the difficulty of finding sup-
plies for a larger force than that which he had in the
Spanish Peninsula,

Soon after Napoleon's return, in the early part of the
year 1812, from a tour of observation in the Low Coun-
tries, he began to form plans for the execution of his pro-
jects against Russia, which country had already begun to
retrace her steps with respect to the Continental System.
His first proceeding in those ulterior plans which he had
hi view was to raise a considerable sum of money ; which
was partly done by a decree of the 21st of January, by
which he annexed to his extraordinary domain a property
in Spain equal to 200,000,000 of livres, about =£10,000,000

At this moment she is gay, even to wildness ; but she can be affected
ij various passions. I have seen her weep ; I have seen her frown,
and in an instant become mild and amiably condescending: in these
felicitous moments her voice is fascinatingly melodious. In figure she
is a little above the middle size, gracefully formed in the neck and
shoulders, with a complexion of the most dazzling whiteness; l)cr nose
somewhat inclined to the Roman; eyes of the most brilliant blue; and
a profusion of shining flaxen hair, that reaches nearly to the ground ;
Jier hands and feet most delicately shaped : her lips are truly Austrian ;
however, when opened by a smile, they discover a set of teeth most beau-
tifully arranged, and exquisitely white. I remember to have seen her
aunt taken from her mother in just such a transitory blaze of beauty, joy-
fully expecting to fill a long-established throne; and afterwards I saw iier
(all the most degraded victim of her barbarian subjects — on a scaffold.

Sterling,

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 38 f

sterling, which he professed to be for the purpose of re-
warding his officers and men in that country ! His next
step was to order General Friant, with a large force, to
occupy Swedish Pomerania, which was instantly done;
Stralsund being taken possession of on the 26th of the
month, partly as a point d'appui, or of support, for the
left wing of the grand army when it should advance, and
partly as a pledge for the quiescence of Sweden, or per-
haps with hopes of forcing her co-operation during the
ensuing campaign.

In March, Napoleon, having nearly completed his pre-
parations, began to develope his intentions, by ordering
Maret to deliver a report to the Conservative Senate, in
which he once more attacked the maritime policy of Great
Britain; praised the Emperor for his resolution to sup-
port the liberty of the seas, in concert with his good
friends, the Americans; declared that the Berlin and Milan
decrees should remain in full force against all such powers
as permitted their flags to be denationalized; a«d informed
France and the world, that his master had called out the
greatest part of his troops in order to enforce those de-
crees— a declaration which fully pointed out that Russia
was the object of his present plans, as she was the only
power wlio dared to counteract them. So anxious was Na-
poleon to take every disposable soldier from France, that
he ordered National Guards to be formed for the home
duty out of all the conscripts for the six preceding years,
who had not been called to the army ; and, early in the
spring, his whole force, accompanied by the Rhenish con-
tingents, was in full march for the Polish frontiers.

Towards the end of March, Marshal Ney had advanced
so far as to fix his head-quarters at Weimar, whilst at
the same time Napoleon's own field-equipage had arrived
at Dresden ; previous to which he had forced the Prus-
sian monarch to consent to a treaty which placed the
greatest part of that kingdom, with its resources, more at
his disposal than it had even been by his military occupa-
tion: he also determined to avail himself of the popular
feeling in Poland, and for that purpose withdrew from
Spain all his Polish regiments. So that before April was
closed, Europe saw the troops of various nations ad-
vancing in crowds for the borders of Russia, as if with
the intention of overwhelming that country, and erasing

it.

SS9 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

it, as indeed Napoleon declared, from the map of
nations!

On the 9th of May, Napoleon set off from Paris, at-
tended by Berthier, and accompanied as far as Metz by
the Empress Maria Louisa; from whence he again set out,
accompanied by the Empress, for Dresden, arriving there
on the 16th, where a meeting was proposed to take place
with the Emperor and Empress of Germany.

It would be tedious to recite all the diplomacy which
took place previous to the actual commencement of hos-
tilities (the Emperor of Russia having aheady advanced
to join that part of his army which was at Wilna under
the command of General Barclay de ToUi) ; it is sufficient
to observe, that Napoleon, finding his armies well ad-
vanced, suddenly quitted the Imperial festivities at Dres-
den, and proceeded on the 7th of June to Dantzic, on a
tour of military observation, partly in hopes of facilitating
a meeting which he was endeavouring to procure with the
Emperor Alexander, in which he hoped to terrify or cajole
him into acquiescence with all his plans, and thus to re-
ceive such security for his Continental System as would
render an appeal to arms unnecessary.

In this, however, he failed; but so anxious was he to
bear down every thing before him with an overwhelming
force, that he had also negotiated a treaty with his father-
in-law, by which Austria was to furnish 24,000 infantry,
6000 cavalry, and 60 pieces of artillery, whenever he
should call on them to march to his assistance. Finding
that negotiations with Russia were not to be expected.
Napoleon, on the 22d of June, issued a bulletin from the
head-quarters of his grand army, stating, that peace being
no longer practicable, he had given orders for a general
advance towards the Niemen. His army consisted of no
less than nine divisions, whose force was never exactly
known, but most certainly not less than 300,000; of which
it was well observed, that never, in modern Europe, were
forces so numerous, and composed of such various people,
led under a single command to the decision of a political
contest. Such a force, too, was so much greater than any
which Russia could oppose to it, that a defensive plan, and
indeed a very judicious one, was the only thing that could
be opposed to the threatened invasion.
Ou the 11th of June, Napoleon joined Marshal Davoust

at

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 383

at Konigsberg ; and, having caused three bridges to be
thrown over the Niemen, his army crossed on the evening
of the god, and on the 24th he advanced as far as Kovi'no,
on the Russian side of it, whilst the remainder of his troops
were pushing forward, and his advance driving before them
all the light Russian corps of observation. He next
pushed on for Wilna, which had for some time been the
residence of the Emperor Alexander, but which was now
given up without a contest, but not until the Russian
army had burnt the bridge, and destroyed the magazines.

On the 28th Napoleon entered that city, and ordered
the bridge to be re-coBstructed, whilst his advance, under
Oudinot, after crossing the Vilia, near Kowno, which
took place on the 25th, obliged Wittgenstein, the Russian
general commanding tlie first corps, to evacuate Samo-
gitia, and fall back upon Wilkoniuz, which he was also
forced to leave, but not until he had set fire to whatever
might be useful to the invaders. The Russian troops still
continued retreating, closely followed by Napoleon^s ad-
vanced guard, until the 7th of July, when they concen-
trated on the banks of the Dwina.

Napoleon's advance was so extremely rapid, that his
advanced guard took possession of Novogrodeck and
Minsk, as early as the 2d of July, whilst Prince Bagra-
tion found himself obliged to retreat upon the Dnieper,
in consequence of his march towards Wilna being inter-
rupted. In fact. Napoleon was now master of the whole
grand-duchy of Lithuania, where he organized a provi-
sional government, and called out a national guard and
gendarmerie, occupying his new conquest with the Aus-
trian contingent under Prince Schwartzenberg.

At this moment the main Russian army was in a
strongly entrenched camp at Drissa, on the banks of the
river Dwina; but from this they were obliged to retire,
on the 18th of July, towards Witepsk, and there they
were joined, on the following day, by the Emperor Alex-
ander himself. But the passage of the river being thus
left free, Murat took advantage of it, and, on the 20th,
marched over the whole of the cavalry, extending it
along the right bank.

On the 25th of July, Napoleon's advanced guard pushed
on as far as Ostrowno, where a smart action took place,
with a considerable loss on both sides.

The Russian army now fell back upon Smolensko;

and.

384 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE,

and, on the 2Sth, Napoleon's advance reached Witepsk,
after a bloody battle between Bagration and Davoii8t,
near Mohilow, accompanied by another between Witt-
genstein and Oudinot, at Polotsk, on the 30th and 31st,
when victory was on the side of the Russians, though
followed necessarily by a retreat, in compliance with the
plan of the campaign, which was to fight, to harass, and
to fall back.

On the 30th, the fortress of Dunaburg was carried by
storm by the advanced French corps; and on the 1st of
August, another battle took place which Napoleon repre-
sented as completely victorious to the French arms.
Nevertheless, he found it necessary to order his advance
into quarters of refreshment lor some days; from whence,
however, they were put in motion again on the 12th of
August, on which day Murat and Davoust mardied upon
the Dnieper, in order to obtain possession of Smolensk©,
at which city the principal force of the Russians was now
assembled.

No sooner did the French army appear on the sur-
rounding heights of Smolensk©, than the aged, the wo«-
men, and children, fled from the place, in hopes of
escaping from the ensuing horrors. Many fled as far a«
Moscow, others to places in the vicinity, and some thou-
sands on the heights on which the Russian army was
posted, anxiously waiting as sad spectators of the awful
moment of contest now approaching, but hoping that
victory would enable them to return to their habitations.
The Russian generals, however, were prepared for re-
verses, and had taken measures to carry off every thing
valuable, both of public and of private property, as soon
as the approach of the invaders was ascertained.

On the I6th, Napoleon, who had quitted Witepsk on
the 13th, had taken the command of the main array near
Smolensk© ; and he instantly reconnoitred not only the
city, but also the position which the Russians occupied
on the opposite side of the river; and, having discovered
that but a small force was left to occupy the place, he
issued orders for an assault on the entrenched suburbs,
he himself, at the same time, intending to destroy the
three bridges, and by this means to cut off the c©mr»uni-
cation with the main army, so as to prevent all assistance
to the city ; which of course he expected would render

Smolensko

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE* 38i

Sniolensko an easy conquest, and oblige the Russians to
retreat without hazarding a general action.

The right of his army he then gave to the Polish ge-
neral, Prince Poniatowski ; to Davoust he entrusted the
centre; and to Ney he gave the service on the left; in
the rear he formed two reserves of cavalry and of the
Imperial guards, where he himself was posted : and
thus the whole army advanced towards the scene of
action.

The morning of the 17th of August now dawned upon
the combatants, and a short but awful pause took place.
At length the dreadful silence was broken: from the ex-
treme point of the Russian right to their left, the artillery-
opened a destructive fire, whilst the rapid discharges of
musquetry along .the whole front produced a most horri-
ble scene of carnage during the attack of the French,
which was not less vigorous or terrific.

The battle was soon raging with fury in all quarters ;
and, in spite of the dreadful fire from the Russian artil-
lery, Napoleon pushed his troops on to the entrenched
suburbs, where they attacked the Russian troops with
the bayonet at the very muzzles of their guns, and the
havoc now^ became prodigious. In fact, the ground
along the whole line was now covered with the dead and
dying, yet it still seemed impossible that the firmness of
the Russians should be shaken, as for upwards of two
hours they maintained the bloody contest, and stood like
a rock in opposition to every assault of the assailants.
In short, they stood until their movements were actually
impeded by the number of the slain; and, being now hard
pressed by the fresh troops which Napoleon ordered up
to the assault, they judged it prudent to quit the entrench-
ments, and to retire into the city, but not without dis-^
puting every inch of the ground.

Napoleon now ordered a heavy fire to commence upon
Smolensko, which Barclay de Tolli proposed to defend
for a few hours at least, in order to give Bagration's
army time to take up another position on the road to
Moscow, where he intended also to join it, at Dorogo-
bouche. To further this delay, De Tolli threw up
rapidly some temporary defences, whilst the various
columns of his army were in motion. Whilst Napoleon
pushed on the work of death, the dreadful hours of de-

YOL, II. 3 c structioH

386 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

struction were rolling on, during the repeated attempts ta
enter the place, where, when the walls fell beneath
the cannonade, the courage of the Russians breasted
the breaches, and repulsed the attacks, until the once
flourishing city of Smolensko began to present a dreadful
scene of destruction to the eye, as every magazine was
now destroyed, every edifice fired, which was likely to
afford resources to Napoleon's troops. Even the few
inhabitants still remaining in the place were the first to
set fire to it, so that the flames spread rapidly through
every quarter; and the houses which were built of wood,
quickly gave way to the flames, over the whole extent of
this once opulent city, from whose centre now blazed
forth vast volumes of fire and smoke, a scene which is
thus awfully described in Napoleon*s bulletins : "In the
midst of a fine night in August, Smolensko offered to the
eyes of the French the spectacle that presented itself to
the inhabitants of Naples, during an eruption of Vesu-
vius." When the conflagration was complete, the Rus-
sian general, Korff, having destroyed the last communica-
tions across the Dnieper, followed the leading columns
with his reserve; when Napoleon, perceiving that the
Russians were in full retreat, and that the firing from the
walls was now at an end, gave orders for his troops to
occupy the city, which took place on the morning of the
18th of August. Napoleon boasted of the possession of
Smolensko; but all that he obtained by it was its artillery
and the ashes of its once happy habitations.

The next object of Napoleon was to pass his army
over the Dnieper, which he did by means of a bridge
thrown over that river a little above the town : by this
means Ney was enabled to push on in pursuit of Barclay
tie Tolli, whilst Junot and Davoust had orders to pass
over along the right bank upon the high road to Moscow,
in hopes to cut off" the communications of the Russian
rear, under the command of General Korff, when a severe
action took place; but so judicious were the movements
of the Russians, and so promptly were reinforcements
sent to them from the main army, that, after repeated at-
tacks. Napoleon's advanced troops were obliged, on the
night of the 15th of August, to leave the Russians com-
pletely masters of the field, so as to adopt such move-
ments as were in unison with the general plan of procras-
tination

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 337

tiuation and retreat; when Korff, Titchagoft\ and the
Prince of Wirtemberg, who commanded this gallant
band of only 40,000 Russians, commenced a march to-
wards Slob Pneva, on the banks of the Dnieper.

Whilst the retreating Russians took every means in
their power to check the advance of the invading army,
by destroying the bridges, and cutting up the roads. Na-
poleon hurried on his troops, so that by the 23d of Au-
gust he was in a position before Dorogobouche, to threaten
the left flank of the concentrated first and second Rus-
sian armies; but the object of the Russian generals,
which was to secure the arrival of their rear-guard, being
now accomplished, the whole of their army was ordered
to fall back, which they did through the three following
days, in three massy columns, halting on the 26th of
August to observe Napoleon's movements, being then in
a position to hold communication with the town of Twer,
a place of considerable consequence. No sooner had the
Russian rear guard commenced its retreat, than the ad-
vance of Napoleon's troops pushed on in close pursuit.
Some fighting daily took place, and though the Russian
armies were concentrated at Viasma on the 27th, yet
Barclay de Tolli not judging that place to be very fa-
vourable to military operations, gave instant directions
that every thing which could be useful to the invaders
should be destroyed. The unhappy inhabitants, having
learnt experience by the fate of Smolensko, had made
every preparation for securing whatever was portable;
and as the place was almost completely evacuated, it was
set fire to, whilst flames only appeared in the depopulated
streets, shewing to Napoleon's troops that they :-houid
find no hospitable roofs in a country which they had
filled with so many calamities.

No sooner was the town in flames, than the bridges
were destroyed, and the whole Russian army retreated to
Zarc<;o Zaiomochi, where they halted, when Prince
Kutusoff arrived to take the supreme command of the
whole Russian army.

It is a well-known fact, that it was the universal wish
of the whole Russian nation that this intrepid general
should be now opposed to Napoleon, though a veteran of
upwards of seventy years of age.

It was on the 28th of August that Kutusoff took the
3 c 2 command :

388 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

command: on the ensuing morning he put the whole
army in motion, as its position was not favourable to a
general action; and on the 1st of September he halted
in the vicinity of the village of Borodino, about six miles
from the city of Mojaisk, and on the great road leading
to Moscow. Here he remained until the 5th of Septem-
ber, anxiously waiting for the advance of his assailant, as
a general battle was now inevitable, and this he consi-
dered as the most important position in advance of the
ancient Muscovite empire.

It was on the 30th of August that Napoleon reached
Viasma ; but there it was impossible to remain, even if
he had wished it, and accordingly he moved on in three
columns for Gehatz, where he arrived on the 1st of Sep-
tember, but found that ill-fated place in the same desolate
condition with Smolensko and Viasma. Here he halted
until the 4th of September, in order to give his troops
necessary repose. He then moved forward on the morn-
ing of the 4th of September, and took post near the village
of Grodneva, from whence, at dawn of the following day,
he advanced, so as to come in sight of the Russian army
about noon on that day, when he instantly dispatched
reconnoitring parties in all directions, whose reports
determined him to commence an attack in the direction
of Bagration's division, which had some field-works in
advance.

Napoleon's advance now pushed on in formidable bo-
dies of infantry and cavalry, across the little stream of
the Kalouga, and directed its march towards Bagration's
line ; but a strong redoubt was right in his line of march.
The attack, therefore, was begun at this point with the
utmost fury by the French, and was sustained with equal
firmness by the Russians, who regarded, with the most
intrepid coolness, the consolidated masses of their ene-
mies advancing towards them with fixed bayonets. When
the French came witlfin gun-shot, a heavy fire froni the
Russian artillery and rausquetry in the redoubt, checked
their impetuosity for some time. Napoleon also at-
tempted to carry a wood which defended the Russian
position ; and Prince Poniatowsky, by a movement con-
siderably to his right, gained the left of the point in dis-
pute, and detached a force in advance to make an assault
in that quarter. These, again, were received with a

heavy

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 3S9

heavy fire; but, as the first party, which had been re-
pulsed, again advanced under cover of Poniatowsky's
corps, a most desperate resistance on the part of the
Russians could not prevent them from gaining possession
of the unfinished and unpalisadoed fosse, when the action
became actually a contest between man and man, so that
guns were overthrown, cavalry became indiscriminately
mixed with infantry, whilst the soldiery met breast to
breast, grappling together till one or both sunk oppressed
with loss of blood.

This scene of carnage continued for some time, so that
the position was lost and gained four different times,
until night put a stop to the affair, and left this hard-
earned conquest in Napoleon's hands.

An awful pause of one day, viz. the 6th, now took
place, which was employed by both armies in preparing
for the dreadful conflict that was to ensue.

The result of the battle of the 5th had obliged Kutu-
soffto throw his left wing a little further back, nearer to
the heights occupied by his artillery. Napoleon was also
sedulous to derive every possible advantage from a posi-
tion acquired with so much blood; for which purpose,
he covered the height on which it stood with artillery,
erecting also, during the night, two other batteries di-
rectly opposite to the Russian centre, in whose works
alone there were upwards of 100 pieces of artillery.
On his left, too, he had formed batteries presenting a
range of 400 guns; and, as considerable detachments of
artillery were also distributed amongst the troops, it ap-
pears that there were near 1000 pieces of cannon on Na-
poleon's side alone.

The night previous to the sanguinary battle of Boro-
dino was passed with anxious suspense on both sides.
Napoleon, at the early hour of two in the morning, took
post on the position which he had previously selected.
He was surrounded by all his Marshals; and though the
night had been wet, yet the sun rose unclouded ; on
which he is said to have exclaimed, " It is the sun of
Austerlitz! Although but September, it is as cold as
December in Moravia." He addressed the following
short proclamation to his army:—

Soldiers! — Before you is the field you have so ar-
dently desired. The victory depends upon you. It is

necessary

390 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

necessary to you. It will give you abundance, good
winter-quarters, and a quick return to your country.
Conduct yourselves as when at Austerlitz, at Fried-
land, at Witepsk, at Smolensk ; and the latest posterity
will cite with pride your conduct on this day. They
will say. He icas in that great battle under the walls of
Moscow."

Napoleon now detached his generals to their different
posts, and in an instant 140,000 men were in motion. It
was exactly at four o'clock, that Davoust and Ponia-
towsky's divisions advanced towards the skirts of the
wood on the left of the Russian line ; but it was not until
six that they were near enough to commence the attack,
which was done under cover of seventy pieces of artillery,
when a few minutes more brought them so near that the
fire of musquetry was immediately begun. The firing
soon became extended along thst part of the line, and
was immediately supported by a heavy cannonade from
the redoubt which Napoleon had previously gained with
so much slaughter.

No sooner did Napoleon find his right completely en-
gaged with Bagration's division, than he ordered Ney to
push on for the centre in a heavy massive column, under
cover of a battery of no less than sixty pieces of artil-
lery; and, at the same time, Beauharnois was directed to
open a fire upon the right of the Russians, then posted at
the village of Borodino.

Napoleon, with his accustomed skill, had contrived,
whilst preserving the semblance of a general and ex-
tended attack along the whole line, to bring nearly one-
half of his whole force to bear upon the Russian left.
Both he and his troops, therefore, telt confidence in the
superiority of numbers ; his cavalry, in particular, shewed
such a desperate resolution, as even to charge up to the
very muzzles of the Russian artillery, where whole regi-
ments of them, both men and horses, were mowed
down by a rapid fire of round and grape, so as in a short
time to form a breastwork of dead and dying along the
whole front of Bagration's line.

For three hours did this work of carnage continue with-
out intermission, when Napoleon, who now saw that he was
unable to make such impression as he expected, ordered
up Murat and -Caulaincourt, with a division of infantry of

the

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 391

the reserve, supported by several regiments of dragoons,
and under cover of fifty additional pieces of artillery.
These, with all the rapidity of fresh troops, rushed on to
the assault, furiously passing over the bodies of their
countrymen and fellow-soldiers, and advancing even to
the very parapets of the Russian field-works: there,
however, they were checked with a severe slaughter for
a moment, but at length overturned whatever was op-
posed to them by the wearied troops of the first Russian
line; so that Prince Bagration was obliged to order that
line to fall back upon the second for support, a move-
ment which Napoleon considered as decisive of the for-
tune of the day. He, therefore, instantly brought for-
ward the whole of his right, and even turned the few
guns which he found in the works upon their former
possessors.

The moment was certainly a critical one: but Kutu-
soft' instantly detached the grenadiers of the Russian
reserve, together with a large body of cavalry, princi-
pally hulans and cuirassiers, to Bagration's assistance,
who, though still hard pressed, no sooner received this
reinforcement, than he rushed on to recover that ground
from which he had been driven, thus changing defeat
into assault. This movement was seen by the French
generals, who determined to check it on the instant, by
pouring in a heavy and most tremendous fire of artillery
upon the advancing columns ; but it was in vain : Ba-
gration led on his troops; and, in a short time, they were
on their old ground, where a most frightful contest again
ensued. The Russian light troops and militia, stationed
in the wood, were now ordered to advance upon the flank
of the French; and these, it is stated, tell like lions on
their prey, whilst the pikes and hatchets, or tomahawks,
of the new-raised soldiers, were handled with such fury
and effect, that the carnage they made amongst the
French appeared more like a sudden desolation from
an invisible hand, than as the deeds of human agency.

Such havoc could not long be supported, and the
choicest of Napoleon's troops were obliged to give way,
suffering an immense loss. On his left, also, Beauhar-
nois, supported by Morand's division, had in vain made
several attempts to get possession of Borodino. His
assaults on tbe two redoubts which covered that position,

were

392 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

were equally fruitless ; so that, driven back at all points,
•without any apparent possibility of success, all thoughts
of renewing those attacks were given up, and the troops
withdrawn out of the range of fire, a circumstance which
enabled Kutusoff to order part of the troops of his right
for the reinforcement of the centre, where the battle, at
that moment, raged with redoubled horrors. *' Here the
thunder of a thousand pieces of artillery was answered
by the discharge of an equal number on the part of the
Russians. A veil of smoke shut out the combatants from
the sun, and left them no other light to pursue their work
of death, than the flashes of the musquetry, which blazed
in every direction. The sabres of 40,000 dragoons met
each other, and clashed in the horrid gloom : and the
bristling points of countless bayonets, bursting through
the rolling vapour, strewed the earth with heaps of
slain.

" Such was the dreadful scene that presented itself.
The contest continued without intermission, until the
darkness of night put an end to it; the French, discom-
fited in every quarter, took advantage of this circum-
stance, and drew off" from the ground. When no object
remained visible, the groans of the dying marked, to the
victorious Russians, the extent of the disputed field. As
they planted their night-watches, they found, at every
step, full proof that hereafter the renowned days of
Austerlitz, Eylau, and Wagram, sanguinary as they
were, must ever cede, in blood and honour, to the battle
of Borodino.

" Thus closed that memorable day, and with it termi-
nated the lives of 80,000 human beings. Hitherto the an-
nals of military achievements have never detailed so ter-
rible a slaughter. Well might Buonaparte exclaim, as he
abandoned the field, * Never has any before us seen such
a field of battle!'

" The loss on both sides was immense: and the scene
of triumph, even to the conquerors, presented a tremen-
dous spectacle. The ground, covered with the dead bo-
dies ot" nien and horses, scattered arms, dismounted guns,
and pieces of artillery left to the victors, offered every
where to the eye the wreck of what might alpne have com-
posed a great army."

Napoleon and his troops now fell back a distance of six

miles

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 393

miles from the field of battle: but the reinforcements
which he had ordered up were now on their road ; and in
a short time after the battle he was joined by ten batta-
lions of infantry, together with many regiments of caval-
ry, several hundred carts of ammunition and stores, be-
sides a new supply of field-guns. He, therefore, soon
began to retrace his steps, and to advance again upon
Kutusoff, who had found it necessary to retire in order
to give his troops some repose. Napoleon pushed on in
person with the most formidable part of his force in pur-
suit of Kutusoff, whilst he detached other corps in the
direction of Moscow. This indeed soon became the line
of march of the whole French army; for the Russian ge-
neral had concentrated his forces, retiring upon the capi-
tal, through which he passed without halting, turning to
the right, and taking up a strong position at a short dis-
tance from Podol.

Moscow being thus left open, on the 14th of September
Napoleon advanced as far as this capital of the ancient
Muscovites, and halted before its gates about noon on
that memorable day. Whatever expectations Napoleon
might have formed from the rapid progress he had made,
and from those bloody victories which he had obtained,
they were all soon to be blasted by the ardent patriotism of
the Russians, who determined to lay waste every spot that
might afford shelter to their invading enemy; and they
accordingly came to the desperate resolution of destroying
Moscow, rather than it should afford any shelter to the
French army. For this purpose dispatches had been pre-
viously sent to Count Rostopchin, the governor, to fire the
city in case of necessity.

No sooner had the intelligence of this design been
made known, than scenes of the utmost confusion and
distress took place. Nothing was heard around but
shrieks and groans; and on all sides were to be seen
mothers and wives taking leave of sons and husbands, who
were determined to abide by their native city whilst it-
could be maintained, or at least attend upon the governor
until its destruction was insured. In one quarter were
seen children taking their last farewell of their fathers;
whilst in others might be observed the aged of both sexes,
refusing to be carried away, and declaring their intention
to die by the tombs of their parents and relatives. Carts

VOL, II. ^ I) and

394 NAPOLEON BUONAPAHtj^.

and carriages of all descriptions, crowded with old and
young, filled the streets; many of their passengers lying
along in all the agony of silent woe, and others making the
air resound with curses upon the tyrant whose cruel and
insatiable ambition had brought these calamities upon
their country. But the means of conveyance could only
be procured by a few: multitudes were forced to fly on
foot: so that the once happy city of Moscow now poured
forth from her bosom weeping crowds of her desolate
children. Some fled to friends at a distance; others
knew not where to go, but sought a refuge from the
enemy in the compassionate charity of the neighbouring
provinces; many turned on their steps; some women,
clinging to the objects of their tenderest vows, found it
impossiblie to desert the spot which they staid to defend;
and many old men tottered back to their paternal sheds,
exclaiming, " Where we were born and nourished, there
will we die."

It was in the midst of such a scene that Rostopchin
was obliged to obey his orders, after delaying their exe-
cution to the very last moment, and until he found all
entreaties vain to persuade the few remaining inhabitants
to accompany the retreat of the garrison, amounting to
about 40,000 men, with whom he set off to join the main
army, when we are assured that ** the few who now re-
mained, and had strength to assemble in one body; the
feeble from age, and the tender from affection, the devoted
patriot, and the desperate avenger; they met in a little
band, determined to expire in the flames of the city,
rather than behold its sacred towers become the bulwarks
of the assassins who had desolated their homes and mur-
dered their peace."

Such was the situation of Moscow at the very moment
when Napoleon arrived before its gates, which were in-
stantly forced by the advanced guard, commanded by
Beauharnois and Murat, who entered in all the pride of
conquest, and advanced towards the Kremlin, where
some of the remaining citizens had taken post and closed
the gates. A feeble discharge of musquetry now took
place by this little self-constituted garrison, but which
served only as an excuse to the invaders for bloodshed
and murder; for this ancient fortress was instantly
stormed, as Napoleon said, and the unhappy citizens put

to

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 395

to death without mercy. This seems to ha- e been the
signal for destruction; an event which appeo.s not to
have taken place until after Rostopchin left the city.
Yet it is a fact, that the flames broke out nearly at the
same instant in various quarters, as if from a pren^edi-
tated plan, rather than from the simuitavieous impulse of
the moment. The French troops, as they poure ' into
this de¥oted city, soon spread themselves in every direc-
tion in search of plunder; and in their progress they com-
mitted outrages so horrid on the persons of all whom they
discovered, that fathers, desperate to save (he;r children
from pollution, set fire to their various places of refuge 1.0
find a surer asylum in the flames. At this moment, it is
asserted, that the streets, the houses, and the cellars,
flowed with blood, and were filled with violation and
carnage ; whilst manhood seemed to be lost in the French
soldier, as nothing was to be discerned in him but the
wild beast ravening for prey, " or rather the fiend of hell,
gluttoning himself in the commission of every horrid
crime."

Of the atrocities of the French troops. Napoleon was
certainly not an eye-witness, as he had stopped at the
Smolensko barrier, in hopes tliat the magistracy 01 the
city would have come out to implore his clemency.
There he remained during the whole of the loth, until
the evening; but no deputation arriving, he then c;, ,e
orders for his guard to advance, when he entereti Mos-
cow in sullen silence, taking possession of the ancient
capital of the Czars, and that without either the beating
of drums, the discharge of artillery, or any of tnat
parade with which it had been his practice on all former
occasions to gratify the military and national pride of
his troops. He now directed his march towards the
Kremlin, his heart torn with every feeling of vengeance
and disappointed pride; and so little command had he of
himself, that it is positively said, he called around him
his most confidential officers, and openly expressed to
them his indignation at the manner in which he had
been received; when these base satellites, taking their
tone from his rage, not only enlarged upon the opposition
which the troops met with in the place, but also stated
the contempt shewn by the citizens to be an aff'ront de-
serving of the most exemplary punishment.

3 D 2 That

396 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

That Napoleon would instantly have given way to the
impulse of his rage, by ordering some measures even
more dreadful than those which had already taken place,
is extremely probable, had not his attention been called
to his own personal comfort and safety ; for, even at the
very moment whilst he was engaged with his generals,
he was informed that a fire had broken out in the Kremlin
itself. He was no longer capable of giving those cold-
blooded orders for vengeance, which he had distinguished
himself by on so many former occasions ; but, boiling
with rage and fury, he threatened revenge upon all con-
cerned in it, and instantly ordered that every Russian
who could be taken near the spot should be brought to
his presence. His guards soon succeeded in collecting
about one hundred of the citizens, whom they brought
for his inspection to an open space near the cathedral,
in front of the Kremlin. There Napoleon examined
them personally, promising them their lives and a full
pardon if they would confess the deed and the instigators
to it, and would swear allegiance to himself, but threat-
ening them with his direst vengeance on failure of com-
pliance. Notwithstanding his repeated interrogatories,
and repeated threats, a stern and solemn silence was
maintained by those devoted patriots; when the invader's
patience became exhausted, and, finding that neither
threats nor promises could shake their loyal fidelity, he
instantly gave orders for them to be shot.

The night of the 15th was spent as the preceding one
by the soldiery, in all the horrors of excess and murder,
in opposition to all discipline and subordination, and
amidst increasing flames, which Napoleon now feared
would destroy the whole city ; and which, indeed, nearly
took place, for although he ordered all the officers to use
every means in their power to stop the progress of the
combustion, yet for four days these flames raged with
uncontrolled fury, not being got under until late in the
evening of the 20th of September.

Napoleon now found himself under considerable
embarrassment, not only to find quarters for his army,
but also in his attempts to check the rising spirit of
insubordination and disappointment among them ; for,
whilst on his march, when the troops first perceived the
M)ires and minarets of the capital, he told them—" Be-
hold

I

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 397

hold the end of your campaign ! its gold and its plenty are
your's!"

Whilst Napoleon was in some measure shut up in the
Kremlin, the army of Kutusoff was daily receiving rein-
forcements, particularly of Cossacks, who were impelled
not only by patriotism, but also by the hopes of personal
plunder, to come forward to the amount of twenty addi-
tional pulks, or regiments ; whilst the Russians of all
classes displayed their love for their country by every
personal sacrifice which they possibly could make; the
ladies even disrobing themselves of every ornament to aug-
ment the national treasury, and devoting their wardrobes,
and their industry, to the formation of warm clothing
for the troops, of bandages for the wounded, and in ad-
ministering food, shelter, and raiment, to the unfortu-
nates, whom the chance of war and a necessary policy
had driven from their dwellings.

Against such patriotism it was in vain for Napoleon
to contend; yet he still lingered amidst the ruins of Mos-
cow, until he found himself nearly surrounded by almost
a new, yet in a great measure veteran force, assembled
by the promptness and activity of KutusofF and Winzin-
gerode.

An accurate picture has been drawn of his situation
at this moment, which stated, that, hemmed in on all
sides, he was almost a captive in the midst of his marshals,
generals, and legions, all of whom were now pressed by
wants of every description, and now in vain turned their
longing eyes towards France ; so that nothing biitpeace
or an early retreat could possibly save them from destruc-
tion. Napoleon had hoped that overtures would have
been made by the Russian cabinet; and for that purpose
he had used every art which he knew so well how to
practice, in order to gain over some of the Russian mi-
nistry to persuade Alexander of the necessity of such a
measure. He waited so long for this, however, that, all
supplies being now cut off, the little that was found in
the city expended, and no means of collecting more by
forward movements being in his power, the patience of
his troops was exhausted, their idolatrous admiration
considerably cooled, even their vanity hurt; and at
length mutiny, and pillage even from each other, became
the order of the day; nay, the troops in the camp actu-
ally

398 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE,

ally entered the city, and openly plundered the public
magazines of the army, whilst others, in despair, pushed
off in marauding parties in the environs, where they fell
victims either to an outraged people, or were made
prisoners by the surrounding army.

Thus hemmed in, and threatened with almost instant
destruction. Napoleon was at length compelled to send
General Lauriston, in hopes of opening a communication
with Kutosoff; but that general simply told him, that
though he agreed that peace was a great and necessary
blessing, yet his master, and indeed his fellow-country-
men, had determined never to listen to the word as long
as a foreign soldier was in their country.

The difficulties of the French army still increasing.
Napoleon sent Lauriston a second time to Kutusoff's
head-quarters, but with no better success than before,
though he even went so far as to request leave to send 9.
letter to the Emperor Alexander. Finding, therefore,
every attempt at negotiation fneffectual. Napoleon began
immediately to concert measures for a retreat, which
was the signal for all his future misfortunes.

On the 23d of October, therefore, having mined the
Kremlin, he ordered it to be blown up at two o'clock in
the morning by Mortier. This explosion no sooner
took place in the Kremlin, than the Russian general
Ilovieskoy rushed out of that part of the city which he
then occupied, forced the gates, and took the garrison
prisoners, even with the firebrands in their hands-

The intelligence of the evacuation of Moscow had now
reached KutusofF, whose intentions seem to have been
turned not to the driving the invader out of the country,
but to the surrounding him, and making him a prisoner
in his own toils; a circumstance of which Napoleon was
rather suspicious, as he well knew that Kutusoff had
given orders to his various corps to push forward, and to
mclose him on all sides, whilst at the same time he had
received the disheartening intelligence of the various
defeats of his own detached corps in various quarters by
DoctorofF, Tchitchagoff, &;c. &c. so that one general spirit
of flight seemed thus to pervade all the corps of the in-
vading army.

Napoleon's object seemed now to be the securing of a
retreat to Poland, where he hoped to remain unmolested

until

NAPOtEON BUONAPARTE. 399

until the spring. But to execute this, required all his art
and vigilance; his first object was to deceive the Russians
by sending all his baggage and plunder 6n the Smolensko
road, together with his sick and wounded, whilst he him-
self with his serviceable troops should push on to Minsk,
where extensive depots had for some time been formed,
and where he expected to be reinforced by Victor, and
what remained of St. Cyr*s division. He at the same
time attempted to deceive Kutusoflf with regard to his
intentions, as if he meant to force his way through the
Russian army, to get possession of Kalouga, and there to
winter in the most fertile provinces of the Russian empire.
For this purpose he detached Murat upon that route with
orders to keep up a protracted warfare, but evidently
intending to sacrifice that division of the army, whilst
the other should secure its retreat. For all this, however,
KutusofF was prepared ; he therefore ordered General
Benningsen to set otT with a sufficient force to engage
Murat, a measure which was followed by the total defeat
of that general, at Malo Yarraslovitz.

The intelligence of this event was like a thunder-clap
to Napoleon, who saw that not a moment was now to
be lost in ulterior proceedings, his attempt to deceive
Kutusoff having recoiled upon himself. In fact, that
division, which he intended to cover his retreat, could no
longer be serviceable to him; the whole Russian army
was now in motion, and he had no route left but over
that waste of desolation which his own troops, and the
J?M5«<2«^, had prepared for his retrograde movements.

Napoleon began his retreat on the 23d of October, with
his own division of the army: and as Smolensko was
the nearest spot to which he could direct his route with
any hopes of escape, his army was now ordered to ad-
vance in that direction; but to drag on their weak and
exhausted frames was almost impossible, as even in this
early stage of their movements they were actually feeding
upon the cavalry horses, which were dying daily in hun-
dreds, already feeling the influence of that hyperborean
winter which was now setting in.

Napoleon -seems at tbis period to have made prepara-
tions for his own personal escape from dangers which
now he did not only foresee, but whose pressure he actu-
ally felt; for, like his meanest soldier, he was obliged to

bivouack

400 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

bivouack upon the snow, with no other covering but the
tempestuous and wintry heavens. Indeed, his situation
must have been dreadful if he had any feelings of con-
science to add to those of his body, when, during those
horrible nights of the extremest cold, his famished fol-
lowers attempted to light fires, and huddled round the
half-kindled billets in order to participate both of arti-
ficial and of vital heat, but that in such a small propor-
tion that hundreds died in the few short hours of rest,
leaving on many spots nothing but ghastly circles of
death at the morning's dawn. He was, indeed, now coru'
pelled to share in those miseries; as it is confidently
asserted, that, on one occasion in particular, his shivering
troops actually obliged him to pull off the warm mantle
in which he was wrapped, on horseback — a situation, too,
which he was forced to assume from their unwillingness
that he should ride in a close carriage, defended from
those inclemencies under which his troops were sinking
even close to his side.

To follow Napoleon, and the various divisions of his
army, step by step, throughout the whole of their mani-
fold sufferings, would fill a volume; we must, therefore,
proceed shortly to state that, early in November, Beau-
harnois, with his division, was driven upon Smolensko,
after several severe actions, particularly on the 7th and
8th of the month, at the passing of the Vop, where he
was obliged to leave the greatest part of his artillery be-
hind him.

Great blame has been imputed to Napoleon, for leaving
Moscow with such a numerous train of artillery as he
attempted to bring along with him ; indeed, it cannot
be doubted, that the delay occasioned by this circum-
stance, was one great cause of the final destruction of
his army, by their pursuers and the weather.

Through various sufferings, this once boasting army
pushed on, and on the 9th of November Napoleon him-
self arrived at Smolensko, where he fixed his head-quar-
ters; but in such haste had he prosecuted his journey^
that he was totally ignorant not only of the fate of seve-
ral divisions of his army, but even of the movements
and positions of the pursuing Russians.

On his arrival at Smolensko he could not muster more
than 60,000, out of 100,000, of which his troops con-
sisted

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 40 1

sisted at leaving Moscow ; and even of these a great
portion were still in danger, particularly Ney's division, of
15,000, who formed his rear-guard, ahout a day's march
from head-quarters. From Smolensko, however, he soon
found it necessary to retire, giving directions to Davoust
to remain with his division, and to destroy the place pre-
vious to his leaving it, which was to be done as soon as
the other divisions had set off for Krasnoy ; towards
which place Napoleon himself marched, at the head of
his Imperial guards, on the 13th of November, thinking
that he was safest with those, as they were the only part
of his troops who seemed now to possess any sort of lide-
lity towards his person, or who indeed preserved any
symptoms of subordination.

The villages in the vicinity of Krasnoy were, at this
moment, occupied by General Miloradovitch; whilst the
grand Russian army, under Kutusoff, was now moving
on with the greatest celerity, in hopes of overtaking Na«
poleon and his troops, even before they could leave Smo-
lensko ; movements which they were executing with
comparative facility, being well clothed, and, moreover,
accustomed to the climate and to the rigours of the sea-
son. Indeed, so rapid was their advance, that Napoleon
had scarcely arrived at Krasnoy, before he understood
that they were close at hand. It was necessary, however,
that he should wait for Davoust; and therefore he made
as good a disposition of his army as the ground, and the
state of his troops, would permit him to do, but at the
same time took particular care to secure his own retreat,
in case of necessity, by making dispositions for that pur-
pose in securing some important j)ositions on the village of
Dobroe, and on the road to Orcha.

By the 17th Davoust's corps was well advanced to join
Napoleon; but his situation was critical, as Miloradovitch
had posted his troops so as to permit him to pass the Rus-
sian line, and then to attack him on his flanks and rear,
which was put in execution with great judgment, about
one mile and a half from Krasnoy, where the Russian
anny appeared, in force, not only to the great astonishment
of Davoust, but of Napoleon himself. The corps of the
former was soon thrown into confusion, when Milorado-
vitch instantly rushed forward at the point of the bayonet
and sabre, and thp whole of Davoust's division fled towards

VOL. ir. 3 E the

402 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

the head-quarters of Napoleon, who was then in the midst
of his guards, but no sooner discerned the fate of the
day — indeed he did not even wait for that — than he set
off at full gallop with his whole suite.

Thus did he abandon a division of his army to which
he had hitherto affixed so much consequence, and leave
to the fury of an incensed enemy a Field-Marshal whom
he had always affected to regard with peculiar esteem.
The complete destruction of the whole corps of Davoust
succeeded to the acclaim of victory from the Russian lines.
The cries of his deserted and dying soldiers must have
followed the flying steps of Napoleon as he vanished
from the field. He was deaf to the appeal, and was seen
no more. The wretched creatures, who escaped the
swords of their conquerors, sought shelter in the neigh-
bouring woods which skirt the Dnieper for an extent
of five wersts. There these desolate beings, wounded,
starving, and naked, laid them down under the frozen
thickets, and soon forgot the desertion of their leader, and
their own miseries, in the sleep of death.

The rapidity of Napoleon's flight enabled him to reach
Orcha before his pursuers could come up ; here he staid
until the 20th, whilst some other divisions of his army
were concentrating upon his line of retreat. His military
operations may now be considered as at an end, with the
exception of his passage of the Beresyna, on whose banks
he arrived with his army in two separate bodies: here
he found the bridges were all broken down; and, whilst
he was endeavouring to construct a temporary one, the
Russian army was advancing in great force. Wittgen-
stein, who cominanded, now ordered Platoff to push for-
ward towards Bernsoff, whilst he himself, on the 26th, ad-
vanced towards Vesselovo and Stondentze, where Napo-
leon was erecting his two bridges, at one of which places
he hoped to catch him. The latter place was first attacked
and carried, and the whole of the French troops in that
quarter taken prisoners; but, it being soon ascertained
that Napoleon was not there, Platoff was sent across the
river to joiu Tchitchagoff, whilst Wittgenstein proceeded
towards Vesselovo. Napoleon, however, soon appreciated
the danger of his situation; and, the moment that his
bridge in this quarter was passable, he ordered over a
sufficient number of his guards to insure his safety, and

then

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 403

then passing over with his principal otiicers, was followed
by a promiscuous crowd of soldiers, who rusned on in
such numbers, that, scarcely had he passed the bridge,
when the passage of it was so completely choaked up as to
preclude all order; so that the Russians came upon them
almost by surprise, when thousands plunged into the
river, and the whole scene became one of the most tumul-
tuous horror. Napoleon, in order the better to insure •
his own escape, and regardless of the safety of his troops,
now ordered the bridge to be fired ; by which means thou-
sands of his men fell a sacrifice to this cruel policy, being
made prisoners by the Russians, who also got possession
of the greater part of his baggage and artillery. In short,
for half a square mile, the carriages of all descriptions
were so closely locked, that neither horse nor man could
find their way between them. Several standards andeiigles
were taken; but not so many as had been expected, as Na-
poleon had given orders to all the standard and eagle-
bearers to take them from their staves in case or" flight,
and to carry them off m their pockets, or in such way as
was most convenient. Five thousand men were killed in
the course of the day; the same number drowned ; and
upwards of 13,000 taken prisoners.

Napoleon still continued his flight without any regard
to his unhappy followers; and on the 4th of December
he arrived at Smorgonie, when, judging the period to be
favourable to his own personal escape, he appointed Mu-
rat his Lieutenant-General, and then adopting the disguise
of a servant, and accompanied by Caulincourt, he entered
a sledge, in which he was drawn across the snows to
Wilna, where he arrived on the 7th; but he staid not a
moment at this place, but pushed on with great rapidity
to Warsaw, where he arrived on the 10th of December.
From Warsaw he speedily set ofl' for Dresden ; and then
travelling rapidly by the way of Leipsic and Mentz, ar-
rived at Paris on the 18th of December, which city he
entered at midnight.

Thus terminated, by a most disgraceful flight, an ex-
pedition which at its commencement filled the world
with awe, and which threatened with extinttion the only
power capable of forming a barrier to the insatiable am-
bition of Napoleon. Scarcely any portion of history can
3 E 2 furnish

404? NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

furnish an example ot so disastrous a termination to a
war which at first was planned by a depth of contrivance
and a sublimity of genius which seemed to insure suc-
cess. Besides the immense force which the French em-
pire had furnished towards this expedition, Napoleon
had availed himself of nearly all the physical resources
of Europe; and all his allies were constrained to furnish
him with immense contingents towards this war: so
that the force employed in this unprincipled invasion
amounted, by almost every computation that has been
made, to upwards of 480,000 men, well equipped and
furnished with supplies of all kinds. The ruin of this
great enterprise was the forerunner of the downfal of
Napoleon himself; for the victorious Russians, profit-
ing by the advantages they had obtained, lost no time in
advancing and penetrating into the heart of Germany,
where the spirit of freedom and independence which had
been long smothered, but not extinguished, was again
roused into action.

In the mean time. Napoleon having arrived at Paris
on the 18th of December, concealed his arrival till the
20th, when it was announced by discharges of artillery.
His address to the Senate on the 20th, and the answer
of that Body, carefully abstained from noticing the recent
disasters of his army; and, as if he was in the full pleni-
tude of his power, he made use of the following remark-
able expression : — " The war which I maintain against
Russia is a war of policy; T have waged it without ani-
mosity; I could have wished to have spared her the mis-
fortunes which she has caused herself. I might have
armed the greatest part of her population against her,
by proclaiming liberty to her slaves ; a great number of
villages demanding this of me. But when 1 saw the bar-
barism of that numerous portion of the Russian people,
I refused to accede to a measure which would have de-
voted many families to death, and the most horrid pu-
nishments. My army has sustained losses, but they arose
from the premature severity of the season." Alluding
to Eiigland, he intimated that he was willing now to
treat with her, and to give her the same terms as he had
offered previous to his great disasters; and, in order to
compel her to make peace, and to recruit his own armies,
he demanded a conscription of 350,000 men, adding,

" that

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 40^

" that there is no repose for Europe, until England shall
have been forced into a separate peace."

Affairs were now hastening fast to ^ crisis ; for all
Germany was now in motion, prompted by the procla-
mations of the Emperor Alexander. Saxony had already
expressed her wishes for neutrality ; all Prussia was up
in arms, and her troops, under the conduct of D'Yorck,
which had gone over to the allies, now supported by his
sovereign's confidence, were acting with Wittgenstein in
Germany. Russia had obtained all those means of sup-
ply which Napoleon's commissariat had collected in Po-
land : Hamburgh and the Hanse Towns were in a state
of insurrection : even Denmark, her population at least,
was not unfriendly. The Crown-Prince of Sweden was
daily expected in Pomerania, where he was to oppose the
French legions; the German states were wavering; and
Austria, in arms, was ready to adopt a decided part,
which Napoleon well knew would not be in his favour;
so that nothing remained for him but immediate action
and the most strenuous exertions.

On the 15th of April, therefore, he left Paris, having
previously issued letters patent, by which Maria Louisa
was constituted Empress Regent of France, with au-
thority to exercise all the functions of state, both legis-
lative and political ; and on the I6th he passed through
Metz, proceeding on rapidly for Mentz, on the banks of
the Rhine.

He remained in that city from the 17th to the 25th of
April; during which interval he employed himself in the
review of such of his forces as were in the neighbour-
hood, in hastening forwards the troops as they arrived,
and in establishing depots, hospitals, and the means of
transport and communication.

Nothing shews the activity of Napoleon to a greater
advantage, and the immense resources ot his mind, than
his collecting, after so disastrous and ruinous a campaign,
so great an army as he had now assembled, which he
again denominated the Grand Army, and which consisted
of twelve corps, and the Imperial guards, containiug
thirty-six battalions*.

The

* The military body termed a corps may be defined to be a sub' idi-
nate army acting in union ; and is at once an army in itself, and a

member

406 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

The corps of the army, assembled on the Saale, were
commanded as follows: — Tlie 1st corps by Marshal Da-
voust, Prince of Eckmuhl; 2d, by Marshal Victor, Duke
of Belluno ; 3d, by Marshal Ney, Prince of Moskwa ; 4th,
by General Count Bertrand ; 5th, by General Count Lau-
riston ; 6th, by Marshal Marmont, Duke of Ragusa ; 7th,
bv General Count Regnier ; 8th, by Marshal Junot, Duke
of Abrantes; 9th, by General Count Sebastian! ; 10th, by
Marshal Augereau, Duke of Castiglione; 11th, by Mar-
shal Macdonald, Duke of Tarentum ; 12th, by Marshal
Oudinot, Duke of Reggio ; Imperial Guards, Marshal
Bessieres, Duke of Istria.

The allied armies consisted of the Prussian, Russian,
and Swedish armies. The Prussian army, of two corps ;
the one under General Blucher, and the other under Ge-
neral Torek : they composed together about 46,000 men.
The Russian army, of five principal divisions; of which
those of Wittgenstein and Winzingerode were in advance;
the Emperor Alexander and the Imperial guards at a
short interval in their rear; Barclay de Tolli was coming
up with a reserve ; and Sacken opposed the Polish troops
in the vicinity of Cracow.

The position of the main allied force was on the left
of the Saale, immediately opposite to the French, then
assembling on the right bank, Wittgenstein and Win-
zingerode had their head-quarters at Leipsic, whilst the
Imperial guards and the Emperor were in the neighbour-
hood of Dresden.

On the part of Napoleon, his first operation was ne-
cessarily to force the Saale; and then, having cleared the
country between that and the Elbe, to repossess himself
of Dresden, and raise the sieges of the towns and forts
upon that river.

On the side of the allies, the plan was defensive ;
merely to defend their advance, and to avail themselves
of all strong positions, in order to throw themselves

member of anotJier army ; and composed of three species of infantry,
cavalry, and artillery. It is commanded by a Marshal, and has the
ordinary staff attached to a commander of the forces. The estahlish-
raent is about 26,000 men ; and that of a division from 8 to 10,000 :
so that the total effective of the French army (supposmg the battalions
to be at the establishment) could not have been less than 360,000,

across

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 407

across Napoleon's line of advance, as they would thus
effectually stop him ; or at least, by fighting him to a
perpetual advantage, to inflict that repeated loss upon
him as would gradually wear down his numerical supe-
riority. This plan of the Russian campaign was proposed
by Barclay de Tolli, and it was well considered and
prudent.

Napoleon, in the evening of the 24th of April, quitted
Mentz, and put himself upon the road for the armies on
the Saale. He travelled with his usual rapidity, passed
all his advanced parties, and hastened them forwards ;
and on the 27th he vi^as at the head of his armies at
Naumburg, on that river.

Napoleon had no sooner reached this point, than he
saw that a battle wag inevitable, and that it was the
purpose of the allies to give it on the strong ground be-
hind the Saale. As his own position was on the left bank
of the Saale, and the position of the allies on the oppo-
site or right bank, so he had anticipated some opposition
in the passage of the river; but the Russians disap-
pointed him, for, with the exception of a desultory at-
tack by a party of Cossacks under General Chernicheff,
they suffered the French to pass the Saale without op-
position, and retreated before them to the Elster, a river
between the Saale and the Elbe. Napoleon's whole
army accordingly passed the Saale on the 28th of April
and the following day, and established themselves in a
good position on the right bank.

On the 29th of April, Ney formed the advance with a
corps of 60,000 men; and Souham, with one division of
this corps, about 15,000, formed the advance of Ney,
who this day marched for Weissenfels, a considerable
town on the road from Naumburg to Dresden. Souham
then moved in advance, and, when approaching the town,
found himself in the presence of Lanskoi and a Russian
division. A brisk conflict commenced, but no further
worthy of remark, except that Souham's infantry, by
forming themselves into squares, seem to have resisted
a strong charge of cavalry.

The French and allied armies now assumed the same
relative positions on the Elster which they had held on
the Saale, Napoleon's army being assembled on the left
bank, and the allies concentrated on the right; so that it

was

408 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

was evident that a battle was at hand, and would attend
the passage of the Elster : Buonaparte, therefore, called
in his corps, and General Wittgenstein hastened up the
Russian and Prussian divisions.

Weissenfels is situated in a plain, which extends to the
Elster, and thence to the Elbe; and about thirty miles
to the north-east, but on the other side of the Elster, is
Leipsic, which being thus situated at the end of a line
inclined inwards towards the Elbe, was at once on the
flank and rear of the allies on the Elster. Napoleon, on
the 1st of May, immediately saw the advantage of seizing
this position; and, accordingly, at nine o'clock in the
morning of this day, put himself at the head of his
forces, and began to move upon this line. The high
road to Dresden, upon which he had been marching, was
from west to east ; his present march was obliquely to the
north-east; in the course of which, about eleven o'clock,
his army came in front of a defile, which ascended a
height. A Prussian division of cavalry was here formed
in line to oppose them. Buonaparte now drew up Sou-
ham's division in four squares, each square of four bat-
talions, and of course a battalion on each of its sides.
Each square was posted a thousand yards apart, and
supported by four pieces of cannon. They were pro-
tected by brigades of cavalry marching behind them.
The divisions of Gerard and Marchant (the two other
divisions of Ney's corps, each corps having three divi-
sions) were disposed in a similar manner; and the whole
was protected by cavalry on the flanks, &c. No cavalry
could venture an attack under these circumstances; and,
accordingly, the Prussians were broken and dispersed,
and the French obtained the defile and the heights; but,
notwithstanding all Napoleon's boasting, this advantage
was not obtained without a considerable loss of killed
and wounded on his part, including Bessieres, com-
mander of the Imperial guard.

The head-quarters of Napoleon were now advanced to
Lutzen, on the road to Leipsic; but the Prussian cavalry,
which had been repelled from the height, still re-assem-
bled in front, and seemed to dispute the advance on that
city.

The allied sovereigns deemed it prudent not to attempt
ihe defence of the line of the Saale, where the bridges

and

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 409

and fords were so numerous, but to give battle upon
the strong ground between that river and the Elbe.
Wittgenstein, therefore, acted under these purposes,
when, on the 28th, 29th, and 30th, he allowed the pas-
sage of the French corps; but when Napoleon, on the
2d of May, had assembled so great a force around Weis-
senfels, Wittgenstein deemed it necessary to make a re-
connoissance, and with this purpose advanced General
Winzingerode with a strong body of cavalry on the
road between the French and Leipsic.

The result of this reconnoissance was the certain know-
ledge that the French were advancing on Leipsic; and it
was equally evident that this movement had a double
purpose; first, to turn the Elster, and elude the neces-
sity of forcing it; and, secondly, by means of its oblique
course, to come on the rear of the allies.

Wittgenstein now, with a very skilful promptitude,
abandoned his purpose of fighting behind the Elster, and
adopted in the instant a plan more suited to circum-
stances ; for he resolved to cross the Elster at a point
about 15 English miles to the south of the French, and
thus to come upon their rear, whilst they were march-
ing to Leipsic, in order to obtain the same advantage
over him. He, accordingly, ordered Winzingerode to
remain with his cavalry in order to amuse and deceive
Napoleon; and employed himself, during the night of
the 1st of May, in preparing for the passage of the Elster
on day-light of the following day.

The positions of the French, at nine o'clock in the
morning of the 2d of May, were as follows: — The left
of the army, consisting of the 5th and 11th corps, under
the Viceroy, leaned upon the Elster; the centre, under
the command of Marshal Ney, was in the village of
Great Gorschen ; Napoleon, with the young and old
guard, was at Lutzen ; and Marmont, commanding the
right, at the defile of Poserna.

Napoleon now put himself at the head of his forces;
and his first operation was to dispatch Lauriston, whose
corps formed the extreme of the left, to Leipsic. After
a short interval, the report of a sharp cannonade from that
quarter informed Napoleon that Lauriston was engaged,
and he immediately proceeded to him at full gallop.
Upon reaching the scene, he found that a division of the

VOL. II. 3 r allies

410 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

allies were defending the small village of Lestenau, and
the bridges in advance of Leipsic. The presence of Na-
poleon, and the value of the position, now increased the
efforts of Lauriston.

Whilst Napoleon was thus personally engaged, he
received intelligence, that Wittgenstein and Tormasow,
having joined in the ni^ht, had crossed the Elster at
day-break at Pegau and Zeitz ; that they were marching
up to take his army in rear, or at least to break through
some part of his extensive line ; and that the actual
line of their march seemed to be directed towards the
centre at Great Gorschen, under Ney. Napoleon deemed
it necessary to give immediate attention to this informa-
tion ; and accordingly lett Lauriston to continue the ope-
ration at Leipsic, and hastened in person to the aid of
Ney; at the same time ordering up Eugene, command-
ing him to fall in, as f;ist as he could bring up his divi-
sions, upon the right of Marshal Ney ; but these divisions
were so distant and scattered, that it was a work of some
hours, and encouraged the operation of Wittgenstein,
giving him the hopes of breaking the French centre
before it could be assisted by the right or left.

General Wittgenstein continued his march, and came
in front of Ney: but he found the enemy placed in a
stronger situation than he had anticipated; being posted
behind a ridge, and in a string of villages, of which
Great Gorschen is the principal, having a hollow way in
front, and a stream sufficient to float timber on the left.
It was apparent, moreover, that they had an immense
quantity of ordnance of 12-pounders distributed through-
out the line and in the villages, and that the batteries in
the open country were supported by masses of infantry
in solid squares. After a very brief recounoissance, it
was resolved upon to attack the village of Great Gor-
schen with artillery and infantry, to endeavour to pierce
the line to the enemy's right on a village by a strong co-
lumn of cavalry, in order to cut off the troops in the
villages from support, and to engage the remainder of
the line according to circumstances by the corps oppo-
site to it.

The battle, accordingly, immediately commenced upon
this plan, with the attack of the village of Great Gor-
schen, when the assault was made by the corps of Gene-
rals

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 411

rals Blucher and Yorck, and was maintained by Marshal
Ney, who was not as yet joined by the Viceroy. This
battle, we are assured, could not be exceeded in obsti-
nacy by any during the late campaign. The Prussian
corps made and supported their movements with great
gallantry ; but the showers of grape-shot and musq^uetry,
to which they were exposed on reaching the hollow way,
made it impracticable for them to penetrate.

The Prussian cavalry made many successive efforts
with the most distinguished gallantry. In the greater
part of these attacks they failed by reason of the number
and weight of the field-pieces op|)osed to them ; but in
some of them they broke into the squares, and cut the
enemy down at their guns.

The battle continued in this manner till near sun-
set; at which time it was perfectly equal between the
parties.

Such was the state of the battle about seven o'clock in
the evening; when the arrival of Eugene with the left,
and of Buonaparte with the reserve and guards, at length
regained the field, and changed the fortune of the day.
The centre, indeed, was giving way at the very moment
Napoleon arrived ; " some battalions," says the bulletin,
" fled, but, at the sight of the Emperor, rallied. His
Majesty saw that not a moment was to be lost. He saw
that the critical moment had arrived, which decides the
losing or gaining battles."

He now ordered Macdonald, with sixteen battalions
of fresh troops, to attack the allies in front of Gorschen,
and in the same moment ordered General Drouet to form
a battery of 80 pieces, and place it in advance of the old
guard, formed in fpur squares in the manner of redoubts.
The whole cavalry of the army was at the same time
ranged in battle behind. In this order he advanced
against the allies ; and the result was, that they were •
repelled from all the advantages they had gained.

Thus ended a contest with as singular features, and
preceded by as extraordinary circumstances, as any
which has occurred in modern warfare. From ten ia
the morning till sun-set it was doubtful, and equal; and
the main point of the conflict alternately taken and re-
taken. The arrival of the French left and reserve de^
cided it in their favour. But even here the exiraordi-
3 F 2 ' narv

419 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

nary circumstances of the battle did not end : for, at
the conclusion of the day, and on the following morning,
the conquered were in possession of the field of battle;
and were compelled to retreat, not so much from the
effects of their defeat, as to elude the effects of a skilful
operation of the enemy during the actual time of the
battle. This movement was the occupation of Leipsic
by Count Lauriston.

The losses which Napoleon suffered in those battles
were very great ; and his means of recruiting were so
much diminished, that he had been obliged to draw a
great number of veterans from his armies in Spain
in order to organize and discipline his new-raised
levies.

On the 3d of May, Napoleon attempted some move-
ments in advance ; but these were repulsed by cannon-
ading. On the 6th a trifling affair took place at Ersdorf,
some others on the 7th, and on the 8th Beauhamois en-
tered Dresden, whilst Lauriston possessed himself of
Meissen; and in the afternoon of the same day Napo-
leon himself had his head-quarters at the Saxon capital.
The allies, however, had previously destroyed the
bridges, so that the French army were not immediately
able to pass the Elbe ; over which, however, Napoleon
ordered a bridge to be thrown, close to the village of
Prielentz.

The occupation of Dresden gave Napoleon the advan-
tage of the co-operation of the Saxon troops, with the
King at their head. That monarch and Napoleon met
on the morning of the 12th, and, after embracing, en-
tered Dresden together at the head of the Imperial
guard ; when the first act of the King was to place 12,000
troops under Regnier at Torgau, and to' order the whole
of the Saxon cavalry to assemble at Dresden on the fol-
lowing day, for Napoleon's service.

The allied army had now retired across the Elbe, and
had taken up a formidable position, where their whole
front was covered for several miles by the river Spree.
In this position they coolly awaited Napoleon's advance,
but took every precaution which prudence could dictate;
for, although their first line rested its left on the heights
overhanging the Spree, with the centre behind Bautzen,
and the right in the village of Niemschutz; yet, notwith-
standing

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 413

standing the natural and improved strength of this po-
sition, another line was marked out, and strengthened
with field-works at some distance in the rear, near to
Hochkirchen.

Napoleon, in person, joined his principal army before
Bautzen on the morning of the 19th of May, and spent
all that day in reconnoitring. His force now consisted
of four corps of 80,000 men, of 12,000 guards, 14,000
cavalry, and a very numerous artillery. He kept the
guards in reserve, sent Bertrand to threaten the allied
right, and ordered the corps, about thirty miles distant,
under Ney, to turn the allies, whilst he should attack in
front. On the 20th, at noon, Napoleon attacked the
combined army in its position at Bautzen; but his efforts,
although they were directed against single points, with a
great superiority of force, were of no etfect; and the
allies remained in their position during the night from the
20th to the 21st. On that day, at four A.M. the battle
commenced on the allied left wing with great spirit.
General Miloradovitch, under whom General Emanuel
commanded the light troops, had the command of the
left wing, under the Duke of Wurtemberg. Soon after,
the battle spread with great impetuosity towards the
centre, where the artillery in particular had great etfect,
and all Napoleon's attacks were repulsed. Lauriston's
corps now appeared, and endeavoured to turn the allied
right wing, but was detained by General Barclay de
Tolli, who was posted at Gottamilde to observe the
enemy, till General Kleist's corps, and Klux and Roeder's
brigades, fell on the rear, and by a close cartridge fire
caused great destruction, and forced him to retreat. But,
by detaching these brigades. General Blucher's position
at the heights of Kreckwitz was weakened, and the mo-
ment was seized by Napoleon to attack this corps with
great superiority, before it could receive any support.
General Blucher, therefore, found himself obliged to f^ill
back upon a position a small distance in his rear, in order
to join General D'Yorck, who formed his reserve.
Meanwhile, to counteract this disadvantage, the allied
left wing moved considerably forward, and took some
cannon and prisoners. The intended purpose was thereby
attained, and the enemy was deterred from pressing any
further on the right wing. Night at length put an end

to

414 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

to this battle, which had lasted two days, and cost Na-
poleon so much blood. The allied army took up a posi-
tion in the greatest order, and ready for battle, near
Weissenberg, at a small distance from the field of battle.
They lost neither artillery nor prisoners, except a few
who were severely wounded. On the other hand, they
took both artillery and prisoners from the enemy, and
many of his cannon were dismounted.*

It is unnecessary to enter into the subsequent affair of
the 22d of May, at Kutzenbach, which has been already
noticed in our Memoirs of the Emperor Alexander.
Though both parties claimed the advantage, at length a
suspension of arms was agreed upon on the 1st of June,
which was to last until the 20th of July, to give time for
negotiations for peace.

* The following account of the death of Duroc is extracted from one
of Napoleon's bulletins.

*' At seven o'clock in the evening of the day of the '22d, the Great
Marshal Duke de Trioul, being on a small eminence, along with the
Duke de Treviso and General Kirgencr, all three with their feet on the
ground, and at a sufficient distance from the fire, one of the last balls
fired by the enemy struck down close to the Duke of Treviso, tore the
lower part of the Great Marshal, and killed General Kirgener on the
spot.

" The Duke of Frioul immediately felt that he was mortally wounded,
and expired twelve hours after. As soon as the posts were placed, and
that the army had taken its bivouacks, the Emperor went to see
the Duke of Frioul. He found him perfectly master of himself, and
shewing the greatest sang froid. The Duke offered his hand to the
Emperor, who pressed it to his lips. ' My whole life,' said he to him,
' has heen consecrated to your service ; nor do I regret its loss, but fyr
the use it might have been to you !' ' Duroc !* cried the Emperor,
' there is a life to come, it is there you are going to wait for me, and
where we shall one day meet again !' ' Yes, Sire ! but that will not
be these thirty years, when you will have triumphed over your enemies,
and realized all the hopes of jour country. I have lived an honest
man — I have nothing to reproach myself with. I leave a daughter be-
hind me — yonr Majesty will fulfil the place of a father to her.' The
Emperor, grasping the right hand of the great Marshal, remained for
a quarter of an hour with his head reclined on his right hand, in deep
silence : the great Marshal was the first who broke this silence — ' Ah,
Sire I' cried he, ' go .iway, this sight gives you pain !' The Emperor,
supporting himself on the Duke of Dalmatia, and the great Master of
the Hor^e, quitted the Duke of Frioul without being able to say any
more than these words — 'Farewell then, my friend!' His Majesty
returned to his tent, nor would he receive any person the whole of that
night."

Immediately

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 415

Immediately after the signature of the armistice, the
allies removed their head-quarters to Reichenbach, about
twelve miles beyond Schmednitz; in front of the former
was the Comnjander-in-Chief, Barclay de Tolli, and in
front of the latter Generals Wittgenstein and Blucher.

Napoleon proceeded to Dresden on the 10th of June,
and on the same evening gave a long audience to the
Danish minister, at his quarters in the suburbs. Mar-
shal Ney was at Breslau; Mortier at Glogau ; Victor at
Grossen; and Oudmot upon the frontiers of Saxony
and Prussia, on the Berlin side.

The negotiations for peace having failed. Napoleon
was resolved once more to try his fortune in the field,
and to brave the whole world, rather than submit to
equitable terms. Austria, judging the opportunity fa-
vourable, now declared against him, and was soon after-
wards followed by Bavaria, and his other allies.

The first military operation after the armistice took
place near Toplitz, in the destruction of General Vau-
damme's army, of which Napoleon's account stated, that,
having advanced into the mountains of Bohemia in the
latter end of August, he met a division of the allied army,
and, not being sufficiently strong, he engaged them for a
short time, but then found it necess -ry to descend the
mountains: nay, that he would soon have overthrown his
opposers, but, instead of taking proper measures, this
unfortunate general, in place of retreating, and again
taking post upon the heights, remained at Kulm without
guarding a mountain which commanded the only cause-
way. It was only on the 30th of August that S.. Cyr
and Marmont arrived at the debouch from To')litz.
" General Vandamme only thought of closing the road
against the enemy, and taking all. To a flying army,
a bridge of gold must be made, or a barrier of steel op-
posed: he was not strong enough to oppose this barrier
of steel."

Wliile the main Russian army, under Barclay de Tolli,
and the whole of the Austrian army, were to act otfen-
sively from Bohemia, under the chief 'ommand of Prince
Schwartzenberg; Blucher was to move from Silesia on
Lusatia, and threaten Napoleon in front. Blucher was t<5
avoid engaging in any general acr. n, especially aofninst
superior numbers. That general, accordingly, advanced

in

416 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

in three columns, on the 20th of August, from Leignitz,
Golberg, and Jauer, on Buntzlau and Lowenberg. The
French abandoned Buntzlau, destroyed their works, and
blew up a magazine of powder there; and Blucher's corps
advanced to the Bober, where they were attacked on the
21st, and a very serious affair took place. Napoleon
commanded in person, and presented 110,000 men to
General Blucher ; who retired, conformably to the plan
laid down.

The grand armies on the side of Bohemia commenced
passing the frontiers on the 20th and 21st of August;
Wittgenstein's and Kleist's columns by the passes of
Peterswalde, the Austrians by Komotau. On the 22d,
Wittgenstein's corps had a very considerable encounter
near Bergshishabel and Zehista. The French met the
allies on the frontiers, but were driven back from all their
positions towards Dresden, although they endeavoured,
unsuccessfully, to defend every inch of ground. The
different columns of the allied armies were to debouche
from the mountains and passes at such concerted periods
as would probably have operated fatally upon Napoleon's
army, if the arrangement, as planned, had been completely
carried into effect. But the eagerness of the troops to
push on and engage, brought the right corps into action
on the morning of the 22d. The French were commanded
by Gouvion St. Cyr, and their force consisted of upwards
of 16,000 men; they were supported by the troops from
Konigstein, and by those in the camp at Liebenstein,
amounting to at least 0000 men, under Bonnet. After
a very sharp action, Wittgenstein drove them from all
points, took three or four hundred prisoners, besides a
vast number killed and wounded. The loss of the allies
was not severe. Napoleon, after this action, retired into
Konigstein, his entrenched camp at Liebenstein, and also
into the various works he had thrown up around Dresden.
The allies pressed forwards on him on every side, and the
grand armies were seen encircling Dresden. On the 26th
the advanced guard of the Russians, Prussians, and Aus-
trians, encamped on the heights above Dresden, between
Nauslitz and Ischernitz.

On the 27th, in the morning. Napoleon abandoned all
the ground in advance of Dresden, and withdrew into the
suburbs and their different works. The allies were there-
fore

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 417

fore determined to attack him, and endeavour to carry the
place, the possession of which was of great importance to
them. Napoleon had greatly improved by art the defences
around the town, so that it was evidently an enterprise of
considerable difficulty to carry it. The troops moved to
the assault at four o'clock in the afternoon. A tremen-
dous cannonade commenced the operation: the batteries
being planted in a circular form round the town, the
effect was magnificent; the fine buildings in Dresden
were soon enveloped in smoke; and the troops moved
forward, in the most perfect order, to the assault. They
approached on all sides close to the town. The Aus-
trians took an advanced redoubt, with eight guns, in the
most undaunted and gallant manner. The work was of
the strongest kind, not above sixty yards from the main
M'all, and it was flanked by cross tires of musquetry from
the various loop-holes that were made in every part froni
projecting buildings; but nothing could surpass the gal-
lantry with which it was stormed. The French fled
from it only to shelter themselves behind new defences,
manning the thick walls of the town, in which it was
impossible, without a long and continued fire of heavy
artillery, to make breaches.

Napoleon, with the aid of those means which a strong
town affords of resistance, held the allied troops in check
who had so gallantly carried and entered the outworks.
The night was fast approaching; and he now determined
to make a sortie with a considerable number of his guards,
at least amounting to 30,000, to endeavour to separate
the allied troops, and take one wing in flank and rear.
This was immediately perceived by the allies; and as it
appeared evident that it was not practicable to carry the
place that night, orders were sent to draw off the troops,
and they returned to their several encampments.

The sortie was a prelude to a more general engage-
ment, which took place on the following morning, the
28th of August. Napoleon, having at least 130,000 men
in Dresden, determined to attack the allies, who occu-
pied a very extended position on the heights surrounding
his position. He had great advantages in his disposition
for attack : Dresden, lined with guns, was in his rear ;
his communications were not intersected; if he made an
impression, he could pursue it ; if he failed, he could
withdraw with security, and the allies could not follow

VOL. 11. 3 G him

418 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

him under the guns of the place. One of the worst days
that ever was seen, added materially to the difficulties of
the allies, who arrived, by rapid marches, through bad
j-oads and defiles, at their positions, and whose supplies
of every kind it was difficult, if not impossible, to get
up. Availing himself of the advantages above stated.
Napoleon displayed an immense artillery; and a heavy
cannonade on both sides formed the chief feature of the
battle. Charges in various points were made, both with
the Russian, Prussian, and Austrian cavalry ; but the
main bodies of the infantry, in both armies, did not come
in contact. The weather was so hazy, and the rain so
incessant, that the action was sustained at all points under
the heaviest disadvantages. It was at this period that
the gallant Moreau fell, being struck by a cannon-ball
whilst in earnest conversation with the Emperor Alex-
ander. Napoleon continued his efforts on the position of
the allies, till finding he could make no impression upon
them, the action ceased.

Napoleon, who still had his forces admirably concen-
trated, now made a movement into Bohemia; but, finding
the Austro-Russian army to be much stronger than he
expected, and in an excellent position for sustaining an
attack, he suddenly hastened back to the Elbe, to arrest
the progress of General Blucher, who was advancing to
Dresden. Profiling of this retrograde movement of the
French chief, the grand army of the allies again broke
up from Bohemia on the evening of the4lh of September,
and on the 5th made a movement in advance to Dresden.
General Blucher then fell back to the Silesian frontier,
and Ncipoleon returned to meet the Austro-Russian army,
which on his approach again fell back, and General Blu-
cher at the same time advanced. Thus was some time
expended in a succession of marches and counter-
marches ; and, as the movements of the French were ne-
cessarily, from their concentration, confined to narrow
limits, great scarcity of provision and sickness began to
be felt throughout that army.

Napoleon, sensible of the precarious situation of his
affairs and the necessity of making a grand attack on one
of the corps of the allies while they remained separated,
collected all the troops which could be spared from other
quarters, and, by menacing the communication of the

allies

NAPOLEON BUONAPARI^E. 419

allies with Prague, expected to force them to fail back
behind the Elbe into Bohemia.

On the 8th of September, the corps under Count Witt-
genstein, and a part of General Kleist's corps under the
orders of General Zeithen, which had advanced through
the mountains beyond Peterswalde and Zehista, on the
road towards Dresden, were attacked by a very superior
force, and a very sharp affair took place.

When Napoleon began his advance. Count Wittgen-
stein had his head-quarters at Pima. The chief contest
during the day was for the village of Dohna, which the
allies defended with great bravery; but the enemy bring-
ing up increasing numbers, towards the evening Count
Wittgenstein determined to fall back and evacuate Dohna.
General Zeithen's corps, therefore, was ordered to occupy
Pima in the evening, and Count Wittgenstein's corps re-
tired towards Peterswalde.

On the 9th Napoleon continued his advance, and the
allies retired, fighting every inch of ground, in the moun-
tains ; and it now appearing that a very considerable army
was advancing, either with a determination to make a
general attack, or for the purpose of great demonstration,
the allies began to collect all their forces at Kulm and
Toplitz.

Napoleon pressed with greater force on the 10th from
the mountains on Kulm, and towards Toplitz ; he ad-
vanced not only with the columns that followed Count
Wittgenstein's rear, but also with another very consider- .
able corps by Zurnwalde and Kraufen. At this time the
Austrian column had not come into close communication
from Aussig and Leutmeritz.and the Russian and Prussian
force, in front of Toplitz, was greatly outnumbered by
the enemy. The allies, however, determined, in the
event of the enemy advancing, to give him battle ; and
dispositions to that etTect were accordingly made.

After a variety of movements, which seemed to indi-
cate a general attack. Napoleon, on the 12th, finding that
he could not engage the allies to advantage, commenced
his retreat. On the morning of the 15th he continued to
retire; and on the 16th he occupied the mountains and
heights in front of Nollendoiff" in great force. In the
evening of that day he made preparations to turn the
right of the allies before Kulm, whilst at the same time
3 G 2 he

450 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

he assailed their centre and left. For this purpose, 15,000
men were detached to turn the right; 8000 advanced in
front and on the left; and about 30,000 men, and 8000
cavalry, formed the reserve. On the 17th, the corps
moving on the right of the allies, being concealed by an
intense fog, and advancing through thick veoods, had
succeeded in gaining their flank before its movement was
perceived.

Whilst Napoleon forced the Russian and Prussian
forces from the village of NoUendorfF by very superior
force, but were kept in check on the left, General Jerome
Colloredo, with a corps of Austrians, fell on the advanced
column which had gained the right of the allies, and com-
pletely defeated it.

Napoleon, repulsed at all points, retired again into his
position on the mountains, occupying, however, Nollen-
dorff, whilst the allies took up their old ground, and ex-
tended themselves across the plain in a semicircular
position.

On the 19th of September, Napoleon remained in po-
sition at Peterswalde. On the 20th he retired still fur-
ther towards Dresden; and every disposition seemed to
be ma&e for a retreat on that capital. His object was
evidently to avoid a general battle, except under the
most favourable circumstances, and to wait till he was
reinforced by the great levies which were at this period
being made throughout France, by which he would be
enabled to cope with a greater chance of success against
the superior numbers of the enemy.

A vigorous and decisive line of action was, therefore,
the only one that the allies could pursue, to obtain the
grand object they professed to have in view. The con-
centrated situation of Napoleon gave him a decided supe-
riority at any point which might be urgently threatened.
This the allies had perceived. The Austro-Russian army
had advanced, and been repeatedly obliged to retire from
before Dresden ; and the Silesian army, in like manner,
had advanced from the other side of the Elbe only to
retreat. Thus the allies, although far superior in number
to the French, had not acquired any immediate or ma-
terial advantage, that might be decisive of the fate of the
campaipn; and a concentration of their principal forces
fteea^ed the only step which would enable them to profit

of

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 491

of their numbers, and prevent an indefinite duration of
the war, which would render its issue extremely
doubtful.

The subsequent operations of the contending armies,
previous to the great battle of Leipsic, have been so often
detailed in these Memoirs, particularly iu the Life of
Bernadotte, that it would be quite superfluous to enter
again minutely into them. It is, therefore, sufficient to
observe, that Napoleon, having manoeuvred from Dres-
den, left that place on the 7th of October, and arrived
at Leipsic on the 14th, closely pursued by the allied
armies.

It was on the 17th of October that the great prepara-
tions were made to attack Napoleon at Leipsic. He had
been already made acquainted with the defection of
Bavaria, and consequently foreseeing the result of the
battle, early in the morning proposed, by a flag of truce,
to withdraw all his garrisons from the Oder and the
Elbe, and to take up a position in the Thuringian fo-
rests, there to negotiate a general peace. The allies refused
to listen to this proposition; the time appeared at hand
when they might, by a grand blow, give a lasting peace
to Europe, by the complete overthrow of their inveterate
enemy.

As on the 17th the allies were in expectation of re-
ceiving further reinforcements, they were therefore desi-
rous of procrastinating an attack till the following day.
General Benningsen, who, with an army of 40,000 men,
was left to cover Bohemia, and observe Dresden, was
now, as Napoleon had left that capital defended by a
force of but 16,000 men, directed to join the grand army
with the principal part of his corps, leaving only behind
him a small detachment before Dresden. The delay of
the 17th on the part of the allies was therefore a measure
of good and sound military policy; but it is impossible to
regard in the same light the conduct of Napoleon, although
he has observed, that " this day was necessary to allow
the parks of reserve to arrive, and replace the 80,000
cannon-balls which had been expended in the previous
battle." He, however, admits that he gave the allies time
to re-assemble their troops, which he had scattered,
" tvhen they delivered themselves up to their chimerical pro-
jectSyUnd to receive the reinforcements which they expected."

Napoleon

422 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

Napoleon had no leintorcenients to come up, and he
could not have been otherwise than sensible, that every
moment of delay increased the strength of the allies.
This then was the moment when he should have either
made a vigorous attack, or have essayed to retreat; and
both might have been attempted with a greater proba-
bility of success, than when the allies should have gained
additional strength. This unaccountable proceeding on
the part of a general, whose early victories had elevated
him to the highest honours and power, was of incalcu-
lable injury to him. His generals were sensible of his
impolitic conduct; and it was contrary to his usual sys-
tem and character thus to procrastinate, and afford his
enemy the opportunity of choosing the time for attack.

Napoleon, however, directed some trifling changes on
this day in the disposition of his army, and drew the
whole closer around Leipsic. That part of his army
which was at Liebert Wolkowitz, and Wachau,he made
retire into the interior line of Connevvitz, Probstheyda,
and Stetteritz ; whilst on the opposite side, the north, he
withdrew his forces behind the river Partha, which
afforded an advantageous line of defence. But the most
important object he accomplished this day was the
making an opening through the allied line along the
Saale, in the direction of Weissenfels, by which he se-
cured to himself a retreat, and cut off the communica-
tion between the two opposite armies. This was the
principal object the French chief could desire in his
present situation, as he had both neglected to bring his
enemy to an action on this day, and to retreat.

On the following day the allies had received all their
reinforcements ; and they determined, by a grand and
combined attack, to bring the campaign to a crisis.

The plan of the attack was as follows: — While the
grand army was to commence their attack from their
different points of assembling, on the principal villages
situated on the "^rt-at roads leading to Leipsic ; the armies
of the North and Silesia were jointly to attack from the
line of the Saale, and upon the enemy's position along
the Partha river. Marshal Blucher gave to the Prince
Royal of Sweden 30,000 men, infantry, cavalry, and ar-
tillery, of his army ; and, with this formidable reinforce-
ment, the northern army was to attack from the heights

of

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 493

of Taucha, while General Blucher was to retain his posi-
tion before Leipsic, and use his utmost efforts to gain
possession of the place.

In the event of the whole of the French forces being
carried against either of the armies, they were recipro-
cally to support each other, and concert further move-
ments; that part of Napoleon's force which for some
time had been opposed to the Prince Royal of Sweden
and Marshal Blucher, had taken up a very good position
upon the left bank of the Partha, having its right at the
strong point of Taucha, and its left towards Leipsic.
To force his right, and obtain possession of ihe heights of
Taucha, was the first operation of the Prince Royal.
The corps of Russians, under General Wmzingerode,
and the Prussians, under General Biilow, were destined
for this purpose; and the Swedish army were <lirected to
force the passage of the river at Plosen and Mockau.

General Bulow's corps, and General Winzingerode's
cavalry, which formed the extreme left, proceeded upon
Taucha. The Russian army, whose advanced guard was
commanded by Lieutenant-General Count Woronzoff,
forded the stream near Grasdorff. The Swedish army
passed between that place and Piaussig. Already, on
the preceding evening. General Winzingerode had caused
Taucha to be occupied, and took in that place three offi-
cers, and 400 men. The French however, perceiving all
the importance of that point, had dislodged the Cossacks,
and occupied the village in considerable force.

General Baron Pahlen, bravely supported by a Ct)lonel
Arnold!, of the horse-artillery, who lost a leg on this
occasion, made a brilliant charge, seized the village, sur-
rounded two Saxon battalions that were there, and made
them prisoneis. The cavalry then advanced, and effected
a junction with the advanced guard of Count Niepperg,
forming part of an Austrian division commanded by Ge-
neral Count Bubna, belohging to General Benningsen's
army. Platoff arrived at the same time with his (.*ossacks,
and, a few moments after, the Grand Duke Constantine,
who communicated to the Prince Royal the movements
of the grand army.

The French, who had abandoned the village of Pauns-
dorff, vigorously attacked it again with infantry and se-
veral batteries. General Bulow's corps, which just came

up.

424 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

up, was directed to attack that village, and that officer
carried it in the most gallant manner. The French were
also driven from the villages of Sonnerfeldt and Schon-
feldt, which they had occupied for the purpose of cover-
ing their retreat when they fell back from Taucha.

On the side of the grand army, the French offered the
most desperate resistance. At Probstheyda, Stetteritz,
and Connevitz, the contest was maintained on both sides
with equal vigour; but the different columns of the
allies bearing on those points, finally succeeded, and car-
ried every thing before them. General Benningsen took
the villages upon the right bank of the Reutschorr, having
been joined by General Bubna from Dresden, General
Tolstoy having come up and relieved the former in the
blockade of that city; and General Giulay manoeuvred
with 75,000 Austrians upon the left bank of the Elster,
whilst the corps under General Thielman and Prince
Maurice Lichtenstein moved upon the same river.

The allied forces now bearing in from all points, car^
ried every thing before them; and a junction with the
Prince Royal of Sweden's army having been formed,
towards evening the united forces established themselves
almost beneath the walls of Leipsic. The Prince-Royal
of Sweden bivouacked at Paunsdorff, General Blucher
at Wittenz, and the Emperor of Russia and King of
Prussia at Roda.

Towards the close of the day, Field-Marshal Prince
Schwartzenberg, observing that the defeat of Napoleon
was complete, felt anxious to convey the tidings himself
to his Sovereign, who, together with the Emperor of
Russia and the King of Prussia, were stationed upon a
heightabout two miles from the field of battle. The Field-
Marshal galloped up at full speed, and saluting the Em-
peror with his sword, said, " Your Majesty, the battle is
at an end! the enemy is beaten at all points! — they fly!
— the victory is our's!" The Emperor raised his eyes to
heaven, and a tear was his only answer; but his Majesty
dismounting, and having deposited his hat and sword on
the ground, fell on his knees, and aloud returned thanks
to God. This example was followed by the other two
rnonarchs, who having also kneeled, said, " Brother, the
Lord is with you !" At the same instant, all the officers
in attendance, as well as the guard, kneeled down, and

for

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 425

for several minutes a dead silence reigned ; after which
more than an hundred voices cried out, " The Lord is
with us." The sight of three crowned heads, accom-
panied by a great number of distinguished warriors,
kneeling under the canopy of heaven, and with tears
praising the God of battles, was most affecting.

Napoleon, surrounded by a numerous and victorious
enemy, with all his fortified lines captured, his troops
disheartened by repeated disasters, and incredibly dimi-
nished in numbers, perceived that only an immediate and
desperate retreat could save the remainder; and this he
therefore put in practice. His whole army began to de-
file by the road leading to Weissenfels ; but here ob-
stacles in every shape presented themselves : five rivers,
running parallel and close to each other, and requiring
bridges over each, formed a long and narrow defile,
through which it was with difficidty his army could pro-
ceed,"even slowly; and at day-break only part of his
troops had reached the other side.

Napoleon, however, counted upon the presence of the
Saxon Electoral llimily, and the solicitations of the inha-
bitants to preserve the city, to gain time to provide for
his own security; hut he was disappointed. The Em-
peror Alexander, having received a flag of truce, in
ihe name of the King of Saxony, offering to capitulate
to save the town, his Imperial Majesty gave his an-
swer aloud, in the hearing of many hundred officers, with
remarkable force and dignity: he said, " that an army
in pursuit of a flying enemy, and in the hour of victory,
could not be stopped a moment by considerations of the
town- that, therefore, the gates must be immediately
opened, and in that case the most strict discipline should
be observed; that if the German troops in the place
chose to join their countrymen in his army, they should
be received as brothers : but he considered any proposal
sent while Napoleon was at hand, as extremely suspi-
cious, as he well knew the enemy he had to deal with;
that, as to the King of Saxony personally, who had taken
H line of determined hostility, he gaye no answer, and
declined making any communication."

It being determined that no respite should be allowed

to Napoleon, early in the morning of the 19th the allied

forces moved on to the attack of the city, which was very

VOL. IT. 3 H soon

426 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

«oon carried ; the particulars of which have been nar-
rated in our preceding Memoirs.

Napoleon fled from Leipsic at nine o'clock in the
morning, leaving behind him a large part of his army;
and on the allies entering the city, they werejoined by all
the remaining Saxon and other German troops in the pay
of Fiance. Napoleon employed, in vain, every effort to
persuade the King of Saxony to accompany him in his
j'etreat, and would not quit him till he had been twice
informed that the allies had forced the gates of the city.

As the enemy was obliged to make his retreat by the
defiles of Pleisse, the baggage, cannon, and troops, soon
choaked up the narrow passes, and the greatest confusion
prevailed. None thought but of making their own es*
cape; numbers threw themselves into the river, and at-
tempted to escape by swimming, but the principal part
of the latter perished.

The loss of Napoleon, in killed, wounded, and pri-
soners, amounted to 60,000. The whole rear-guard of
the French army, including some of its most distin-
guished generals, fell into the hands of the allies.

The shattered remnants of the French army continued
to retreat by forced marches, and in the greatest possible
disorder, followed by the main bodies of the allies,
and having large corps of troops advanced before him.
The grand and important advantages of the battle of
Leipsic were closely followed up by the allies; and their
vigorous pursuit of the French army rendered their re-
treat to the Rhine not much less calamitous than that
from Moscow.

Napoleon continued to experience heavy losses, both in
men, artillery, and baggage, whilst he pursued his course
from Leipsic to the Maine. The destruction and disper-
sion of his army became every day more complete. He
no longer made any stand against the corps advancing
upon him, but sought the safety of his army in a flieht
to the Rhine. ^

In the meanwhile the King of Bavaria, since his de-
fection to the arms of Napoleon, shewed every disposi-
tion to repair, by great exertions, his former error in
aidmg th? ambitious views of the French ruler. General
Wrede with the Bavarian troops, by uncommon forced
marches, succeeded in reaching the Maine before the

French

I'uhUslifd Auju.s-fW"' /.m. Or A ll7ie/^^r,Wan,uA-

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 457

French army, and on the 21st of October arrived before
Wurtzburg; which had been declared by General Tur-
reau in a state of siege on the 22d. General Wrede sum-
moned the town, and on a refusal of terms bombarded it
for an hour, when a second summons was sent in ; and,
on a refusal, the bombardment recommenced, and conti-
nued until half-past twelve at night. On the 25th the
town was again summoned, and without effect; but on
the following day, the SOth, a capitulation was agreed
upon, and the allies entered it at four in the evening of
the same day.

After gaining possession of Wurtzburg, Wrede took up
a position in advance of Hanau, by which the French army
had to pass. Blucher, however, who expected that Na-
poleon would cross the Rhine at Coblentz, instead of by
Hanau, pursued the route of the former; and thus the
Bavarians were left alone to oppose the remaining
French force, which was in point of numbers nearly
treble their own ; the Bavarian army amounting to about
30,000 men, whilst that of the French was computed at
from 70 to 80,000. Nevertheless, with this inferiority
of force, Wrede determined to oppose the enemy, and
for two days he maintainted a glorious contest. Al-
though they suffered severely in the battle of Hanau,
still the Bavarians sustained no decisive defeat. General
Wrede received a severe wound, and great numbers of
this little corps fell in the unequal contest.

After the battle of Hanau, Napoleon pursued his route
to Frankfort, and on the 7th of November crossed the
Rhine with the remains of his once great and powerful
army. He soon quitted his troops, and hastened to Paris,
leaving directions with his generals, that all the strong
places on that river and on the frontiers should be gar-
risoned.

Napoleon arrived at St. Cloud on the 9th of Novem-
ber, and on the 11th he presided at a Council of State;
and it may be curious to our readers to learn what tran-
spired at this meeting, after the desolation and disasters
that had taken place, and the impending dangers which
threatened France. The proceedings have been pub-
lished to the world by a member who was present, and
of the truth of which there seems to be no reason to

doubt.

3 H 9 *• Impatient

428 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

• *• Impatient to examine the countenance of the Em-
peror, the members of the Council were admitted into
the saloon contiguous to the Hall of Council. To ex-
tricate himself from the embarrassment of a first inter-
view, the Emperor abruptly called the Governor of the
Bank, keenly censured the prudent measures which, at a
critical moment, had saved that national establishment
and propped the public credit: he kept talking for half
an hour without giving the Governor time to defend him-
self, running three or four times the round of the same
ideas, expressed in the same terms, employing ridiculous
images, and too often terms of the most cutting con-
tempt.

*' When he had done speaking, the members moved
into the Council-chamber. The meeting opened by the
reading of a financial decree to be issued by the Imperial
authority, without the sanction of the Legislative Body,
which nevertheless stood summoned for the 2d of De-
cember. The question was nothing less than the aug-
mentation of the contributions by one-half. The decree
passed without opposition as to the principle, and after
a merely necessary discussion, in the course of which the
Emperor broached various opinions, either contradictory
or absurd. * Taxation,' said he, among other things,

* has no bounds. It commonly presents the idea of one-
fifth ; but it may be raised according to the urgency of
the occasion, to one-fourth one-third, one-half, &c. No ;
taxation has no bounds! If there be laws that say the
contrary, they are vicious laws.'

" After this decree, was read the projet of a Senatus
Consulte, for placing at the disposal of the minister of
war 300,000 men, to be taken from the old conscriptions,
which had been solemnly released or exhausted. The
most profound silence pervaded the assembly. The flat-
terers being questioned, remained for some time mute.
A member nevertheless ventured to say — ' Sire, the wel-
fare of the empire!' Another found fault with the ex-
pression, • Frontiers invaded,' in the preamble to the pro-
jet, as likely to excite alarm. * Why?' replied the Em-
peror: it is better in this case to tell the truth. Has not
Wellington entered in the south, the Russians on the
north ? are not the Austrians and Bavarians threatening
it on the east } Wellington in France 1— what disgrace ! —

and

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 429

and the people have not risen en masse to drive him
out !-^the English will laugh at the good-nature of our
peasants. But the English have no ships there ! — no
naval manoeuvres now! They are upon our own soil : we
must beat, we must drive them away. All my allies
have abandoned me ! The Bavarians have betrayed me I
The cowards — they threw themselves into my rear — they
thought to have cut off ray retreat ! But how they were
trounced for it ! How they were slaughtered ! I have
killed Wrede, and all his relations with him. No! no
peace till I have burned Munich ! A triumvirate has been
formed in the North— the same that divided Poland 1
No peace till it shall be broken ! Let next year come,
and we shall see! I demand 300,000 men; I will form
a camp of 100,000 at Bourdeaux, another at Lyons, and
another at Metz. With the preceding levy, and what
remains, I shall have a million of men under arms; that
will be enough for the present. I demand 300,000 men;
but, they must be men grown : of what use are those
young conscripts? to fill the hospitals, or to die upon the
roads! The French are always brave! the Piedmontese,
the Italians, are brave too, and fight well ; but as for all
those men of the north, the Germans, they are good for
nothing — 'tis not blood that flows in their veins, but
water. I cannot rely with confidence on any but the in-
habitants of ancient France.' * Sire, the Belgians,' said a
member. * Yes, the Belgians,' replied the Emperor,
* they perhaps have some affection for me. What sig-
nify all the addresses which they are induced to make ?
'Tis the height of ridicule!' ' Sire,' said another member,
' ancient France must be preserved,' * And Holland too,*
sharply rejoined the Emperor; * rather than abandon
Holland, 1 would consign it to the sea. As for Italy, if
it be not subject to France, it must be independent. —
Gentlemen, an effort must be made. Well, every body
must march. It won't come to that; but if it should —
Monsieur Cambaceres, you will march too — ^you shall be
put at the head of a legion.— Counsellors of State! you
are fathers, you are the heads of the nation ; it is you
who ought to give the impetus: but I know you are soft
— pusillanimous. They talk of peace! peace! peace!
I know not wh^Lt peace means, whilst the whole country
ought to resound with the cry of war!*

" After

430 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

** After these words, the projet of the Senatus Constdte
was adopted, and the Emperor broke up the meeting."

Although the allies, flushed with victory, had passed
the French frontiers, and were advancing on all sides to
the capital of France, they yet offered terms to Napoleon.
Indeed, their only object appears to have been to secure
a durable and solid peace ; but they were determined to
have such terms as should effectually curb the daring
ambition of their enemy. The conditions which they
offered were therefore necessarily severe, and may be
considered as the primary cause of Napoleon's ruin ; for,
without descending from the high ground on which he
stood, and which alone gave him a lustre in the eyes of
the French people, he could hardly accept the conditions
which were pressed upon him. Before the great battle
of Leipsic, so fatal to his arms, equitable, and even ho-
nourable terms had been offered by the allies, which he
had chosen to reject. After that event, it was too late to
expect the same terms ; and his only alternative was,
either to degrade himself by signing a peace dictated at
the point of the sword, or by refusing it to hazard the ex-
tinction of his own power, and perhaps his own existence.
His magnanimity on this trying occasion is undoubted;
for, rather than sit on a degraded throne, he was once more
determined to brave the whole world, and risk all the
tremendous consequences which awaited a fresh appeal
to arms.

In order that he might meet the dangers which me-
naced his throne, Napoleon now ordered a new conscrip-
tion of 300,000 men. This immense force, however, it
was impossible to raise in time to stop the march of the
victorious allies: and, in order to reconcile the French
people to the sacrifices they were called upon to make,
he endeavoured to convince them that he was willing to
make peace, and that the continuance of the war was
alone to be imputed to his enemies. Napoleon having
communicated to the Senate his efforts to obtain peace,
that Body, on the 30th of December, addressed him a§
follows : —

" Sire — The Senate comes to offer to your Imperial
Majesty the tribute of its attachment and gratitude for
the last communications which it has received, by the
medium of its committee; your Majesty adheres to the

proposal

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 431

proposal even of your enemies, which has been trans-
mitted by one of your ministers in Germany: what
stronger pledge could you give of your sincere desire of
peace ?

" Your Majesty certainly believes that power is
strengthened by being limited, and that the art of fa-
vouring the happiness of the people is the chief policy of
kings. The Senate thanks you for it, in the name of the
French people.

" It is also in the name of this same people, that we
thank you for all the legitimate means of defence which
your wisdom may take to insure peace.

" The enemy has invaded our territory. He designs
to penetrate to the centre of our provinces. The French,
united in sentiment and interest under a chief like you,
will not suffer their energy to be cast down.

** Empires, Jike individuals, have their days of mourn-
ing and of prosperity; it is in great exigencies that great
nations shew themselves.

*• No: the enemy shall not tear asunder this beautiful
and noble France, which, for fourteen centuries, has
maintained itself with glory through such diversities of
fortune; and which, for the interest of the neighbouring
nations, can always throw a considerable weight into the
balance of Europe. We have for pledges your heroic
firmness, and the national honour. We will fight for
our dear country, between the tombs of our fathers
and the cradles of our infants. Sire, obtain peace by a
last effort worthy of yourself and of the French ; and let
your hand, so often victorious, let fall your arms, after
having signed the repose of the world. This, Sire, is
the wish of France — the wish of the Senate — this is the
wish and want of the human race."
To this address Napoleon replied —
" 1 am sensible of the sentiments which you express ;
towards me.

" You have seen, by the documents which I have
caused to be laid before you, what I do for the sake of
peace. I will make, without regret, the sacrifices im-
plied by the preliminary basis, which the enemy has pro-
posed, and which I have accepted. My whole life has
but one object — the happiness of the French.
** Meantime Beam, Alsace, Franche Comt6, Brabant,

432 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE,

are invaded. The cries of this part of my family rend
my heart. I call the French to succour the French ;
I call the French of Paris, of Bretagne, of Normandy, of
Champagne, and of the other departments, to the suc-
cour of their brethren. Shall we forsake them in their
distress? Peace, and the deliverance of our territory,
ought to be the rallying cry ! At the sight of all this
nation in arms, the enemy will fly, or will sign peace on
the basis which he has himself proposed. The ques-
tion is now no more to recover the conquests we have
made."

Napoleon continued at Paris until the 25th of January;
and, as the allies were rapidly advancing upon him
in all directions, he left the capital on the morning of
that day, having previously constituted the Empress
Maria Louisa regent in his absence.

On the 1st of February, having joined his army, an
obstinate battle took place at La llothiere, which was
the first that was fought on French ground, in which
Napoleon sustained a decisive defeat.

The confidence of the allied sovereigns, and of the
commanders of their armies, having placed at Blucher's
disposal the Austrian corps of Guilay, and of the Prince
Royal of Wurtemberg, in addition to the forces under
his own immediate command, he, after a reconnoissance,
made the following dispositions for an attack.

The corps of General Sacken was ordered to move
forward in two columns from Trannes, one directing itself
upon Brienne, by the road of Dienvilie, and the second on
the village of La Rothiere. The corps of General Guilay,
forming the reserve of the first column, and that of Gene-
ral Alsufief of the second.

The Russian guards and cuirassiers, it was announced,
would arrive, and form a reserve for the whole, on the
heights between Trannes and Eclance.

The Prince Royal of Wurtemberg was directed to
march from Eclance upon Chaumenil, leaving a small
wood in front of the right of the position, occupied by
the French, to his left, and thus turning it, and opening
his communication with General Wrede; who, it was
announced, was advancing also upon Chaumenil from
Doulevent.

The attack commenced precisely at twelve o'clock.

Napoleon

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 433

Napoleon was in position at Dienviile and La Rothiere,
and had his left at the small village of La Gibrie. His
cavalry, as weW as that of the allied forces, was drawn
out in the plain between the two positions; his infantry
disposed in large masses on the flanks of, and within the
villages, which were lined with artillery.

Skirmishing and cannonading in the plain were the
preludes to the attack; but the attention was soon di-
rected from this to a very heavy cannonading and mus-
quetry-fire from the small wood on the right, and the
village of La Gibrie. The Prince Royal of Wirtemberg
drove the French from the village; but they returned in
force, and again expelled him. A brigade of grenadiers
was ordered to his support; but his own zeal and acti-
vity rendered this aid unnecessary. He attacked again,
and remained master of both the wood and village. The
movements in this quarter occupied nearly three hours.

Napoleon's demonstrations now menaced the flank of
the position of the allies; but Blucher was not to be
diverted from his object by them. The eff'ect of the
combination of Wrede's movement was foreseen with
the most accurate judgment: and, before the village of
La Gibrie was in the Prince Royal of Wirtemberg's pos-*
session, every requisite order was given for the execu-
tion of the movements just directed. ^

Napoleon having moved a corps to his left. General
Sacken drew all his force to the attack of La Rothiere,
which formed the key of the French position.

Guilay attacked the town of Dienviile, but met with
very considerable opposition. The contest was pro-
tracted to a very late hour; and it was not until after
midnight that the French were expelled, leaving 280
prisoners in Count Guilay's possession.

The most obstinate resistance, however, was made at
La Rothiere: Sacken expelled the French; but they re-
turned with heavy columns of infantry, and batteries of
artillery, and renewed the attack with great vigour, gain-
ing possession of the church and some of the houses,
whilst the Russians occupied the others. Napoleon in
person led on the attack, at the head of the young
guards, and had a horse shot under him. The fire with
Avhich he was received, rendered the attempt of no
avail; and about ten o'clock at night the v^ hole village

VOL. II. 3 I was

434 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

was ceded to the more obstinate valour of the Russian
troops.

On the right of the village. General Sacken took up-
wards of 20 pieces of cannon ; near 1000 prisoners were
also taken : the loss in killed and wounded was very
great. The Prince Royal of Wirtemberg advanced upon
Chaumenil, and formed a junction with General Wrede.
The former took six pieces of cannon, and the latter
seventeen. Thus was the victory complete in every
quarter.

Immediately after the battle commenced, the Emperor
of Russia, the King of Prussia, and Field-Marshal Prince
Schvvartzenberg, came on the ground. Blucher imme-
diately afterwards proceeded to the front, to carry into
efiect the dispositions he had made. He was among the
foremost in the attack of the village of La Rothiere, and
in supporting the troops who were attacked in it. A
Cossack was shot by his side. Reserves were moved
forward, by the orders of his Imperial Majesty and
Prince Swartzenberg, but only three battalions were em-
ployed. There were prisoners taken of the 3d, 4th, and
6th corps, and of the guards. Buonaparte was supposed
to have had the great body of his army collected.

Baffled in the different attempts to regain the advan-
tages he had lost. Napoleon at last decided upon a re-
treat: his columns began their movement to the rear
about one in the morning. His rear-guard was, how-
ever, in occupation of the position of Brienne at day-
light.

In this battle the loss of the French was very consi-
derable in killed and wounded : that of the allies was
also very great. The latter took 73 pieces of cannon,
and about 4000 prisoners.

Napoleon retreated with his army in two columns;
the right upon Lcssmont, the left upon Laissicourt and
Ronay. The cavalry of the allies harassed his covering
troops, and executed several charges in the most hand-
some manner.

In the meanwhile Marshal Macdonald's corps, having
been recalled from the Lower Rhine, hastened, by forced
marches, through Liege and Namur, to join the main
army. General Von D'Yorck's corps was dispatched to
the northward to prevent this junction; and on the 3th

an

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 435

an action took place at Chaussel, near Vitry, which ter-
minated in favour of General Von D'Yorck, who took
three pieces of cannon, and several hundred prisoners.
Macdonald next retired to Chalons, pursued by General
Von D'Yorck, who bombarded that town. On the fol-
lowing day Chalons surrendered by capitulation; in con-,
sequence of which. General Macdonald, with his corps
and those of Generals Sebastian! and Arrighi, were al-
lowed to evacuate Chalons, and to retire over the Marne,
in the direction of Meaux.

The important position and town of Troyes was taken
possession of by the allies on the 7th of February; the
French retired from it the night preceding, and took a
direction upon Nogent. The number of roads leading
from the different points of France, and uniting at
Troyes, the resources of the place itself, with a popula-
tion of 30,000 inhabitants, rendered its occupation of
the greatest importance. The Prince Royal of Wur-
temberg was the first who entered the town with his
corps; on the day preceding, he had turned Napoleon's
position near Ruvigni, and had taken possession of the
village of Lanbrissel on his left.

During these military operations, negotiations for
peace were actually carried on at Chatillon-sur Seine.

On the 11th of February, the corps of General
D'Yorck and Baron Sacken marched in the direction of
Montmirail, when a severe action took place. The
corps of Baron Sacken, and three brigades of that of
General D'Yorck, engaged ; and, after an action of se-.
veral hours, both armies remained on the ground in the
same positions they had occupied at the commencement-
Six pieces of cannon were at one time taken by General
Sacken ; but they were left, from the difficulty of the
roads, as well as four pieces of his own, which he had
advanced in the attack, and could not again withdraw.
The force opposed was the old guard, and another de-
tached corps, amounting to about 30,000 inen, com-
manded by Napoleon in person. General Sacken at-
tacked the enemy in the village of Marchais, which was
taken and retaken three times. Napoleon made a move-
ment on his right flank, which compelled him to fall
back on General D'Yorck. Napoleon attacked again,
but could make no impression, night leaving both him
3 I 2 and

436 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

and the allied troops in the same position. General
Sacken had his head-quarters next day at Chateau
Thierry, and General D'Yorck at Biffort.

Marshal Marmont, with the sixth corps, was now at
Etoges. Blucher, with the corps of General Kleist and
General Kapsiewitz, was in position at that place. Mar-
mont sent an officer with a flag of truce, with a letter to
the Field-Marshal, which he was directed to deliver per-
sonally, but he was not received.

Blucher, finding the enemy had made no movement
from Etoges, determined to attack Marmont at that
place. The latter shewed 9 or 10,000 men, who gradu-
ally retired, under a brisk fire, from Etoges to Champau-
bert, where he halted for the night.

Blucher had now to sustain another and most obstinate
contest against a superior force of the enemy, under the
command of Napoleon in person. After having driven
Marmont from the position at Etoges on the ISth, he
there learnt that Napoleon had marched, the preceding
day, to Chateau Thierry : General D'Yorck and General
Sacken having previously quitted that town, and retired
behind the Marne.

On the 14th, Marmont was announced to be in retreat
from the village of Fromontieres; and Blucher, who had
bivouacked the night preceding at Champaubert, resolved
on pursuing him. He had under his orders only the
corps of General Kleist, and General Kapsiewitz's division
of General Langeron's corps. The French retired until
they came near the village of Janvilliers, where a con-
siderable body of cavalry was observed to be collected.
In the ardour of pursuit, six guns, which had been car-
ried forward, were suddenly rushed upon and seized by
them. The Prussian cavalry, under General Zieten and
Colonel Blucher, son of the Field-Marshal, immedi-
ately charged, and retook them. Several prisoners fell
into their hands; and from them it was learnt, that Na-
poleon was on the ground, having just arrived with the
whole of his guards, and a large body of cavalry. They
had made a forced march during the night from Chateau
Thierry.

The infantry of Blucher was at this time advancing in
columns of battalions on the open grounds on each side
pf the chauss6e leading through the village.

The

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 437

The cavalry, which was observed to be increasing,
snddenly came forward in a large mass, broke through
the cavalry of the advanced guard, divided itself, and
attacked with the greatest fury the columns of infantry
on the plain. The movement was observed. The co-
lumns formed into squares, which remained firm on their
ground, and commenced a heavy tire from their front,
flanks, and rear. In a large field, on the right of the vil«
lage, six squares were attacked at the same time; all
succeeded in repelling the French, the cavalry of the
advanced guard in the mean time retiring in the inter-
vals, forming in the rear, and advancing again to charge
the cavalry, after it had been thrown into disorder, and
compelled to retire from the destructive fire of the
squares. Napoleon's numbers, however, increased ; and
large bodies of cavalry were seen to be moving round on
either flank. Two battalions of infantry of the advanced
guard, which had entered the village, could not form in
time, and suffered considerably. Blucher, who had little
cavalry with him, now resolved on withdrawing his force
from a position where such an unequal contest must be
waged.

The infantry were directed to retire in columns and
squares, with artillery in the intervals, covered on the
flank and rear by skirmishers and cavalry. Napoleon
lost no time in making the boldest and most direct attack.
The country through which the line of retreat lay, was
generally open, without inclosures, but with small woods
and copses, which enabled Napoleon's cavalry to con-
ceal its movements. The infantry avoided in general
entangling themselves in them, and were thus the better
enabled to preserve their perfect formation, and hold the
enemy in greater respect. From the village of Janvilliers
to about half way between Champaubert and Etoges, a
distance of nearly four leagues, it was one incessant
retiring combat, not a single column or square of infan-
try that was not either charged by, or exposed to the
fire of the enemy, while a constant fire was kept up by
them without any interruption of their march, firing and
loading as they moved, and still preserving the most per-
fect order. It frequently happened that Napoleon's ca-
valry were intermixed with the squares, and always, in
such case, compelled to retire with great loss. Various

charges

438 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

charges were attempted without any effect. At sun-set
it was observed, that the corps of cavalry which had been
seen to take a circuit round the flanks, had thrown them-
selves into the line of retreat, about half way between
Champaubert and Etoges, and formed themselves into
a solid mass on the chaussee and on each side of it, with
the evident determination to bar the passage. At this
moment Blucher found himself surrounded on every side.
His decision was as prompt as the resolution determined
to execute it — to continue his march, and break through
the obstacle opposed to it.

The columns and squares, assailed now on every side,
moved on in the most firm and perfect order. The artil-
lery opened a heavy fire on the cavalry that had planted
itself on the chaussee, which was succeeded by vollies of
musquetry, from the advancing columns of infantry.
Napoleon's cavalry could not stand against such deter-
mination : they were forced to quit the chaussee, and
leave the passages on each side of it open, and to limit
their further attacks solely to the flanks and rear. The
columns and squares on the flanks and rear were equally
assailed, and not a single one during the whole of the
time was broken or lost its order. As night came on,
the infantry attacks succeeded to those of the cavalry.
As the troops were entering the village of Etoges, they
were assailed by vollies of musquetry from a body of
infantry that had penetrated by bye-roads on both flanks
of their march. Generals Kleist and Kapsiewitz, with
their respective corps, however, again broke through the
obstacles opposed to them, forced their way through the
village, though with considerable loss, and brought in
their corps, v^'ithout further attack or molestation, to
the position of Bergeres, where they bivouacked for the
night.

The position of Chalons presenting the advantage of
forming a junction of the different corps of his army,
Blucher resolved on marching thither ; having received
reports during the battle, that D'Yorck and Sacken had
arrived at Rheims, and that Winzingerode was within
one or two days' march of it.

The movements of Blucher's army having determined
Napoleon to march against him, he quitted Troyes on the
27th of February, with the flower of his army, consisting

of

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 439

of the whole of his guards, the corps of Marshals Mar-
rnont and Mortier, and a considerable body of cavalry,
leaving a force under Marshal Oudinot to observe the
grand army of the allies. Prince Schwartzenberg availed
himself of this opportunity to again advance upon
Troyes.

An obstinate contest took place at Bar-sur-Aube:
that town was twice retaken by the French ; but on the
27th, after a most severe action, it remained in the
hands of the allies. The French continued to retreat
during the following days ; and on the 2d of March, their
army was in position along the Barce, on the right
of the Seine, and at La Maison Blanche, on the left
of it.

Napoleon arrived 00 the Aisne on the 4th of March,
and determined on the following day to attempt retaking
Soissons.

On the evening of the 3d of March, Blucher, with the
army of Silesia, had effected a junction with the corps of
Generals Winzingerode and Bulow, at Soissons ; and on
the following day; he took up a position, on an extensive
plateau, to the left, and in the rear of the town of Sois-
sons, with his right close to the village of Laffaux, and
his left near Craone.

The town of Soissons was defended by 10,000 Russian
infantry, under the orders of General Rudzewich. On
the 5th, soon after day-light, the attack was commenced
by the French ; they succeeded in obtaining possession of
the greater part of the suburbs, and twice attacked the
town itself, on opposite sides, with heavy columns; but
were both times repulsed with great slaughter. Having
retained possession of the greater part of the suburbs^
they unroofed the houses, and kept up a constant fire
from them upon the troops on the walls of the town,
until night put a termination to the contest.

Napoleon had entrusted the operations of the 5th to
the divisions of Marshals Mortier and Marmont. In the
morning of the 6th, he gave up the contest, and retired.
In the afternoon of that day he efl'ected the passage of
his army across the Aisne at Bery-le-Bac; and, at about
two o'clock in the afternoon, commenced an attack on the
left of the position occupied by Blucher's army near
Craone. At the same time he detached strong columns

towards

440 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

towards Laon by the way of Corbeny. Under cover of
the wood of Corbeny, he made his approaches, and sent
forward large bodies of skirmishers, supported by artil-
lery, which were repulsed, and the firing ceased with the
night.

On the morning of the 7th, the French had desisted
from their march upon Laon ; and Blucher directed a
strong corps to move across the river Delette, in the di-
rection of Presle and Lenilly, to sustain the movement
of the cavalry under Winzingerode, and, together with
the corps of General Bulow, to make an attack on the
French right, should they push forward against the point
occupied by the infantry of General Winzingerode near
Craone. General Sacken was ordered to the support of
the latter, and to attempt to turn the French left, should
he make his attack on the other side. If pushed by a
superior force, he was directed to fall back on the road to
Laon, and draw in the garrison of Soissons.

Napoleon began the attack at eleven in the forenoon,
with his whole force, amounting to 60,000 men, against
the point where General Winzingerode's infantry were
posted. Blucher immediately rode to the spot where
the cavalry was supposed to be formed, to direct the
operations in that quarter; but unexpected difficulties
had opposed the march of the cavalry during the night,
and it was found to have advanced no farther than Presle.
General Kleisl's infantry, which had marched in the
morning, reached Feticia; but the advanced guard of the
cavalry alone had come up, and it became impossible to
undertake with effect the movement which Blucher had
projected against the right of the French.

The corps posted near Craone was in the mean time
exposed to a most severe attack, and, after a most de-
termined opposition, obliged to retire to Laon.

Blucher next took up a position in front of Laon, the
elevated plateau on which the town itself is situated
being occupied by the corps of General Bulow. In this
position he was again attacked, under cover of a thick
fog, before day-light on the morning of the 9th. The
density of the atmosphere concealed all the movements
of Napoleon, and he obtained possession of the villages
of Semilly and Ardon, close under the town, and which
may be regarded as its suburbs. The musquetry reached

the

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 441

the walls of the town, and continued without intermis-
sion until about eleven o'clock, when the fog began to
disperse. The French were now in force behind the
villages of Semilly and Lenilly, with columns of infantry
and cavalry posted on the chaussi&e towards Soissons.
They also occupied the village of Ardon.

As soon as the fog had dispersed, the French were
driven from Semilly, and Blucher directed the cavalry
from the rear to advance and turn their left flank.
General Woronzoff advanced at the same time with
his infantry, pushed forward two battalions of Yagers,
which, drove in the French posts. A part of General
Bulow's corps was also ordered to advance against
the village of Ardon, from which the French were com-
pelled to retreat.

Whilst the cavalry of the allies was taking a circuit
round from the rear, and at about two o'clock in the
afternoon, Napoleon was observed to be advancing a co-
lumn of sixteen battalions of infantry, with cavalry and
artillery, along the chaussee from Rheims. General
D'Yorck was directed to oppose this column, and Gene-
ral Sacken ordered to his support. Here the battle
became most general and decisive.

The French opened a formidable battery of forty pieces
of cannon, and advanced in a firm and undaunted manner.
They formed a column of attack, and were moving for-
ward to the village of Althies, when Prince William of
Prussia, who was advancing to the village at the same
time, met them half-way and overthrew them.

The French now began to retreat. It was at first
executed in good order; but the allies pressing them
warmly, confusion ensued, and the retreat was converted
into, flight. They were pursued as far as Corbeny, losing
artillery, baggage, and many prisoners.

Notwithstanding the defeat of the right of Napoleon's
army on the Qth, he renewed and continued his attack
with the rest of his force during the whole of the suc-
ceeding day.

The plain below the city of Laon is interspersed with
villages and small woods, which soon became the scene
of very obstinate contests. A wood near the village of
Clacy was taken and retaken four different times, and re-
mained finally in the possession of the allies. In the

VOL. II. 3 k centre

442 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

centre and left of the position Napoleon maintained
himself; and, at about half an hour before sun-set, he
advanced a body of skirmishers, supported by two bat-
talions of infantry (the rest of his army remaining in
reserve), and attacked the village of Semilly close under
the walls of the town ; but a battalion of Prussians threw
itself in the road, and, supported by the fire of the troops
from each fl^nk, compelled them to retire in disorder and
vfhh loss.

Thuf terminated the attacks of two succeeding days,
in whitU Napoleon experienced continual defeat and dis-
comfiture. The absence of the corps of D'Yorck, Kleist,
and Sacken, which were in the morning pursuing the re-
mainder of the troops that had advanced from Rheims,
and which could not be recalled in time, prevented any
active offensive operations on the second of these days;
but success crowned the efforts of these corps in other
respects, by the capture of between 3 and 4000 prisoners,
besides a great quantity of ammunition and baggage, and
45 pieces of cannon. During the night of the 10th, Na-
poleon retired towards Soissons, pursued by the cavalry
of Blucher's advanced guard.

Whilst these grand military operations were carrying
on, the negotiations for peace still continued at Chatillon.
The allies presented to Caulincourt, the French minister,
the projet of a preliminary treaty, the main object of
which was to restore the balance of power; but fourteen
days elapsed without any answer being given to it. They
then insisted on a day being fixed for a termination of
the negotiations, or for receiving a contre-projet from the
French minister. The 10th of March was appointed.
Further delays, however, occurred; and, on the 15th, a
contre-projet was presented, which being rejected by the
allies, the negotiations were immediately put an end to.
On this occJasion the allied powers issued the following
solemn declai:ation :*-

" The Allied Powers owe it to themselves, to their
people, and to France, as the negotiations at Chatillon
are broken off, publicly to declare the reasons which
induced them to enter into negotiations with the French
government, as well as the causes of the breaking off* of
the negotiations.

" Military events, to which history can produce no pa-
rallel.

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE* 443

fallel, overthrew, in the month of October last, the ill-
constructed edifice known under the name of the French
Empire; an edifice erected on the ruins of states lately
independent and happy, augmented by conquests from
ancient monarchies, and held together at the expence
of the blood, of the fortune, of the welfare, of a whole
generation.

" The Allied Sovereigns, led by conquest to the Rhine,
thought it their duty to proclaim to Europe anew their
principles, their wishes, and their object. Far from
every wish of domination or conquest— animated solely
by the desire to see Europe restored to a just balance
of the different powers — resolved not to lay down their
arms till they had obtained the noble object of their
efforts— they made known the irrevocableness of their
resolutions by a public act, and they did not hesitate to
declare themselves to the enemy's government in a man-
per conformable to their unalterable determination.

" The French government made use of the frank de-
clarations of the Allied Powers, to express inclinations
to peace. It certainly had need of the appearance of
this inclination, in order to justify, in the eyes of its
people, the new exertions which it did not cease to re-
quire. But every thing, however, convinced the allied
cabinets, that it merely endeavoured to take advantage
of the appearance of a negotiation, in order to prejudice
public opinion in its favour, but that the peace of Eu-
rope was very far from its thoughts.

" The Powers, penetrating its secret views, resolved
to go and conquer, in France itself, the long-desired
peace. Numerous armies crossed the Rhine. Scarcely
were they passed the first frontier, when th^ French mi-
nister for foreign affairs appeared at the outposts.

" All the proceedings of the French government had
henceforth no other object than to mislead opinion, to
blind the French people, and to throw on the Allies the
odium of all the miseries attendant on an invasion.

** The course of events had given the Allies a proof
of the full power of the European league. The princi-
ples which, since their first union for the common good,
had animated the councils of the Allied Sovereigns, were
fully developed : nothing more hindered them from un-
folding the conditions of the re-construction of the com-
3 K 2 mon

441 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

ID on edifice. These conditions must be such as were
no hindrance to peace after so many conquests.

*' The only power calculated to throw into the scale
indemnifications for France (England) could speak openly
respecting the sacrifices which it was ready to make for
a general peace. The Allied Sovereigns were permitted
to hope, that the experience of the late events would
have had some influence on a conqueror, exposed to the
observation of a great nation, which was for the first time
witness, in the capital itself, to the miseries he had
brought on France.

. " This experience might have convinced him, that the
support of thrones is principally dependent on modera-
tion, and probity. The Allied Powers, however, con-
vinced that the trial which they made must not endanger
the military operations, saw that these operations must
be continued during the negotiations. The experience
of the past, and afflicting recollections, shewed them
the necessity of this step. Their plenipotentiaries met
those of the French government: meantime, the victo-
rious armies approached the gates of the capital. The
government took every method to prevent it falling into
our hands. The plenipotentiary of France received
orders to propose an armistice, upon conditions which
■were similar to those which the Allies themselves judged
necessary for the restoration of a general peace. He
offered the immediate surrender of the fortresses in the
countries which France was to give up, on condition of
a suspension of military operations.

" The Allied Courts, convinced, by twenty years ex-
perience, that in negotiations with the French cabinet it
was necessary carefully to distinguish the apparent from
the real intention, proposed, instead of this, immedi-
ately to sign preliminaries of peace. This measure
would have had for France all the advantages of an
armistice, without exposing the Allies to the danger of
a suspension of arms. Some partial advantages, however,
accompanied the first motions of an army collected
under the walls of Paris, composed of the flower of the
present generation— the last hope of the nation, and the
remainder of a million of warriors, who, either fallen
on the field of battle, or left on the way from Lisbon to
Moscow, have been sacrificed for interests with which

France

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 445

France has no concern. Immediately, the negotiations
at Chatillon assumed another appearance. The French
plenipotentiary remained without instructions, and went
away instead of answering the representatives of the
Allied Courts. They commissioned their plenipoten-
tiaries to give in the projet of a preliminary treaty, con-
taining all the grounds which they deemed necessary for
the restoration of the balance of power, and which a few
days before had been presented by the French govern-
ment itself, at a moment, doubtless, when it conceived
its existence in danger. It contained the groundwork
for the restoration of Europe.

** France, restored to the frontiers which, under the
government of its Kings, had insured to it ages of glory
and prosperity, was to have, with the rest of Europe, the
blessings of liberty, national independence, and peace.
It depended absolutely on its government to end, by a
single word, the sufferings of the nation ; to restore to
it, with peace, its colonies, its trade, and the restitution
of its industry. What did it want more? The Allies
now offered, with a spirit of pacification, to discuss its
wishes upon the subject of mutual convenience, which
should extend the frontiers of France beyond what they
Mrere before the wars of the Revolution.

" Fourteen days elapsed without any answer being re-
turned by the French government. The plenipotentia-
ries of the allies insisted on the fixing a day for the ac-
ceptance or rejection of the conditions of peace. They
left the French plenipotentiary the liberty to present a
contre-projet, on condition that this contre-projet should
agree in spirit, and in its general contents, with the condi-
tions proposed by the Allied Courts .The 10th of March
was fixed, by the mutual consent of both parties. This
term being arrived the French plenipotentiary produced
nothing but pieces, the discussion of which, far from
advancing the proposed object, could only have caused
fruitless negotiations. A delay of a few days was granted,
at the desire of the French plenipotentiary. On March
15, he at last delivered a contre-projet, which left no
doubt that the sufferings of France had not yet changed
the views of its government. The French government,
seceding from what it had itself proposed, demanded, in a
new projet, that nations, which were quite foreign to

France,

446 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

France, which a domination of many ages could not
have amalgated with the French nation, should now
remain a part of it ; that France should retain frontiers in-
consistent with the fundamental principles of equilibrium,
and out of all proportion with the other great Powers
of Europe ; that it should remain master of the same posi-
tions and points of aggression, by means of which its go-
vernment, to the misfortune of Europe and that of France,
had etlected the fall of so many thrones, and so many
revolutions; that members of the family reigning in
France should be placed on foreign thrones ; the French
government, in short — that government which, for so many
years, has sought to rule no less by discord than by force
of arms— -was to remain the arbiter of the external con-
cerns of the Powers of Europe.

" By continuing the negotiations npder such circum-
stances, the Allies would have neglected what they owed
to themselves; they would from that moment have de-
viated from the glorious goal they had before them ; their
efforts would have been turned solely against their peo-
ple. By signing a treaty upon the principles of the
French projet, the Allies would have laid their arms in
the hands of the common enemy; they would have
betrayed the expectations of nations, and, the confidence
of their Allies.

" It is in a moment so decisive for the welfare of the
world, that the Allied Sovereigns renew this solemn en-
gagement, till they have attained the great object of their
union.

" France has to blame its government alone for all its
suffering. Peace alone can heal the wounds which a spirit
of universal dominion, unexampled in history, has pro-
duced. This peace shall be the peace of Europe; no
other can be accepted. It is at length time that princes
should watch over the welfare of the people vj^ithout
foreign influence; that nations should respect their mu-
tual independence ; that social institutions should be
protected from daily revolution ; property respected, and
trade free.

*• All Europe has absolutely the same wish to make
France participate in the blessings of peace— France,
whose dismemberment the Allied Powers neither can
nor will permit. The confidence in their promises may

be

Napoleon buonapartc. 447

be found in the principles for which they contend. Then
whence shall the Sovereigns infer that France will take
part in the principles that must fix the happiness of the
world, so long as they see that the same ambition, which
has brought so many misfortunes on Europe, is still the
sole spring that actuates the goverment, that while French
blood is shed in torrents, the general interest is always
sacrificed to private. Whence, under such circumstances,
should be the guarantee for the future, if such a desolating-
system found no check in the general will of the nation?
Then is the peace of Europe insured, and nothing shall
in future be able to disturb it."

Napoleon having thus rejected the onl}' terms which
the allies would grant, an appeal to arms was once more
resorted to.

On the 18th of March, Blucher again put his army in
motion, and on the 19th he directed Generals Woronzoft",
Tchernicheff, and Benkendorff, with their corps, to carry
Rheims. These officers attacked the town in the most
determined manner, and succeeded in their object. Na-
poleon retired to Chalons and Epernay.

In the mean while Prince Schwartzenberg, who, on the
15th had his head-quarters at Pont-sur-Seine, resolved to
support the Prussian chief, by advancing upon Chalons.
He accordingly took up a position at Menil la Comtesse,
before Arcis-sur-Aube, where the French had assembled
a considerable force. On the 21st an attempt was made
to prevent the junction of the Prince with Blucher. It
however failed ; and Napoleon then withdrew towards
Vitry, leaving at Arcis a strong rear-guard. This place
was instantly attacked by the Prince Royal of Wurtem-
berg, and carried after a stout resistance.

The great and mighty events which now rapidly sue*
ceeded each other, almost defy description.

Napoleon having failed in his attempt to debouch from
Plancy and Arcis, across the Aube, and abandoned his
ideas of attacking Prince Schwartzenberg at Menil la
Comtesse, he was guided in his next operations by the
desire of preventing the junction of the armies of Prince
Schwartzenberg and Marshal Blucher. Did he not suc-
ceed to the utmost in this object, it was evidently his best
policy to force their union and their communications as
far to the rear, aud make it as circuitous as possible. It

was

44S NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

was further manifest, by intercepted letters, that Napo-
leon was of opinion, that the movement he determined
upon on the right of Prince Schwartzenberg might induce
him to fail back towards the Rhine, for fear of losing
his communications; that he thus would be able to re-
lieve his places, and be in a better condition to cover
Paris. It generally occurs, that manoeuvres are made
with th^ advance, or the head of an army, but Napoleon
in his present undertaking pushed his object so far, by
the passage of the Aube with his whole army, near Vitry,
as to have left himself completely open to that bold and
magnificent decision which was immediately adopted.

Napoleon put his whole army in motion on the even-
ing of the 21st for Vitry. That night he reniaiiied at
Sommepuis; on the following day his advanced corps
arrived at Vitry, and summoned the place. It had been
placed in a tolerable state of defence, and had a garrison
of between 3 and 4000 Prussians. Marshal Ney endea-
voured by every menace to obtain a surrender; but the
brave Prussian Colonel resolutely refused, and held the
town, which reduced the French commander to cross
the Marne by bridges constructed near Frignicourt.
Napoleon here passed his whole army on the 23d and
24th, and it was immediately ascertained to have taken
the direction of St. Dizier. Three objects might be now
in his view. By the movements round the right of the
allies to force them back ; if this failed, to operate upon
their communications, and even proceed to form a junc-
tion with Marshal Augereau; or, finally, by moving to his
fortresses of Metz, &c. prolong war by resisting on a new
line, while he placed the Allies in the centre of France,
having taken the best precautions in his power for the
defence of his capital.

The Allies, on the 22d, having crossed to the right
of the Aube, lost no time in adopting the bold resolu-
tion of forming the junction of the two armies to the
westward; thus placing themselves between the French
army and Paris, and proceeding with an united force of
at least 200,000 men to the capital of the French empire.

In order the better to mask this movement, the march
of the allied army was made from Pougy, Lesmont, and
Arcis, CD Vitry; and the Emperor of Russia, by two
extraordinary marches of eighteen and twelve leagues,

established

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 4\(\

established his head-quarters with those of the Field Mar-
shal at Vitry, on the 24th. A brilliant capture of several
pieces of cannon, 1500 prisoners, and a large number of
caissons was made by General Augerawski, of the cavalry
of the Russian guard, on the 23d; and on this day and
the preceding, several advanced-guard affairs took place
between General Wrede's corps, the Prince of Wurtem-
berg, and the enemy.

So soon as the Marshal took this decision, he made
his dispositions accordingly, by forming a corps on the
Bar-sur-Aube line, which lie committed to the care of
General Ducca, to protect the head-quarters of the Em-
peror of Austria, his supplies, &c. and carry them, if
necessary, towards the army of the South; and also by
vigorously pressing forward in his operations towards
the capital, to secure his rear, while he pursued his ob-
jects in front. The combined army marched in three
columns to Fere Champenoise, on the 25th. All the
cavalry of the army formed the advance, and were to
push forward to Sezanne : the sixth and fourth corps
formed the advance of the centre column ; the fifth
was on the right ; and the third corps, the reserves, and
the guards, on the left. General Winzingerode, and Ge-
neral Tchernicheff", with all their cavalry, entered Vitry
on the 23d, and were immediately detached to follow up
Napoleon's march to St. Dizier, threatening his rear.
General Winzingerode's infantry remained at Chalons
with Marshal Blucher, together with General Woron-
zofT's and Sacken's corps. General Bulow marched to
attack Soissons, and Generals D'Yorck and Kleist moved
on the line of Montmirail. By these general movements,
had Napoleon even not crossed the Aube, and passed
between the two allied armies, he probably would have
found himself in a similar position to that of Leipsic,
and the result would have been of the same nature.
The army was to have bivouacked on the 25th at Fere
Champenoise. The corps of Marshals Marmont and
Mortier, which had been retiring from before Marshal
Blucher, were moving down towards Vitry, to connect
themselves with Napoleon's operations, ignorant of his
intentions, which might not have, been fully formed until
he found himself too far committed. These corps of his
army were iiiuch perplexed on finding themselves close

VOL. II. 3 L to

450 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

to Prince Schwartzenberg's army, when they expected to
meet their own. Marmont's advance was within a very
short distance, on the night of the 24th, of Vitry, without
knowing it was in the occupation of the allies.

The grand army of the allies marched on the 96th to
Mailleret, and their head-quarters were at TrefFau.

Upon the retreat of Marmont, Mortier, and Arrighi's
corps, before the several columns of the allied armies,
whose junction had been effected between Fere Champe-
noise and Chalons, above 80 pieces of cannon, besides a
large convoy, and a great number of caissons, fell into
the hands of the allies : and the guns were abandoned in
all directions by the French in their rapid retreat.

Generals D'Yorck and Kleist, who had moved from
Montmirail on La Ferte-Gaucher, where they arrived on
the 20th, contributed greatly to Napoleon's discomfiture.
General D'Yorck was very seriously engaged with the
enemy, and took 1300 prisoners at the latter place; and
it may be fairly estimated, that this part of Napoleon's
army was so roughly handled, as to lose one-third of
its efficiency in point of numbers, with nearly all the ar-
tillery belonging to it. Nothing but continued forced
inarches could have enabled any part of the corps to
have escaped.

The grand army was in position at Mailleret on the
26th; and this march was continued in three columns
from Fere Champenoise. Intelligence was received from
Generals Winzingerode and Tchernicheff, who continued
followmg Napoleon's rear with 10,000 cavalry and 40
pieces of cannon, that he was marching by Brienne to
Bar-sur-Aube and Troyes, hastening back to the capital
with the utmost precipitation. Prince Sehwartzenberg
continued his march on the 27th without interruption ;
and, on the evening of the same day. Marshal Blucher's
head-quarters were at La Ferte-Jouarre. On the fol-
lowing morning his army was to pass the Marne, and
the grand army also at Lagny; thus concentrating nearly
their whole force on the right bank of the river, and
taking position on the heights of Montmartre.

On the 28th, the grand allied army, and that of Silesia,
continued their advance to Paris. The sixth corps, the
Austrian grenadiers, the guards, and reserves, and the
cavalry of his Imperial Highness the Grand Duke Con-

stantine.

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 4^1

stantine, took up their ground in the neighbourhood of
Couilay and Manteuil. The third corps was at Mouron ;
the fifth remained at Chailly, with the advanced guard
iu the direction of La Fert6-Gaucher, observing the
routes of Sezanne and Provins. The head-quarters of
the army were established at Cuencey.

The corps of Generals D'Yorck and Kleist advanced
on the 29th to Claye : the corps of General Langeron
was on their right, and General Sacken in reserve; the
corps of Woronzoff was in the rear at Meaux. Different
bridges were constructed on the Marne, to enable the
grand army to file over in various columns. Napoleon's
rear, towards St. Dizier, was assailed on the evening of
the 26th, and the morning of the 27th, by a very pre-
ponderating force, and was obliged to retreat in tbe di-
rection of Bar-le-Duc.

On the 29th, the army of Silesia, having a corps on the
Marne, was directed to advance on the great road of
Soissons to Paris: General Count Langeron was on the
right, near the village of La Valette. Generals D'Yorck
and Kleist moved from the Meaux route into that of
Soissons, to make room for Prince Schwartzen berg's
army : Generals Sacken and Woronzoff were in their
rear. On the 28th, in the evening, a very sharp affair
occurred at Claye, between General D'Yorck and the rear
of the French : The ground they were posted on was
very favourable for defence; and, in a very severe tirail-
lade. General D'Yorck lost some hundred men; but the
French were driven back at all points. The sixth corps
passed at Triport, and reached Bondy at night, and the
heights of Pantin. The fourth corps crossed at Meaux,
with the guards, and reserves, and cavalry : the fornier
was immediately directed to gain the high road from
Lagny to the capital, and to take post on the heights of
Chelle. The third corps was to support the fourth ; the
fifth moved to Meaux, and remained on the left of the
Marne, having their cavalry at Cressy and Colomiers.
On the advance of the sixth corps, some slight resistance
was made at Villaparis ; and, as it was necessary to re-
lieve Generals D'Yorck and Kleist, and move tiiem more
to the right, a cessatit)n of hostilities for four hours was
agreed on by mutual consent.

The subsequent operations, previous to the surrender
3 L 2 of

452 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

of Paris, have been so fully detailed in our Memoirs
of the Emperor Alexander, that a repetition of them
■would be quite superfluous: that event, the precursor of
Napoleon's downfal, took place on the 31st of March,
by the following capitulation, which will be for ever me-
morable, from having placed in the power of generous
conquerors a city which had given laws to almost all
Europe.

" Art. 1. The corps of the Marshals Dukes of Tre-
viso and Ragusa shall evacuate the city of Paris on the
31st of March, at 7 o'clock in the morning.

** Art. 2. They shall take with them all the appurte-
nances of their corps cCarmee.

" Art. 3. Hostilities shall not recommence until two
hours after the evacuation of the city; that is to say, on
the 31st of March, at nine o'clock in the morning.

'* Art. 4. All the arsenals, military establishments,
workshops, and magazines, shall be left in the same state
that they were previous to the present capitulation being
proposed.

" Art. 5. The national or city guard is entirely sepa-
rated from the troops of the line. It is either to be kept
on foot, or disarmed, or disbanded, according to the ul-
terior dispositions of the Allied Powers.

" Art. Q. The corps of the municipal gendarmerie
shall, in every respect, share the fate of the national
guard.

" Art. 7. The wounded and the stragglers remain-
ing in Paris after seven o'clock shall be prisoners of
war.

" Art. S. The city of Paris is recommended to the
generosity of the High Allied Powers.

" Done at Paris, the 31st of March, at two o'clock
in the morning."

On the 31st, in the morning, the allies entered Paris.
In the evening. Napoleon dispatched Caulincourt to the
Emperor Alexander, offering to accede to the terms
which the allies had offered at Chatillou. The Empe-
ror replied, that the time was past for treating with Na-
poleon as Sovereign of France.

The capital of the French empire being thus in the
possession of the allies, the Senate soon came to the re-
solution of deposing Napoleon ; and that Body accord-
ingly

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 433

ingly transmitted, by their President, the following letter
to the members of the Provisional Government : —

" Gentlemen, Members of the Provisional Government
— The Senate commission me to request you to signify
to the French people to-morrow, that the Senate, by a
decree passed in its sitting, have declared, that the Em-
peror Napoleon and his family have forfeited all right
to the throne, and consequently absolved the French
people and the army from their oath of allegiance. This
act will be sent to you to-morrow, with the motives and
reason of it. I have the honour to salute you.

" The President of the Senate, Barthklemy."
" Paris, April 2c?, half-past nine
in the evening."

This decree was in the following terms : —

" The Conservative Senate, considering that, in a con-
stitutional monarchy, the monarch exists only in virtue
of the constitution, or social compact —

" That Napoleon Buonaparte, during a certain period
of firm and prudent government, afforded to the nation
reasons to calculate for the future on acts of wisdom
and justice; but that afterwards he violated the compact
which united him to the French people; particularly in
levying imposts and establishing taxes otherwise than in
virtue of the law, against the express tenor of the oath
which he had taken on his ascending the throne, con-
formable to Article 53 of the Act of the Constitution of
the 28th Floreal, year 12 —

*' That he committed this attack on the rights of the
people even in adjourning, without necessity, the Legis-
lative Body, and causing to be suppressed, as criminal,
a report of that body, the title of which, and its share
in the national representation, he disputed —

" That he undertook a series of wars, in violation of
Article 50 of the Act of the Constitutions of the 22d
Frimaire, year 8, which purports, that declarations of
war should be proposed, debated, decreed, and promul-
gated in the same manner as law —

" That he issued, unconstitutionally, several decrees,
inflicting the punishment of death; particularly the two
decrees of the 5tli of March last, tending to cause to be
considered as national, a war which would not have
taken place but for the interests of his boundless ambi-
tion—

« That

4J4 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

" That he violated the constitutional laws by his de-
crees respecting the prisons of the state —

" That he annulled the responsibility of the ministers,
confounded all authorities, and destroyed the independ-
ence of the judicial bodies:

" Considering that the liberty of the press, established
and consecrated as one of the rights of the nation, has
been constantly subjected to the arbitrary controul of his
Police ; and that at the same time he has always made
use of the press to fill France and Europe with misrepre-
sentations, false maxims, doctrines favourable to despot-
ism, and insults on foreign governments' —

" That acts and reports heard by the Senate have un-
dergone alterations in the publication:

" Considering that, instead of reigning according to
the terms of his oath, with a sole view to the interest,
the happiness, and the glory of the French people. Napo-
leon completed the misfortunes of his country, by his
refusal to treat on conditions which the national interests
required him to accept, and which did not compromise
the French honour —

" By the abuse which he made of all the means en-
trusted to him in men and money —

" By the abandonment of the wounded, without dressi-
ings, without assistance, and without subsistence.

** By various measures, the consequences of which
were the ruin of the towns, the depopulation of the
country, famine, and contagious diseases:

" Considering that, for all these causes, the Imperial
Government established by the Senatus Consultum of the
2Sth Floreal, year 12, has ceased to exist, and that the
wish, manifested by all Frenchmen, calls for an order of
things, the tirst result of which should be the restoration
of general peace, and which should also be the aBra of a
solemn reconciliation of all the states of the great Euro-
pean Family—

" The Senate declare and decree as follows : —
" Art. 1. Napoleon Buonaparte has forfeited the
throne, and the hereditary right established in his family
is abolished.

" Art. 2. The French people and the army are re-
leased from their oath of fidelity towards Napoleon
Buonaparte.

•^ Art.

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 455

" Art. 3. The present decree shall be transmitted by
a message to the Provisional Government of France, con-
veyed forthwith to all the departments and the armies,
and immediately proclaimed in all the quarters of the
capital."

The Provisional Government immediately decreed —

** That all the emblems, cyphers, and arms, which
have characterized the government of Buonaparte, shall
be suppressed and effaced, wherever they exist.

*' That this suppression shall be executed exclusively
by persons delegated by the authority of the Police or
Municipality, without the zeal of individuals assisting in
it, or preventing it.

" That no address, proclamation, public journal, or
private writing, contain injurious expressions against the
government overthrown; the cause of the country being
too noble to adopt such means."

The Provisional Government also addressed the follow-
ing proclamation to the French armies.

*' Soldiers! — France has just broken the yoke under
which sh6 has groaned with you for so many years.

" You have never fought but for the country; you can
no longer fight, unless against it, under the colours of the
inan who leads you.

** Behold all you that have suffered from his tyranny:
you were lately a million of men ; nearly all have perished ;
they were delivered up to the sword of the enemy, with-
out food, without hospitals; they were condemned to
perish of rAiseryand hunger.

" Soldiers! — It is full time to end the calamities of
the country: peace is in your hands. Will you refuse
it to desolated France? Your enemies themselves de-
mand it of you; they regret to ravage these fine coun-
tries, and wish only to take up arms against your op-
pressor, and our's. Shall you be deaf to the voice of the
country, which summons and intreatsyou ? It addresses
you by its Senate, by its capital, and, above all, by its
misfortunes; you are its noblest children, and cannot be-
long to him who has ravaged it, who has delivered it up
without arras, without defence; who wished to render

your

456 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

your name odious to all nations, and who would have
compromised your glory, if a man, who is not even a
Frenchman, could have weakened the glory of our arras,
and the generosity of our soldiers.

" You are no longer the soldiers of Napoleon; the
Senate and all France absolve you from your oaths."

During these transactions in the French capital, so
fatal to Napoleon, he had retired to Corbeil ; and from
thence collected his army in the neighbourhood of Fon-
tainbleau, which amounted to between 40 and 50,000
men. That he would make a desperate attempt was
thought probable, if his army stood by him.

On the 1st of April, in the morning, Napoleon re-
viewed the troops. The marshals and generals, who had
learned from the papers, the resolutions of the Senate
and the Provisional Government, conversed together on
the subject loud enough to be heard by Napoleon ; but he
appeared to pay no attention to what they said, and the
review passed quietly. When it was over, Marshal Ney
entered the palace with him, and followed him into his
cabinet, where he asked him if he was informed of the
great revolution that had taken place at Paris. He re-
plied, with all the composure he could assume, that he
knew nothing of it; though he was doubtless well in-
formed of the whole. The Marshal then gave him the
Paris papers, which he seemed to read with attention ;
but he was only seeking to gain time to form an answer.
Meantime came Lefebvre, who, addressing his late Em-
peror in a feeling tone, said, " You are undone: you
would not listen to the counsels of any of your servants ;
and now the Senate has declared that you have forfeited
the throne." These words made such an impression on
him, that he immediately burst into a flood of tears; and,
after some minutes' reflection, wrote an act of abdication
in favour of his son.

On the 3th, about eleven o'clock, several generals sent
to the Duke of Bassano, who was mostly alone with the
Emperor, to dissuade him from appearing on parade ; but
he would not refrain from it. About half past eleven,
he formed a plan, which he made the Duke of Bassano
write and sign with hiai, to repair, with 20,000 men that
he had still with him, to Italy, and join the Prince Eugene

Napoleon,

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 457

Napoleon. He repeated several times, " If I choose to go
there, I am certain that all Italy will declare for me."

On the parade, he looked pale and thoughtful ; and his
convulsive motions shewed his internal struggles: he did
not stop above eight or ten minutes. When he got into the
palace, he sent for the Duke of Reggio, and asked him if
the troops would follow him ? " No, Sir," answered the
Duke, " you have abdicated." " Yes, but upon certain
conditions." " The soldiers," resumed the Duke, " do
not comprehend the difference; they think 3'^ou have no
more any right to command them."—" Well then," said
Napoleon, *' this is no more to be thought of; let us
wait for the accounts from Paris."

Marshals Ney and Macdonald, together with Caulin-
court, had been dispatched by Napoleon, with proposals to
the Allied Powers to abdicate in favour of his son; but
this proposition was inadmissible, and nothing but the
entire exclusion of his family would be allowed.

The Marshals returned in the night between twelve
and one. Ney entered first. — " Well, have you suc-
ceeded ?" exclaimed Napoleon.

" Revolutions do not turn back," said Ney; " this
has begun its course; it was too late. To-morrow the
Senate will recognize the Bourbons."

" Where shall I be able to live with my family ?"

" Where your Majesty shall please; and, for ex-
ample, in the Isle of Elba, with a revenue of six mil-
lions."

" Six millions! that is a great deal for a soldier, as I
am. I see very well I must submit. Salute all my com-
panions in arms." (Here he ceased speaking.)

The act of abdication was drawn up in the following
manner:—

" The Allied Powers having proclaimed that the Em-t
peror Napoleon was the only obstacle to the re-establish-
ment of the peace of Europe, the Emperor Napoleon,
faithful to his oath, declares, that he renounces, for him-
self and his heirs, the thrones of France and Italy; and
that there is no personal sacrifice, even that of life, which
he is not ready to make to the interest of France."

At the same time the following treaty was concluded
with him by the Allied Powers.

VOL. ir, 3 m " Treaty

ASS NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

" Treaty between the Allied Powers and His Majesty the
Emperor Napoleon.

" Art. 1. His Majesty the Emperor Napoleon re-
nounces, for himself, his successors, and descendants, as
ivell as for all the members of his family, all right of
sovereignty and dominion, as well to the French Empire,
and the Kingdom of Italy, as over every other country.

** Art. 2. Their Majesties the Emperor Napoleon and
Maria Louisa shall retain their titles and rank, to be
enjoyed during their lives. The mother, the brothers,
sisters, nephews, and nieces of the Emperor, shall also
retain, wherever they may reside, the titles of Princes of
his family.

" Art. 3. The Isle of Elba, adopted by his Majesty
the Emperor Napoleon as the place of his residence,
shall form, during his life, a separate principality, which
shall be possessed by him in full sovereignty and pro-
perty; there shall be besides granted, in full property, to
the Emperor Napoleon, an annual revenue of 2,000,000
francs, in rent charge, in the great book of France, of
which 1,000,000 shall be in reversion to the Empress.

" Art. 4. The duchies of Parma, Placentia, and Gu-
astalla, shall be granted, in full property and sovereignty,
to her Majesty the Empress Maria Louisa; they shall
pass to her son, and to the descendants in the right line.
The Prince her son shall from henceforth take the title
of Prince of Parma, Placentia, and Guastalla.

" Art. 5. All the Powers engage to employ their
good offices to cause to be respected by the Barbary
powers the flag and territory of the Isle of Elba; for
which puipose the relations with ihe Barbary powers
shall be assimilated to those with France.

" Art. 6. There shall be reserved in the territories
hereby renounced to his Majesty the Emperor Napoleon,
for himself and family, domains or rent-charges in the
great book of France, producing a revenue, clear of all
deductions and charges, of 2,500,000 francs. These
domains and rents shall belong, in full property, and to
be disposed of as they shall think fit, to the Princes and
Princesses of his fttmily, and shall be divided amongst
them in such manner that the revenue of each shall be in
<the following proportion, viz.

" To

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 459

'* To Madame Mere 300,000 francs.

" To King Joseph and his Queen . . 500,000

« To King Louis 200,000

" To the Queen Hortense and to her 1 ^^^ ^^^

children 3 '

«* To King Jerome and his Queen . . 500,000

« To the Princess Eliza 300,000

" To the Princess Paulina .... 300,000

2,500,000

** The Princes and Princesses of the house of the Em-
peror Napoleon shall retain, besides, their property,
moveable and immoveable, of whatever nature it may be,
which they shall possess by individual and public right,
and the rents of which they shall enjoy (also as indivi-
duals.)

" Art. 7. The annual pension of the Empress Jose-
phine shall be reduced to 1,000,000 in domains, or inscrip-
tions in the great book of France: she shall continue to
enjoy, in full property, all her private property, moveable
and immoveable, with power to dispose of it conformably
to the French laws.

** Art. 8. There shall be granted to Prince Eugene,
Viceroy of Italy, a suitable establishment out of
France.

" Art. 9. The property which his Majesty the Em-
peror Napoleon possesses in France, either as extraor-
dinary domain, or as private domain attached to the
crown, the funds placed by the Emperor either in the
great book of France, in the bank of France, in the Action
des Forets, or in any other manner, and which his Ma-
jesty abandons to the crown, shall be reserved as a capi-
tal, which shall not exceed 2,000,000, to be expended in
gratifications in favour of such persons, whose names
shall be contained in a list to be signed by the Emperor
Napoleon, and which shall be transmitted to the French
government.

" Art. 10. All the crown diamonds shall remain in
France.

" Art. 11. His Majesty the Emperor Napoleon shall

return to the treasury, and to the other public chests,

all the sums and effects that shall have been taken out

3 M 2 by

460 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

by his orders, with the exception of what has been ap-
propriated from the Civil List.

•' Art. 12. The debts of the household of hisMajesty
the Emperor Napoleon, such as they were on the day of
the signature of the present treaty, shall be immediately
discharged out of the arrears due by the public treasury
to the Civil List, according to a list which shall be signed
by a Commissioner appointed for that purpose.

" Art. 13. The obligations of the Mont-Napoleon, of
Milan, towards all the creditors, whether Frenchmen or
foreigners, shall be exactly fulfilled, unless there shall be
any change made in this respect.

" Art. 14. There shall be given all the necessary pass-
ports for the free passage of his Majesty the Emperor
Napoleon, or of the Empress, the Princes, and Princesses,
and all the persons of their suites who wish to accompany
them, or to establish themselves out of France, as well as
for the passage of all the equipages, horses, and effects,
belonging to them. The Allied powers shall in conse-
quence furnish officers and men for escorts.

" Art. 15. The French Imperial Guard shall furnish
a detachment of from 12 to 1500 men, of all arms, to
serve as an escort to the Emperor Napoleon to St.
Tropez, the place of his embarkation.

" Art. 16. There shall be furnished a corvette and
the necessary transport vessels, to convey to the place of
his destination his Majesty the Emperor Napoleon, and
his household; and the corvette shall belong, in full pro-
perty, to his Majesty the Emperor.

" Art. 17. The Emperor Napoleon shall be allowed
to take with him and retain as his guard 400 men, volun-
teers, as well officers as sub-officers and soldiers.

" Art. 18. No Frenchman who shall have followed
the Emperor Napoleon or his family, shall be held to
have forfeited his rights as such, by not returning to
France within three years; at least, they shall not be
comprised in the exceptions which the French govern-
ment reserves to itself, to grant after the expiration of
that term.

" Art. 19. The Polish troops, of all arms, in the
service of France, shall be at liberty to return home, and
shall retain their arms and baggage, as a testimony of
their honourable services. The officers, sub-officers, and

soldiers.

r^/i{:€y

^^^r/i^a/

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 46 1

soldiers, shall retain the decorations which have been
granted to them, and the pensions annexed to those
decorations.

" Art. 20. The high Allied powers guarantee the
execution of all the articles of the present treaty, and
engage to obtain that it shall be adopted and guaranteed
by France.

" Art 21. The present act shall be ratified, and the
ratifications exchanged at Paris, within two days, or
sooner, if possible.

*' Prince de Metternich,

" J. P. COMTS DE StADION,

*' Andre CoMTE de Rasamouffski,

** Charles Robert Comte de Nesselrode,

** Castlereagh,

*' Charles Auguste Baron de Hardeneerg,

" Marshal Ney.
"(L. S.) Caulincourt.

" Done at Paris, the 11th of April 1814."
Napoleon having thus by a formal act relinquished
his right to the thrones of France and Italy, and ac-
cepted an asylum in Elba, he left Fontainbleau on the
21st of April, accompanied by four Commissioners of
the Allied powers. His escort consisted of fourteen car-
riages: four officers of his household (among whom was
his baker) formed part of his suite. Few of the military
departed with him; and even those who did, were to
leave him when he embarked.

The following are nearly the words which he ad-
dressed, on the setting off, to the officers and subalterns
of the old guard, who were still with him. " 1 bid
you farewell. During the twenty years that we have
acted together, I have been satisfied with you;!
have always found you in the path of glory. All the
powers of Europe have armed against me— a part of my
generals have betrayed their duty—France herself has
betrayed it. With your assistance, and that of the brave
men who remained faithful to me, I have for three years
preserved France from civil war. Be faithful to the new
king whom France has chosen: be obedient to your
commanders, and do not abandon your dear country,
which too long has suffered. Pity not my fate: I shall
be happy when I know that you are so likewise. I might
have died— nothing would have been more easy for me :

but

462 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

but I still wish to pursue the path of glor}'. What we
have done I w..l write. I cannot embrace you all; but
I will embrace your General — Come, General." (He em-
braced him.) " Let the eagle be brought to me, that I
may also embrace it." On embracing it, he said, " Ah,
dear eagle, may the kisses which I bestow on you re-
sound to posterity! Adieu, my children! Adieu, my
brave companions! Once more encompass me." Then
the staff, accompanied by the four Commissioners of the
Allied powers, formed a circle around him. Napoleon
now got into the carriage. At that moment he could
not hide his confusion, and he dropped some tears. In
going, he called for Constant, his first valet-de-chambre ;
but he had concealed himself, probably in order that he
might not have to follow Napoleon, though he had on
the preceding day received a present of 50,000 francs.

All those who remained near Napoleon till the moment
of his departure, were struck with the want of soul and
sensibility which he displayed towards the persons who
surrounded him. Not one emotion of tenderness, not
one expression of the heart escaped him, to shew that he
was susceptible of the least attachment; one might have
supposed that he feared lest his fall might extort some
regrets: his servants, therefore, on this trying occasion,
almost to the last man, abandoned him ; so much so, that
the evening before his departure he had only one man to
wait in his chamber.

As every circumstance connected with his progress to
the Island of Elba must prove a source of interest to our
readers, we shall make no apology in being minute in our
details ; but we cannot vouch for their authenticity.

Napoleon passed through Montargis on the 22d of
April, in a carriage and six, with about 25 horsemen
behind him. The Russian, Austrian, French, English,
and Prussian oflficers, were in six chariots, with six horses
each ; and were followed by about twenty carriages, with
the baggage and domestics of Napoleon. Baggage and
led horses, with picquets of cavalry, had passed through
in the morning. The foot-guards who were in the bar-
racks were under arms. They respected the fall of Buo-
naparte by keeping silence, and giving no sign either of
approbation or disapprobation. He passed through the
ranks, and entered the town, affecting a calm air, and

saluting

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 463

saluting to the right and left the persons who were at the
windows, and were curious to see him. Many people
charged him with a boastful assumption of insensibility.
The truth is, he interested very few people. General
Bertrand was in the carriage, and appeared more affected
than him. Napoleon slept at the castle of Ariare.
He thus travelled by short stages, on his way to St.
Tropez.

At the post-house of La Tour, near Lyons, Buonaparte
supped alone, and shewed some ill temper because the
four Commissioners remained too long at table. He then
set out and got forward alone upon the road towards
nine o'clock at night. The curate of the place followed to
observe him. He heard him sing, " Oh, Richard! Oh,
mon Toi ! Vunivers fabandonne." When the complaint
was finished, the curate advanced, and even put himself
before Napoleon, in the idea that he would seek to enter
into conversation with him. This was in fact the case.
The night was very fine. " You are a priest," said Buo-
naparte, with an air sufficiently imposing. — " Yes, Sire,
I am Curate of this place." " Has your parish suffered ?"
— " A great deal, Sire; it has been destroyed by requisi-
tions." " Requisitions are the inevitable consequences
of war. Monsieur le Cur6," said he, then looking at the
sky, " I once knew the names of the stars, but I have
forgotten them. Do you know which is that?" — I never
did know, Sire." Thus the conversation ended.

In passing through Lyons, he purchased a Bible of
Sacy. He desired also to have the most complete col-
lection of pamphlets, posting-bills, proclamations, ad-
dresses, acts of adhesion, in short, of all the papers by
v^hich the public joy had been manifested, at the news
of his dethronement. They were enabled to furnish him
with these at Lyons for the sum of 1100 francs. The
inhabitants accompanied him out of the city, with shouts
of" Vive le Roi!"

During the first part of his journey he ate by himself;
but when the rumours, always increasing in the south,
and the risinir of several of the cities which he traversed,
had convinced him that the people were ready to proceed
against him to the utmost extremities, hp s;iw no other
means of satety but in assuming the costume of au
Austrian officer. It was then he determined also to re-
nounce

454 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

ijounce his character of Emperor, and to take his meals
with the Commissioners who escorted him, and to whom
he owed the preservation of his life. The first day that
he sat at table, the Commissioners remarked that he ate
nothing, and that he secretly rejected the meat which he
put to his mouth. He feared that he should be poi-
soned! The next day he asked permission to have
dinner dressed by his own cook. This was assented to ;
and he ate very heartily.

The tone of master abandoned Buonaparte altogether
on quitting Lyons; but it was at La Caladre, a little inn
of Provence, that he shewed the greatest signs of weak-
ness, and a kind of alienation of mind, that could be
found only in so inconsistent a being. The fears that
agitated him were so violent, that the Allied Commis-
sioners could scarcely find the means of making him
tranquil. The most singular costume was hardly thought
sufficient to disguise him. At one time he required that
the servant of one of the Commissioners, who was in
front of the chaise, should set himself to smoke: he re-
quested one of the officers to sing ; and when he excused
himself, he begged him at least to whistle! Another pre-
tended to be asleep. He was desirous that all about him
should assume an air of excessive familiarity, which
would set aside every idea of consideration or respect.
He pushed forward in advance to arrive at La Caladre.
The Commissioners found him in the inn, with his face
leaning on his hands, bathed in tears. He told them that
his life was absolutely sought after; that the hostess of
the inn, who had not recognized bin), had told him that
the Emperor was a villain, and that they sought to em-
bark him only to drown him. He would not eat nor
drink, however much they pressed him: and although
the example of those about him might have set his
mind at ease, he would make his repast only on bread
and water taken from his chaise which he devoured with
avidity. He boasted of the good that he pretended to
have done for France: he expressed astonishment at the
ingratitude of the nation; although he declared at the
same time that he bad a sovereign contempt for all man-
kind! He declared he had never done evil to any one.
As for war, he admitted that he had carried it to excess;
but he pleaded in excuse the desire that France had for

aggrandisement.

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 46.^

aggrandisement. Sometimes he fell into moral disserta-
tions. " Men kill themselves for love," said he — " folly!
They kill themselves because they have lost their for-
tunes^—cowardice! They kill themselves that they may
not live dishonoured — weakness! But to survive the loss
of an empire, and the outrage of one's contemporaries —
behold in that what is true courage!" His fears were
not always chimerical. The sabre was at one time raised
against one of the people of his suite, who was unwilling
to cry " Vive le Roi!" In one place, when the train
stopped for a moment to change horses, a woman ap-
proached one of the Commissioners, and said to him,
*' In the name of Heaven, Sir, give us leave to plunder
him; you have as much reason to complain of him as
we have. It is not cruelty, but justice." On his part,
he did not neglect any precaution. One day, to the great
astonishment of those who accompanied him, he and
his people were found decorated with white cockades,
which must have been provided before the commence-
ment of the journey. At one time he was timid, even to
meanness; and again, on the least appearance of safety,
he assumed an arrogant and coxcomb air: sometimes he
tried his perfidy anew, endeavouring to inspire the Aus-
trian Commissioner with distrust of Russia and Prussia.
When he saw the sea, he could not suppress a kind of
shivering. He had the appearance of believing that they
were going to drown him. He spoke several times at
Lyons, in a manner that gave reason to think he had
relied on that town.

Napoleon arrived at Montelimart on Sunday, at six
o'clock in the evening, and departed at nine, after supping.
On the arrival of a number of couriers, who preceded the
carriage in which he was, the inhabitants of Montelimart
ran to the post-house, a little without the town, where
he was expected. Many persons entered, and spread
themselves on the stairs, in the hall, at the windows of
the apartments, to see him ; but curiosity was disap-
pointed by the rapidity of Napoleon in alighting from
his carriage and rushing into his apartment, and from his
apartment back again to his carriage. It was evident,
however, that Napoleon was not tranquil ; and that, in
place of remorse, he had cruel trances. The conversa-
tion which he had with several persons, and particularly

VOL. II. 3 N With

466 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

with the Sieur Chabane, the master of the post-house,
betrayed the most lively anxieties for the sequel of his
journey. We know these apprehensions were only th6
result of a panic fear. We subjoin the substance of the
conversation between him and M. Chaubane.

" Are you master of this inn?" — " Yes, Sire.'*

" At what hour do you think I shall arrive at Avig-
non ?" — " To-morrow, about six or seven in the morn-
ing."

" The devil! I shall arrive in day-light, then. The
roads must be very bad." — " They are not good, Sire."

Napoleon then, putting his hand to his forehead, ut-
tered these broken expressions: — " Six or seven in the
morning: it will be day — broad day. The people of
Avignon still love the maintenance of grandeur, even to
folly ; their heads are hot — elevated — like the natives of
Provence. In that country is the famous glaciere. I
do not wish to enter Avignon. Let horses be brought
without the ramparts — it is there they shall be changed."

At this moment, some persons employed in the admi-
nistration of the forests, and in the collection of the con-
solidated duties, asked to see him. He made them come
in; spoke to them for about five minutes, and then dis-
missed them with these truly philosophic and consoling
expressions — " Gentlemen, do as 1 do— resign your-
selves." Napoleon then went out of his apartment to
mount his carriage. The crowd of inhabitants had in-
creased ; but the people were quiet enough. One of his
valets invited some soldiers of the carriages to cry " Vive
VEmpereur!" and gave them some money; but the cries
of these were soon smothered by shouts, a thousand
times repeated, of" Vive Louis XVllI. /" " Vivent les
Hourhons I"

The town of Avignon had suffered so much from the
revolution and its results, that it regarded the fall of Na-
poleon as the moment of its returning prosperity and
happiness. In the twinkling of an eye every person
mounted the white cockade; the white flag fluttered on
the public edifices, and the Imperial insignia disappeared.
All the civil and military authorities were obliged to
follow this movement; and the National guard had
enough to do to moderate the exultation of the people.
Hitherto all had gone well : but on Sunday, the 23d,

three

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 467

three carriages arrived, bearing the Imperial arms, and a
report was instantly spread that it was Napoleon : the
people collected, and surrounded the carriages; they in-
stantly opened the doors, and sought for him! At length
it was understood that he was not in either, and that
they contained only some persons of his suite. Without
listening to any thing that was said, the populace made
them put on the white cockade, and cry *' Vive le Roil"
*' Vive Louis XVIII. /" It was not till after they had
torn off the eagles from the carriages, that they suffered
them to proceed; but, unfortunately, by means of conver-
sation with the escort, they learned that Napoleon him-
self would arrive that night, or on Monday morning, and
they seemed resolved to watch for him. The ferment
was considerable; nevertheless, towards the evening the
crowd decreased, and tranquillity was restored.

On Monday, at four in the morning, the English offi-
cer arrived, who preceded Napoleon. The officer of the
guard asked him, if Napoleon's escort was strong, and
in a condition to prevent any kind of outrage which might
be offered. The British officer appeared much affected
at the apprehensions which wera entertained ; and in-
treated the guard to protect, by all possible means, the
passage of Napoleon, whose personal safety was guaran-
teed by the august allies.

At length, about six o'clock, the carriage of Napoleon
arrived; but, in consequence of intelligence that had
been transmitted, the convoy stopped at the opposite
end of tlie town from that at which it was naturally ex-
pected to enter. Thither the relays of post-horses were
taken; and the same officer who had spoken to the
English commandant, galloped there with his troop.
He found the carriage surrounded by the mob, who had
begun to commit excesses. Men and women were calling
out for their children and relatives, victims of his ambi-
tion, and complaining of all the injuries they had en-
dured. Already one man had seized the handle of the
carriage-door, when a servant of Napoleon, who was sit-
ting on the box, attempted to draw his sabre to defend
his master. " Foolish man," said the officer, " do not
attempt to stir!" and, by saying this, he induced the rtian
at the carriage-door to let go his hold. Na|:>oleon, letting
down the coach-glass in front, with much agitation,
3 N 2 cried

46s NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

cried out three times to his domestic to remain quiet,
and then made signs of thanks to the officer. During
this occurrence, the people recognised Napoleon, and this
was all that they appeared to wish for. In- short, the
officer was obliged to face about with his corps, and
clear the streets; he then ordered the postilion to drive
a,way at full gallop. Napoleon had only time to exclaim,
*' Bien obliged' General Bertrand was in the left corner
of the carriage; but he did not stir, nor did he even
utter a word, while all this was passing. The foreign
generals who accompanied him, wished to get out of
their carriages to join with the soldiers, and defend to the
]ast extremity the charge with which they were in-
trusted; but they were persuaded to remain quiet: and
this respect which was paid to them was an additional
cause of the security of Napoleon.

In passing through Donzere, at eleven o'clock on the
night of the 24th, Napoleon was very badly received.
The inhabitants of that place were celebrating the fes-
tival of the re-establishment of their lawful Sovereign on
the throne of his ancestors: the streets were illuminated,
dances were formed, and joy was in all hearts. In this
enthusiasm, the inhabitants made a line before the car-
riage of Napoleon, to stop its progress, and thundered
in his ears cries of " Long live the Bourbons !" " Long
live Louis XVIII.!" " Down with the Tyrant!" "Down
with the butcher of our children !"

In the night of the 25th, Buonaparte passed through
the. city of Aix. On his way to Orgon the peasants as-
sembled, and called on him to cry " Long live the King I'*
which he did.

It appears that be was much frightened with all the
occurrences to which the indignation of the inhabitants
gave rise as he passed through the South of France. On
quitting Orgon, where he gave himself up for lost, he
took the resolution of changing his carriage, his name,
and even his dress, to escape the danger which became
every minute more alarming.

He arrived at Frejus dressed as an Austrian officer,
with a Russian pelisse; and on his head he wore a Prus-
sian cap, adorned with a very large white cockade/ In
this strange garb he was completely disguised : besides,
he had a long beard, his eyes were hollow, and be

looked

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 46Q

looked very uneasy : he expressed a wish to make but
one step from the carriage to the frigate which was to
carry him to Elba.

The eve of his departure, he had an interview with
the Princess Borghese, who, notwithstanding his pres-
sing entreaties, had no wish to follow him. The bad
state of the roads not permitting him to continue his
route from Luc to St. Tropez, Colonel Campbell caused
two frigates to proceed to St. Rapheau, the one French,
the other English. It was in the latter that Napoleon
embarked. Those who are fond of noticing such co-
incidences, will recollect with some interest, that it was
also at St. Rapheau, Napoleon landed on his return from
Egypt.

Throughout the whole of his route, he manifested the
most vivid terrors, and preserved a gloomy silence: but
when, approaching the coast, he perceived the Mediterra-
nean fleet, and the sails of the vessels in the roads,
his heart dilated; he began to speak with wonderful
volubility, and, according to custom, with much in-
coherency.

It was reported, that, in his conversation with Marshal
Augereau, he often exclaimed, " All is finished for me in
Europe ; hut Asia wants a man /"

The Russian, Prussian, Austrian, and English Com-
missioners, and Captain Usher, of the Undaunted fri-
gate, who was appointed to convey him to Elba, dined
with him on the 27th of April. On the introduction of
Captain Usher, he said, that though formerly the enerny
of England, he was now as sincerely its friend ; and that
it was a great nation. On Captain Usher observing,
that he feared he could but ill accommodate him, Napo-
leon said, a British man-of-war was a palace. At dinner
the subject was chiefly naval, of which he appeared a
perfect master. On some surprise being expressed, how
he could make himself so perfect a master of the minu-
tiae of the navy, when he had such great, and so many
other affairs of higher importance, he bowed and felt the
compliment : but said, that in three years his plans would
have been complete; that he was about to build 20 sail
of the line on the Elbe, and would have had 200 sail of
the line well manned, for that his naval conscription fully
answered his expectations. On its being observed by

Captain

470 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

Captain Usher, that his naval conscripts did not create
much alarm, he seemed much surprised, adding, that
our ministers well knew the Toulon fleet was manned
with them.

On the 3d of May, at six in the evening, the English
frigate appeared in the roads of Porto Ferrajo; she
hoisted out a boat which landed several officers of the
Russian, English, and Austrian staff's, with tvpo French
generals, accompanying the Ex-Emperor. These officers
having officially communicated to the Commandant of
the port the events which had taken place in France, the
abdication of Napoleon, and his arrival at Elba, all the
necessary preparations were made, during the night, for
his reception. All the authorities were required to at-
tend the ceremony of his entrance.

Next morning a flag, sent by the dethroned Emperor,
was brought into the town with some sort of solemnity,
and immediately hoisted on the castle, amidst a salute
of artillery. This flag had a white ground, interspersed
with bees ; and in the centre appeared the arms of
Napoleon, and those of the Isle, united by a rose-coloured
stripe.

Some time after the flag was hoisted, Napoleon landed
with all his suite, and was saluted with 101 rounds of
cannon. The English frigate replied to the salute with
24 guns. On this occasion, Napoleon was dressed in a
blue great coat, under which appeared a suit richly em-
broidered with silver, with a peculiar decoration : he had
a small round hat, with a white cockade ; three fiddlers
and two filers preceded him, amidst a multitude of peo-
ple rather curious than eager to see him. He was con-
ducted to the house of the Mayor, where he received
the visits of all the superior civil officers: he spoke to
each of them, affecting an air of confidence, and even
of gaiety, putting a number of questions relative to the
isle.

After reposing some moments. Napoleon got on horse-
back, and, with his suite, visited the forts of Marciana,
Campo, Capo Liviri, and Rio.

On the morning of the 5th, accompanied by the Com-
missioners of the Allied powers, he mounted his horse and
rode to Porto Longone, five miles from Porto Ferrajo.
He also visited the iron mines, which constitute the wealth

of

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 471

of the isle of Elba. He asked those around him what
might be the revenue of these mines? " 500,000 livres."
" These 500,000 livres will then be mine." " But, Sire,
you know, that by a decree you appropriated them to the
Legion of Honour." " Where was my head when I gave
this order? I have issued so many foolish decrees in my
life-time."

In addition to the interesting narrative of Napoleon's
journey and voyage, we cannot resist the temptation of
adding the narrative of Captain Usher.

" Soon after my arrival at Frejus," says Captain Usher,
" Count Bertrand, Grand Marshal, informed me that it
was the Emperor's wish to see me — (he is still acknow-
ledged Emperor and Sovereign of the Island of Elba).
When I was presented, he said, he was once a great
enemy to England, but now he was as sincere a friend.
He said, we were a great and generous nation. He asked
me about the wind, weather, distance to Elba, and other
nautical questions; he then bowed, and retired. He was
very dignified; still the Emperor. I received his com-
mand to dine with him : there were at table the Russian,
Austrian, Prussian, and English Commissioners, and the
Grand Marshal ; the conversation was most interesting.
He laughed when I asked if he did not issue his Milan
decree for forcing America to quarrel with us; this he
did not deny: he said, all his plans were on an immense
scale, and would have been finished in four or five years.
I have not time to repeat all his interesting conversation.
That night we embarked all his numerous baggage. In
the morning he sent for me; he asked how the wind was,
and said, that he had made up his mind to embark at
eight in the evening.

" At seven o'clock an immense mob formed round his
hotel; he sent for me, and I remained half an hour along
with him. His sword was on the table, and he appeared
very thoughtful : there was a great noise in the street.
I said to him, " The French mob are the worst I have
seen ;" he answered, " They are a fickle people." He ap-
peared deep in thought; but recovering himself, rung the
bell, and ordering the Grand Marshal to be sent for, he
asked him if all was ready? Being answered in the affirm-
ative, he turned to me, and said, in his usual quick way,
* Allons.' The stairs were lined on each side with ladies

and

479 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

and gentlemen ; he stopped a moment, and said something
to the ladies, which I could not hear. He walked to his
carriage, and called for me — (not a safe birth); he then
called the Austrian Commissioner and the Grand Mar-
shal. I sat opposite to him in the carriage, and we
drove off.

" He was handed into the boat by a nephew of Sir
Sydney Smith, who is my fourth lieutenant; rather an
odd coincidence : Lieutenant Smith had been confined
in a prison for seven or eight years; I introduced him:
the Emperor seemed to feel his conscience prick him ;
he only said, " Nephew to Sir Sidney Smith ; I met him
in Egypt." When he went on board, he walked round
the ship ; my people crowded about him, and for the first
time in his life he felt confidence in a mob.

" His spirits seemed to revive, and he told me next
morning, he had never slept better; next day he asked
me a thousand questions, and seemed quite initiated in
all nautical matters. At breakfast and dinner there was
a great deal of conversation ; he spoke of the Scheldt ex-
pedition. I asked him if he thought we should succeed?
He said, " Never;" and turning towards the Austrian
Commissioner, he said, " I wrote from Vienna, that the
expedition was intended against Antwerp,"

" He told me, that his motive in annexing Holland to
France, was for a naval purpose, and that he thought the
Zuyder Zee particularly well adapted for exercising his
conscripts.

" At breakfast one morning, he asked me to bring-to
a neutral brig that was passing; I said, laughing, that I
was astonished his Majesty would give such an order, as
it was contrary to his system to denationalize; he turned
round, and gave me a pretty hard nip, saying, *' Ah !
Captain!"

" When we were sailing by the Alps, he leaned on my
arm for half an hour, looking earnestly at them. I told
him he once passed them with better fortune. He
laughed, and liked the compliment. He told me he
had been once wounded in the knee, by an English Ser-
jeant. He looks uncommonly well and young. He is
much changed for the better, being now very stout. He
shewed me a portrait of the King of Rome, who is very
like his father. He likewise shewed me one of the Em-
press^

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 4.75

press, which is rather pretty. We had a smart gale
when off Corsica. He asked me to anchor at Ajaccio,
the place of his birth; but the wind changing, made it
impossible. In the gale, I told him I had more confi-
dence than Caesar's pilot: the compliment pleased him.
I returned to Frejus, to embark the Princess Borghese,
his sister, who goes on a visit to Elba. He dresses very
plain, wearing a green coat, with the decorations of the
Legion of Honour.

" The whole-length portrait of him, with the cocked
hat, and arm folded in his breast, as walking in the
grounds of Malmaison, is the strongest likeness of him I
have seen."

Having traced the life of Napoleon thus far, we had
here intended to close his Memoirs; but a new and un-
expected revolution having once more raised him to the
imperial throne of France, renders it necessary to conti-
nue it down to that eventful epoch. Whether he will
be able to withstand the formidable confederacy of
Europe, whose object it is again to dethrone him, is a
matter of deep reflection, and upon which it would be
too hazardous to venture an opinion : we shall, however,
avail ourselves of the opportunity which this Work wilt
afford, before its close, to bring down the events of his
life to that period, when it may be presumed, that the
great and terrible struggle which is now preparing will
have terminated either in the overthrow or establishment
of his new government.

That his active and ever-daring mind would be con-
stantly employed in contriving to recover the throne of
France, was certainly to be expected; and but a feeble
security against his attempts was to be found in the
treaty which the allies had made with him. Whether
the alleged violations of that treaty by the government of
France be true or not, or whether they scrupulously ful-
iilled its conditions, is immaterial, as enough of his cha-
racter might be known from the events of his former life,
to render it necessary strictly to watch all his motions.
By a fatality, however, which is truly surprising, this
man, who had hardly ever formed a treaty which he did
not violate when it suited his policy, and who was the
idol of the French army, if not of the French people, was
allowed every tacility which he cguld himself desire

YPL. II. ' 3 O of

474 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

of carrying his plans into execution. The place of his
exile, if it may be so termed, was the best that could
possibly be contrived for carrying his purposes into exe-
cution; and scarcely would his residence at Fontainbleau
itself have afforded him greater facilities. Yet, so great
was the supineness of the French government, that no
precautions whatever were taken to prevent his return.
How soon after his arrival at Elba, he began to think of
his daring attempt, is hot known; but it may be pre-
sumed, that he was not long on that island before he
began to form his treasonable practices. If it be true,
that the congress at Vienna had determined to remove
him to a remote situation, the knowledge of that circum-
stance might have determined him to anticipate their in-
tention by a bold attack on the throne of Louis. Leaving
these conjectures, however, to be determined by others,
we shall proceed to narrate the circumstances connected
with this new and unexpected occurrence in Napoleon's
life. So secret had he been in his preparations for this
mighty enterprise, that General Bertrand, his most inti-
mate and confidential friend, had no intimation of it until
the very moment of sailing; and that no suspicions
might any where be excited. Napoleon resolved to trust
the conveyance of his troops to such vessels as might be
in Porto Ferrajo at the time of his sailing.

On the 20th of February, every thing being ready, he
set sail from Porto Ferrajo in his own brig, accompanied
by four smaller vessels, which he had seized for the pur-
pose, and having on board 1000 or 1100 men, composed
of French, Italians, Poles, Neapolitans, and Elbese. On
leaving the island, he ordered General Lassi to make the
following proclamation: —

" Inhabitants! — Your august Sovereign is called, by
Divine Providence, to his ancient glory ; and has left this
island, of which he has confided the command to me, and
the internal government to six of your most distinguished
fellow-citizens: to your own tried attachment and valour
he leaves the defence of the place, and the maintenance
of good order. *I leave,' said he, * the island of Elba,
highly satisfied with the conduct of its inhabitants ; I
entrust to them the defence of the island, to which I
attach the greatest importance. I cannot give them a
stronger proof of confidence than in leaving, after the

departure

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 475

departure of the troops, my mother and my sister to their
care. The members of the Junta, and all the inhabitants
of this island may rely on my affection and special pro-
tection.' Inhabitants! this is a most fortunate and me-
morable epoch for you; on your conduct alone depends
your glory and future felicity. Continue to obey, impli-
citly, the wise dispositions of the Junta, and the orders
which the public authorities may have to issue under
these circumstances. Rejoice, Elbese, and do not allow
yourselves to be contaminated by the pestiferous insinua-
tions of the enemies to good order.
** Porto Ferrajo, ^7th February 1815."
On the 1st of March, Napoleon landed in the bay of
Juan, between Frejus and Antibes, in the department of
the Var. He immediately dispatched fifteen men to
summon the town of Antibes; these were admitted
within the gates, and immediately disarmed, by order of
Baron Corsim, the commandant. Another summons ap-
peared shortly after to demand the cession of the town,
in the name of General Drouet, who met with the same
fate: a like reception was also given to a messenger who
afterwards arrived on a similar errand.

Napoleon now sent a detachment of 50 men to occupy
the town of Cannes : the officer who commanded them
gave the Mayor directions to repair to the shore, to re-
ceive instructions from the General-in-Chief. Napoleon
reached Cannes about half an hour after midnight : his
army bivouacked in the vicinity of the town ; and, at three
o'clock in the morning of the 2d, they continued their
march, headed by drums and trumpets, and preceded by
four pieces of cannon, and a superb carriage, in which
the Emperor was seated. He took the route to Grasse,
and, halting within a league of it, sent forward an officer
to sound the dispositions of the inhabitants; which not
proving favourable, he proceeded through St. Vallier,
leaving Grasse to the left, and by the main road towards
Digne, a considerable town in the department of the
^ower Alps. On the 3d, Napoleon arrived at Bareme
'ithin four leagues of Digne. On the 4th he entered the
tter place; and proceeded, the same day, to Gap, push-
^ on with hasty strides towards Grenoble.
In landing in France, Buonaparte had issued two pro-
nations, one to the French people, and the other to
3 o 2 the

476 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

the army, both bearing date the 1st of March. These
proclamations were widely disseminated in the course of
his journey. Several thousands of them were printed at
Gap, for distribution; as well as addresses from the sol-
diers of his guard to their comrades of the French army.
These were well calculated to make an impression upon
his former subjects: the disasters and disgraces which
they had recently sustained were all imputed to treach-
ery; and he held out to them the pleasing but delusive
hope, that his presence would restore the glory of the
French empire. That to the people of France was as
follows : —

" Bay of Juan, March J, 1815.
** Napoleon, hy the grace of God, and the Constitution of
the Empire, Emperor of the French, ^c. ^c. 4'C.
" TO THE FRENCH PEOPLE.

*' Frenchmen! — The defection of the Duke of Cas-
tiglione delivered up Lyons, without defence, to our
enemies; the army, of which I confided to him the
command, was, by the number of its battalions, the
bravery and patriotism of the troops which composed it,
fully able to beat the Austrian corps opposed to it, and
to get into the rear of the left wing of the enemy's army
which threatened Paris.

" The victories of Champ Auhert, of Montmirail, of
Chateau Thierry, of Vauchamp, of Mormans, of Monte-
reau, of Craone, of Rheims, of Arcy-sur-Auhe, and of
St.Dizier — the rising of the brave peasants of Lorraine,
of Champagne, of Alsace, of Franche Comte, and of
Bourgoin — and the position which I had taken in the
Tear of the enemy's army, by separating it from its maga-
zines, from its parks of reserves, from its convoys and all
its equipages, had placed it in a desperate situation. The
French were never on the point of being more powerful
and the flower of the enemy's army was lost without n
source — it would have found its grave in those vastcou
tries which it mercilessly ravaged; when the treason
the Duke of Ragusa gave up the capital, and disorgani'
the army. The unexpected conduct of those two G»
rals, who betrayed at once their country, their pri
and their benefactor, changed the destiny of the *
The disastrous situation of the enemy was such, th ^

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 477

the conclusion of the affair which took place before Paris,
it was without ammunition, on account of its separation
from its parks of reserve.

" Under these new and important circumstances, my
heart was rent, but my soul remained unshaken, I con-
sulted only the interest of the country. I exiled myself
on a rock in the middle of the sea. My life was, and
ought to be, still useful to you. I did not permit the
great number of citizens, who wished to accompany me,
to partake my lot ; I thought their presence useful to
France: and I took with me only a handful of brave
men, necessary for my guard.

" Raised to the throne by your choice, all that has
been done without you is illegitimate. For twenty-five
years France has had new interests, new institutions, and
new glory, which could only be secured by a national
government, and by a dynasty created under these new
circumstances. A prince who should reign over you,
who should be seated on my throne by the power of those
very armies which ravaged our territory, would in vain
attempt to support himself with the principles of feudal
law ; he would not be able lo recover the honour and
the rights of more than a small number of individuals,
enemies of the people, who, for twenty-five years, have
condemned them in all our national assemblies. Your
tranquillity at home, and your consequence abroad,
would be lost for ever.

" Frenchmen! — In my exile I heard your complaints,
and your wishes; you demanded that government of your
choice, which alone was legitimate. You accused my
long slumber; you reproached me for sacrificing to my
repose the great interests of the country.

" I have crossed the seas, in the midst of dangers of
every kind ; I arrive amongst you to resume my rights,
which are your's. All that individuals have done, writ-
ten, or said, since the capture of Paris, I will be for ever
ignorant of; it shall not at all influence the recollections
which I preserve of the important services which they
have performed. There are circumstances of such a
nature as to be above human organization.

" Frenchmen ! — There is no nation, however small it
may be, which has not had the right, and which may not
withdraw itself from the disgrace of obeying a Prince

imposed

478 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

imposed on it by an enemy momentarily victorious.
When Cliarles VII. re-entered Paris, and overthrew the
ephemeral throne of Henry V. he acknowledged that he
held his throne from the valour of his heroes, and not
from a Prince Regent of England.

" It is thus that to you alone, and to the brave men of
the army, I account it, and shall always account it, my
glory to owe every thing.

(Signed) " Napoleon."

His proclamation to the French army was as fol-
lows : —

" Gulph of Juan, March 1, 1815.

** Napoleon, hy the grace of God, and the Constitution
of the Empire^ Emperor of the French, <SfC. ^c. ^c.
« TO THE ARMY.
" Soldiers! — We were not conquered: two men^
risen from our ranks, betrayed our laurels, their coun-
try, their prince, their benefactor.

*' Those, whom during twenty-five years we have seen
traversing all Europe to raise up enemies against us; who
have passed their lives in fighting against us in the ranks
of foreign armies, cursing our fine France; shall they
pretend to command and control our eagles, on which
they have not dared ever to look? Shall we endure that
they should inherit the fruits of our glorious labours—
that they should clothe themselves with our honours and
our goods — that they should calumniate our glory? If
their reign should continue, all would be lost, even the
memory of those immortal days. With what fury do
they pervert their very nature? They seek to poison
what the world admires ; and if there still remain any
defenders of our glory, it is among those very enemies
whom we have fought on the field of battle.

*• Soldiers! — In my exile I heard your voice: I have
arrived through all obstacles and all perils. Your Gene-
ral, called to the throne by the voice of the people, and
educated under your banners, is restored to you; come
and join him.

" Tear down those colours, which the nation has pro-
scribed, and which for 25 years served as a rallying sig-
nal to all the enemies of France: mount the cockade
tricolor; you bore it in the days of our greatness,

« We

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 479

*• We must forget that we have been masters of nations ;
but we must not suffer any to inlermeddle in our affairs.

" Who shall presume to be master over us? Who
would have the power? Recover those eagles which you
had at Ulm, at Austerlitz, at Jena, at Eylau, at Fried-
land, at Tudela, at Eckmuhl, at Essling, at Wagram, at
Smolensko, at Moscow, at Lutzen, at Vurken, at Mont-
mirail. Do you think that the handful of Frenchmen,
who are now so arrogant, will endure to look on them?
They shall return whence they came; and there, if they
please, they shall reign, as they pretend to have reigned
during nineteen years. Your possessions, your rank,
your glory— the possessions, the rank, the glory of your
children — have no greater enemies than those princes
whom foreigners have imposed upon us; they are the
enemies of our glory, because the recital of so many he-
roic actions which have glorified the people of France
fighting against them, to withdraw themselves from their
yoke, is their condemnation.

" The veterans of the armies of the Sambre and the
Meuse, of the Rhine, of Italy, of Egypt, of the West, of
the grand army, are all humiliated; their honourable
wounds are disgraced : their successes were crimes —
those heroes were rebels — if, as the enemies of the peo-
ple pretend, the legitimate sovereigns were in the midst
of the foreign armies.

•* Honours, rewards, affection, are given to those who
have served against the country and us.

" Soldiers ! come and range yourselves under the
standards of your Chief: his existence is only composed
ofyour's; his rights are only those of the people and
your's; his interest, his honour, his glory, are no more
than your interest, your honour, and your glory. Victory
shall march at the charge-step : the eagle, with the
national colours, shall fly from steeple to steeple even
to the lowers of Notre Dame. Then you will be able
to shew your scars with honour; then you will be able
to glory in what you have done; you will be the deli-
verers of the country. In your old age, surrounded and
esteemed by your fellow-citizens, they will hear you with
respect while you recount your high deeds; you will be
able to say with pride — " And I, too, was part of that
grand army which entered twice the walls of Vienna,

those

480 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

those of Rome, of Berlin, of Madrid, of Moscow: and
which delivered Paris from the foul blot which treason,
and the presence of the enemy, imprinted on it.

** Honoured be those brave soldiers, the glory of the
country! and eternal shame to those guilty Frenchmen,
in whatever rank Fortune caused them to be born, who
fought for twenty-five years with the foreigner, to tear
the bosom of the country !

" By the Emperor,
(Signed) ' " Napoleon.

" The Grand Marshal, performing the functions of
Major-General of the Grand Army,

** Bertrand."
Intelligence of Napoleon's landing was quickly con-
veyed to Paris; and measures were immediately taken
to counteract his design. After having issued a procla-
mation to convoke the Chambers, Louis published an
ordinance to the following effect: —

** Louis, hy the grace of God, King of France and Na-.

"earre, to all to whom these presents shall come, greeting:

" The twelfth article of the Constitutional Charter
specially authorises us to issue regulations and ordi-
nances necessary for the safety of the state. It would be
essentially compromised, were we not to take prompt
measures for crushing the enterprise that has just been
formed at one of the points of our kingdom, and to pre-
vent the effects of the plots and attempts tending to
excite civil war, and to overturn the government.

*' For these reasons, and on the report which has been
made to us by our beloved and trusty Chevalier, the
Chancellor of France, Sieur Dambray, Commander of
our Orders, by the advice of our Council, we have
ordered and order, declared and declare, as follows :—

" Art. 1. Napoleon Buonaparte is declared a traitor
and a rebel, for having introduced himself, by force of
arms, into the department of the Var. All the governors,
officers commanding the armed force and National
Guards, the civil authorities, and even private citizens,
are enjoined to go in quest of him, to apprehend him,
and to bring him without delay before a council of war j
which, after liaving ascertained his identity, shall sen-
tence him to the punishment proHOunced by the law.

" C-. The

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 481

" 2. The same punishiiient shall be inflicted, as guilty
of the same crimes, upon the military men and civil offi-
cers of all ranks, who shall have accompanied or followed
the said Buonaparte in his invasion of the French terri-
tory, unless within eight days, reckoning from the pub-
lication of the present ordinance, they come to make
their submission to our governors, commandants of mili-
tary divisions, general or civil administrations.

" 3, All civil and military administrators, chiefs, and
subordinate persons in the said administrations, payers
and receivers of public money, and also the private citi-
zens, who shall directly or indirectly aid and assist Buona-
parte, shall, in like manner, be prosecuted and punished,
as promoters and accomplices of rebellion, and of at-
tempts tending to change the form of the government
and excite civil war.

" 4. Those persons shall suffer the same punishments,
conformably to article 102 of the Penal Code, who, by
language held in public places or companies, by posted
placards or by printed worko, shall have taken part, or
induced the citizens to take part, in the rebellion, or to
abstain from repressing it. ^ . r

" 5. Our Chancellor, our Mmisters, Secretaries ot
State, and our Director-General of the Police, each in
what' concerns him, are charged with the execution of
the present ordinance, which shall be inserted in the
Bulletin des Lois, addressed to all the governors of mili-
tary divisions, generals, commandants, prefects, sub-
prefects, and mayors of our kingdom, with orders to
cause it to be printed and posted both at Pans and else-
where, and wherever there shall be occasion.

" Given at the Palace of the Thuilleries, the 6th of
March 1815, and of our reign the 20th.

(Signed) " Louis."

In order to bind the troops to the interests of Louis,
Marshal Soult, the minister of war, issued the following
order of the day : — , . .

" Soldiers!— That man who, but a short time since,
before the eyes of all Europe, abdicated his usurped au-
thority, of which he had made so fatal an use, Buonaparte,
has landed upon the French soil, which he ought never
to have re-visited.

« What does he want?— Civil wm. What does he
TOL II. 3 p seek.>

482 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

seek? — Traitors. Where will he find them? Will it
be among the soldiers whom he has deceived and sacri-
ficed, so often disappointing their valour ? Will it be in
the bosom of those families which his name alone fills
with terror?

** Buonaparte must estimate us low indeed^ to think
that we can abandon a legitimate and beloved sovereign,
to share the fate of a man who is only an adventurer.
He is weak enough to believe it ; and this last act of per-
fidy is sufficient to convince us.

" Soldiers! — The French army is the noblest army in
Europe, and it will also be the most faithful.

" Let us rally round the banners of the lily, at the
voice of the father of his people, the true heir of the vir-
tues of the great Henry. He has shewn you the duties
that you have to fulfil. He puts at your head this prince,
the model of the chevaliers of France, whose happy re-
turn into our country has already chased away the usurper,
who is now endeavouring by his presence to destroy his
only and last hope."

These measures, however, were of little avail against
the enterprise and activity of Napoleon ; and the effect
which they might otherwise have had was lost by the
treachery which pervaded almost every department of
the government.

On the 9th of March, the House of Peers having met,
they voted the following address to the King; and if the
sentiments of the French people were to be gathered
from these testimonies of affection which were offered to
Louis, he would have had little to fear from any attempt
of Napoleon to wrest from him the sceptre of his an-
cestors.

" Sire! — The Peers of France bring to the foot of
your throne a new homage of their respect and attach-
ment.

" The desperate enterprise which is at this moment un-
dertaken by the man that was for a long time the terror
of Europe, has not disturbed the great mind of your Ma-
jesty. But, Sire, you have been obliged to adopt firm and
wise measures to insure public tranquillity. We admire,
at the same time, your Majesty's courage and foresight.
You assemble round you your faithful houses. The na-
tion has not forgotten that, before your happy return, mad

pride

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 483

pride had dared to dissolve them, and forced them to
keep silence when it feared its sincerity. Such is the
difference between legitimate and tyrannical power.

" Sire! ^ our intelligence apprised you, that the Con-
stitutional Charter — ^^that monument of your wisdom, in-
sured for ever the stability of your throne, and the secu-
rity of your subjects. The grateful nation presses round
you. Our brave armies, and the illustrious chiefs who
command them, engage upon their honour that such a
rash and criminal attempt shall be attended with no dan-
ger. The National Guards, which maintain order in our
towns and provinces with so much energy, will suffer no
disturbance there.

" The man that makes dishonourable calculations upon
perfidy, to excite civil war among us, will find unity and
fidelity every where, and unbounded devotion to your
sacred person.

" All the acts of your Majesty's government hitherto
have been marked with paternal kindness. If it should
be necessary that the laws should become more severe,
you would undoubtedly deeply lament that uecess-ity ; but
the two Houses, actuated by the same spirit, will immedi-
ately concur in every measure that the importance of cir-
cumstances, and the safety of the state, may require."

His Majesty replied to this address as follows: —

" I am deeply affected with the sentiments expressed
to me by the House of Peers.

" The calmness that you have probably observed in
me arises from the full conviction that I have of the
affection of my people, the fidelity of my armies, and the
concurrence of the two Houses. My firmness proceeds
from the sense of my duties."

Whilst every preparation was making at Paris to repel
the attempts of the invader, the progress of Napoleon
was truly alarming, and left the French court but little
time to prepare against his attack, or to fix the wavering
dispositions of the people and army.

At two in the afternoon of the 6th, Napoleon set out
from Gap, accompanied by the whole population of the
town.

At St. Bonnet, the inhabitants, seeing the small number

of his troops, had fears, and proposed to him to sound the

tocsin to assemble the villages, and accompany him en

3 p 2 masse*

484 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

masse. " No," said Napoleon, *' your sentiments con-
vince me that I am not deceived. They are to me a sure
guarantee of the sentiments of my soldiers. Those whom
I shall meet will range themselves on my side ; the more
there is of them, the more my success will be secured.
Remain therefore tranquil at home."

On the 6th, 40 of his advanced guard fell in with the
advanced guard of a division of 6000 men, troops of the
line, who had gone from Grenoble to arrest his march.
General Cambronne wished to speak with the advanced
posts. He was answered, that they were prohibited from
communicating with him. Napoleon, being informed of
this circumstance, went to the place, and found there a
battalion of the 5th of the line, a company of sappers,
a company of miners, in all from 7 to 800 men. He sent
an officer of ordnance, the chef d'escadron Roul, to
make known to these troops the intelligence of his arrival;
but that officer could not obtain a hearing, the prohibi-
tion being still urged against having any communication.
Napoleon alighted, and went to the right of the battalion,
followed by the guard with their arms reversed. He
made himself known, and said that the first soldier who
wished to kill his Emperor might do it; an unanimous
cry of •' Vive VEmpereurr was their answer. This re-
giment, it appears, had been under the orders of the
Emperor from his first campaigns in Italy. The guard
and the soldiers embraced. The soldiers of the 5th inri-
mediately tore off their cockade, and requested, with
enthusiasm and tears in their eyes, the tri-coloured
cockade. When they were arranged in order of battle.
Napoleon said to them — •' I come with a handful of brave
men, because I reckon on the people and on you — the
throne of the Bourbons is illegitimate, because it has not
been raised by the nation ; it is contrary to the national
will, because it is contrary to the interests of our country,
and exists only for the interest of a few families. Ask
your fathers — ask all the inhabitants who arrive here
from the environs, and you will learn from their own
mouths the true situation of affairs ; they are menaced
with the return of tythes, of privileges, of feudal rights,
and of ah the abuses from which your successes had de-
livered them. Is it not true, peasants?" — " Yes, Sire,"
answered all of them, with an unanimous cry, " they

wish

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 485

wish to chain us to the soil: you come as the angel of
the Lord to save us." The soldiers of the battalion of
the 5th now demanded to march the foremost in the divi-
sion that covered Grenoble. They commenced their
march in the midst of a crowd of inhabitants which aug-
mented every moment.

Fatigued as was Napoleon, he wished to enter Gre-
noble the same evening. Between Vizille and Grenoble
the young Adjutant Major of the 7th of the line came to
announce to him that Colonel Labedoyere had detached
himself from the division of Grenoble, and had come
with the regiment by a forced march to meet him.

The troops had re-entered Grenoble, and the gates of
the city were shut. The ramparts which defend the city
were covered by the 3d regiment of engineers, consisting
of 2000 sappers ; by the fourth of artillery of the line, the
same regiment in which, 25 .years before, Napoleon had
been a Captain ; by the two other battalions of the 5th
of the line ; by the 11th of the line; and the hussars of
the 4th.

The national guard and the whole population of Gre-
noble were placed in the rear of the garrison. As soon
as Napoleon made his appearance, they made the air
ring with shouts of Vive V Empereur ! They opened the
gates ; and at ten at night Napoleon entered Grenoble, in
the midst of an army and a people animated by the most
lively enthusiasm. The next day he was addressed by
the municipality and all the departmental authorities.
At two he reviewed the troops in the midst of the whole
population of the department. The garrison of Grenoble
immediately afterwards put itself in a forced march
to advance upon Lyons. The 9th, Napoleon slept at
Bourgoin.

According to his own journal of his progress, which
must be cautiously received, his march from Grenoble
to Lyons was nothing but a triumph. The Emperor,
says his journal, fatigued, was in his carriage going at a
slow pace, surrounded by a crowd of peasants singing
songs, which expressed to all the noblesse the sentiments
of the brave Dauphinois. " Ah," said the Emperor, " I
find here the sentiments which for twenty years induced
me to greet France with the name of the Great Nation;
yes, you are still the Great Nation, and you shall always
be so."

In

486 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

In the mean time, the Count d'Artois, the Due
d'Orleans, and several Marshals, had arrived at Lyons.
They wished to break down the bridge De la Guillotiere,
and the bridge Moraud. Napoleon gave orders, how-
ever, to General Bertrand to assemble the boats at Misbel,
with the intention of passing in the night, and intercept-
ing the roads of Moulins and of Macon, to the prince
who wished to prevent him from passing the Rhone. At
four he sent a reconnoissance of the 4th hussars, who ar-
rived at La Guillotiere, and were received with shouts of
Vive r Einpereur ! The passage of Misbel was counter-
manded, and the Emperor advanced at a gallop upon
Lyons, at the head of the troops which were to have de-
fended it against him.

The Count d'Artois, says Napoleon, had done every
thing to secure the troops. He was ignorant that nothing
is possible in France to an agent of a foreign power, and
one who is not on the side of national honour and the
cause of the people. Passing in front of the 13th regi-
ment of dragoons, he said to a brave soldier covered with
scars and decorated with three chevrons, " Let us march,
comrade ; shout, therefore, Vive le Roi /" " No, Mon-
sieur," replied this brave dragoon, " no soldier will fight
against his father. I can only answer you by crying Vive
VEmpereur .'" The Count d'Artois mounted his carriage,
and quitted Lyons, escorted by a single gens-d'arme.

At nine o'clock at night. Napoleon traversed the
Guillotiere almost alone, but surroui]ded by an immense
population. The following day, the 11th of March, he
reviewed the whole division of Lyons, and General
Brayer at their head, immediately put them in march to
advance upon the capital.

On the 13th, at three in the afternoon. Napoleon ar-
rived at Villefranche, a little town of 4000 souls, which
included at that moment more than 60,000. He stopped
at the Hotel de Ville. A great number of wounded
soldiers were here presented to him. He entered Macon
at seven o'clock in the evening, surrounded by the peo-
ple of the neighbouring districts.

On the loth Napoleon slept at Autun ; and from Autun
he went to Avallon, and slept there on the night of the
16th. He found, he says, upon this road the same senti-
ments as among the mountains of Dauphiny. He re-
established in their offices all the functionaries who had

been

r. ' ^7

v;^^- '^^Mr/r^'-'

nibh

simi C wrd/ f rm by. i.lVM//er Wam-ick Sgiu'/v

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 457

been deprived of them for having united to defend their
country against foreigners. The inhabitants of Ghiffey
had been peculiarly the object of persecution by an up-
start sub-prefect at Semur, for having taken up arms
against the enemies of our country. Napoleon gave
orders to a brigadier of gendamerie to arrest this sub-
prefect, and to conduct him to the prison of Avallon.

On the 17th he breakfasted at Vermanton, and went to
Auxerre. At this place, Count Bertrand, his Major-
General, gave orders to collect all the boats to embark the
army, vi'hich was already four divisions strong, and to
convey them the same night to Fossard, so that they
would be able to arrive at one o'clock in the morning at
Fontainbleau. Before he left Auxerre, Napoleon was
rejoined by the perjured and perfidious Ney, who had
so solemnly pledged his word to Louis.

In the mean time the French government had collected
a very large force at Melun, in order, if possible, to stop
the progress of the invader, and crush his hopes. The
force which they had assembled, was estimated at not
less than 100,000 men. The best spirit seemed to pre-
vail amongst them. They appeared devoted to the cause
of the King, and eager to meet and repel his antagonist.
A powerful artillery strengthened their positions. Rely-
ing on their numbers, they had left the towns, the rocks,
and the forest of Fontainbleau unguarded ; preferring the
flat plains of Melun, where the whole of their army
isight act at once, against the comparatively small band
of the invader.

On the 20th, Napoleon reached and occupied Fontain-
bleau without the least opposition. He had, at that
time, with him only 13,000 veteran troops; but other
divisions were either following him, or advancing to sup-
port his right and left flanks on parallel lines of march.
Ney, whose corps is stated to have amounted to 30,000
roen, had previously communicated to the King a decla-
ration, signed by the whole army under his command,
both officers and privates, in which they stated, " that they
respected him too much to deceive him ; that they would
not fight for Louis XVIIL and that they would shed all
their blood for Napoleon the Great." This declaration,
which sufficiently explains the apparent hesitation, inac-
tivity, or want of skill of Ney, did not, however, entirely

extinguish

4g8 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

extinguish the hopes of the Bourbons. They still relied
on the good disposition and numbers of the troops at
Melun ; and, blinded by the addresses sent up from many
garrisons and provinces, at the very moment of their de-
fection, still thought that their cause vi'ould be espoused
by the nation as their own. As a measure of precaution,
however, part of the King's household was dispatched to
secure the road to Calais, in case a retreat should prove
necessary, and, on the 19th, occupied Amiens.

Napoleon turned off, when he approached the Seine,
towards Fontainbleau, which he occupied on the 19th ;
being determined, that the palace which had witnessed
his downfal, should be the first that should receive him in

his SUCC6SS

Early on* the morning of the 20th, preparations were
made for the encounter which was expected to take
place. The army was drawn up in three lines, the in-
tervals and the flanks armed with batteries : the centre
occupied the Paris road. The ground from Fontain-
bleau to Melun is a continual declivity; so that, on
emerging from the forest, you have a clear view of the
country before you, whilst, on the other hand, those
below can easily descry whatever appears on the emi-
nence. An awful silence (broken only at times by peals
of martial music, intended to confirm the loyalty of the
troops, by tepeating the roval airs of " Vive Henri
Quatrer and " La Belle Gahrielhr or by the voice ot
the commanders, and the march of the divisions to their
appointed ground) pervaded the army. All was anxious
expectation ; the chiefs conscious that a moment would
decide the fate of the Bourbon dynasty, and the troops,
perhaps, secretly awed at the thought of meeting in
hostility the man whom they had been accustomed to
obe3\ On the side of Fontainbleau no sound as of an
army rushing to battle was heard; if the enemy was
advancing, his troops evidently moved in silence : per-
haps his heart had failed him, and he had retreated
during the night; if so, France was saved, and Europe
free. At length a light trampling of horses became au-
dible—it approached ; an open carriage attended, by a
few huzzars and dragoons, appeared on the skirts of the
forest— it drove down the hill with the rapidity of light-
ning—it reached the advanced posts—" Long live the

" Emperor r

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 489

Emperor!" burst from the soldiery—" iVapo/eow / Na-
poleon the Great T spread from rank to rank; for^ bare-
headed, (Bertrand seated at his right, and Drouet at his
left) Napoleon continued his course, now waving his
hand, now opening his arms to the soldiers, whom he
called his friends, his companions in arms, whose ho-
nour, whose glories, whose country, (he said) he now came
to restore. All discipline was forgotten, disobeyed, and
insulted— the commanders in chief took to flight— thou-
f«ands rushed on his passage — acclamations rent the sky.
At that moment, his own guard descended the hill— the
Imperial march was played— the eagles were once more
displayed—and those whose deadly weapons were to
have aimed at each other's life, embraced as brothers,
and joined in universal shouts. In the midst of these
greetings did Napoleon pass through the whole of the
royal army; and, placing himself at its head, pursued
his course to Pans, the population of the villages
flocked round him; the inhabitants of Pans, informed
of his approach, came out to meet him; and, at the
head of 200,000 persons, in the midst of enthusiastic
acclamations, did he re-enter the capital!

The next day, the 21st, at one o'clock in the afternoon.
Napoleon held a review of all the troops that composed
the army of Paris. After he had passed through the
ranks, all the troops were ranged in square battalions.

♦' Soldiers," said he," I arrived in France with 600
men, because I calculated upon the love of the people,
and on the remembrance of the veteran soldiers. I was
not deceived in my expectation. Soldiers'. I thank you.
Glorv, like that which we are about to acquire, is every
thing to the people and to you ! My glory is, that I have
known and valued you.

" Soldiers!— The throne of the Bourbons was ille.
gilimate, because it was built by the hands of strangers—
because it was proscribed by the vow of the nation, de-
clared in all our nalional assenibUes— because, m short,
it offered a guarantee only to the interests ot a tew men,
whose arrogant pretensions were opposed to our rights.
Soldiers! the Imperial throne can only secure the rights
of the people, and, above all, the first of our interests—
our glory 1 , „

" Soldiers'— Vv'e are now to march, to hunt trom our
.or TT ■ :i<i ter.ltory

490 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

territory these Princes, auxiliaries to strangers: the na-
tion will not only second us in our protestations, but will
follow our impulse. The French people and I calculate
npon you. We will not interfere with the affairs of fo-
reign nations; but woe to those who shall interfere with
our'sl"

General Cambronne, and the officers of the guard of
the battalion of the Isle of Elba, having appeared, with
the ancient eagles of theguard. Napoleon continued —

" These are the officers of the battalion that has ac-
companied me in my misfortunes. Every man is my
friend. They are dear to my heart! Every time I be-
held them, they brough.t before my eyes the different
regiments of the army; for among these 600 noble fel-
lows are men from every regiment. They have recalled
to my memory those glorious days, of which even the
memory is so dear; for they are all covered with ho-
nourable scars gained in memorable battles! In loving
them, it was you, Soldiers, the whole French army, that
I loved ! They bring you back your eagles. Let them
serve as a rallying point. In giving them to the Guard,
I give them to the whole army. Treason and unhappy
events have covered them with a melancholy veil; but,
thanks to the French people and to you, they now re-
appear, glittering in all their glory I Swear that they
.shall be present wherever the interest of the country
may require them! — That traitors, and those who would
invade our territory, shall never be able to endure their
sight !"

" We swear it!" cried every soldier, with a burst of
enthusiasm. The troops then defiled to the sound of
music, the bands playing — " Veillons au salut dc VEm-

Immediately on his arrival in Paris, Napoleon made
the following appointments: —

The Arch-Chancellor (Cambaceres) to be Minister of
Justice. ^ V

The Duke 6f Gaeta (Gaudin), Minister of Finance.

The Duke of Bassano (Maret), Secretary of State.

The Duke of Otrante (Fouche), Minister of General
Police.

Count Molhen, Minister of the Imperial Treasury.

Marshal

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 491

Marshal Prince D'Eckmuhl (Davoust), Minister at
War.

Tlie Duke de Rovigo (Savary), Principal Inspector of
the Gens d' Amies.

The Count de Bondy, Prefect of the Department of
the Seine.
The Councillor of State, M. Rial, Prefect of Police.
On the 21st he appointed the Duke of Vicenza (Cau-
lincourt) Minister for Foreign Affairs;' the Count de
Montesquieu, Commander in Chief of the National
Guard; and the General of Division, La Harpe, Com-
mander of all the troops of the line in Paris.

All monuments and inscriptions, calculated to recal
the memory of the Bourbons, were ordered to be in-
stantly etfaced. The Duke of Vicenza was dispatched
to Vienna, to demand Maria Louisa and her son. The
bronze bust of Napoleon was replaced on the gate of
the Museum; and, in like manner, his bust, crowned
with laurel, was placed above the gate of the School of
Medicine: and directions were given for all other em-
blems of the Emperor to be replaced in a similar way.

Napoleon having now succeeded to his utmost wishes,
he directed all his measures to one great object — the firm
re-establishment of his throne. For this purpose, he
published several important decrees, among which the
following deserve to be particularly noticed : —

" 1. All the generals and ofticers, by land and sea,
of whatever rank, introduced into our armies since the
1st of April 1S14, whether emigrated or not, who quitted
the service at the moment of the first coalition, when
the country had the greatest need of their services, shall
immediately cease their functions, shall discontinue the
emblems of their rank, and return to the place of their
domicile.

" 2. Prohibitions are given to the minister at war,
to the inspectors of reviews, to the officers of the pay-
office, and to other departments, not to disburse any pay,
to the soldiers, upon any pretej?t whatever, atter the date
of the present decree.

" 3. The white cockade, the decoration ot the lily,
the orders of St. Louis, of the Holy Spirit, and of St.
Michael, are abolished.

" 4. The national cockade shall be worn by the
3 Q 2 troops.

492 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

troops, both by sea and land, and by the citizens. The
tri-coloured flag shall be placed upon the public build-
ings in the cities, and upon the steeples in the country.

" 5. No foreign corps shall be admitted into the
guard of the Sovereign. The Imperial guard is re-esta-
blished in its functions. It shall not be recruited but
from men who have been twelve years on service in our
armies.

" 0'. The hundred Swiss, the guards of the gate, the
Swiss guards, under whatever denomination, are sup-
pressed. They shall be sent, from the date of the pub-
lication of this decree, £0 leagues from the capital, and
20 leagues from our Imperial palaces, until they are le-
gally authorized, and the fate of the soldiers shall be
assured.

" 7. The military house of the King, as well as the
body-guard, the musqueteers, the light-borse, &c. are
suppressed.

'* The horses, arms, the clothes, and equipments,
shall be placed under the responsibility of the chiefs
of corps.

" 8. Sequestration shall be put upon all the pro-
perty which form the appanages to the Princes of the
house of Bourbon, and upon those which they possess,
under whatever title.

" 9. All the property of emigrants belonging to the
Legion of Honour, to the hospitals, to the communes, to
the sinking fund, or in short which form part of the
domain under any denomination, and which has been
acquired since the 1st of April to the detriment of the
national interest, shall immediately be put under seques-
tration.

" The prefects and officers of registration shall lend
their assistance in the execution of the present decree,
as soon as they shall be informed of it; and, in case of
failure on their part, they shall be answerable for the in-
jury the nation shall sustain thereby.

" 10. The noblesse are abolished, and the laws of the
constituent assembly shall be put in force.

" 11. Feudal titles are suppressed. The laws of our
national assi^mblies shall be put in force.

" 12. Individuals who have obtained from us national
titles, as a national recorapence, and whose letters patent

have

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 493

liave been verified at the council of the seal of titles,
shall continue to bear them.

" 13. We reserve to ourselves the power to bestow
titles on the descendants of men who have rendered the
French name illustrious in various ages, whether in the
command of our armies by land or sea, in the councils of
the sovereign, in the judicial and civil administration,
or in arts and sciences, and in commerce, conformably
to a law which shall be published upon the subject.

•' 14. All the emigrants who shall not have been
erased, pardoned, or pensioned, by us or by the govern-
ments that have preceded us, and who have entered
France since the 1st of January 1S14, shall instantly de-
part out of the territory of the empire.

" 15. Such emigrants as within fifteen days after the
publication of the present decree shall be found within
the territory of the empire, shall be arrested and judged
according to the laws decreed by our national assemblies;
at least, in all cases where they are not able to prove that
they were not acquainted with the present decree, in
which case they shall only be arrested and conducted by
the gens-d'armerie out of the country.

*' 16. Sequestration shall be put upon all their pro-
perty, moveable or immoveable ; the prefects and officers
of registration shall take care that the present decree is
executed as soon as they shall be informed of it ; and, in
case of disobedience, they shall be responsible for any
deficiency that may be found in consequence in our na-
tional treasury.

" 17. All promotions made in the Legion of Honour, by
every other grand master than ourself, and all brevets
signed by any other person than the Count Lac6pede,
Grand irremoveable Chancellor of the Legion, are null
and void.

" 18. The changes made in the decorations of the
Legion of Honour, not conformable to the statutes of the
order, are null and void. Each member of the Legion of
Honour shall re-assume the decoration, such as it was on
the 1st of April 1814.

" 19. Nevertheless, as a great number of promotions,
although made illegally, have been given to persons who
have rendered real service to the country, their titles shall
be transmitted to the grand chancelry, in order that a re-
port

494 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

port may be made to us in the course of April, and a
determination made before the 15th of May.

" 20. The political rights of the members of the Le-
gion of Honour are re-established. In consequence, all the
members of the legion, who, on the 1st of April 1814,
made a pnrt of the electoral colleges of department and of
urrondissement , and who have been unjustly deprived of
this right, are re-established in their functions. All those
who were not yet members of an electoral college, shall
send their demands to the grand chancellor of the Legion
of Honour, stating at the same time the college to which
they are desirous of belonging. The chancellor shall re-
ceive our orders in the month of April, and shall expe-
dite the brevets without delay, in order that those who
shall have received them may assist at the assemblies of
the Champ de Mai.

*' 21. All the property belonging to the order of St.
Louis, with the chest of the invalids, shall be united to
that of the Legion of Honour.

" 22. The Chamber of Peers is dissolved.

** 23. The House of Commons is dissolved. It is
commanded that every member convoked, and who has
arrived in Paris since the 7th of March, shall return home
without delay.

*' 24. The electoral colleges of the departments of the
empire shall be assembled at Paris in the course of the
month of May next, in extraordinary assembly of the
Champ de Mai, to take such measures as may be con-
venient to correct and modify our constitutions, conform-
ably to the interest and will of the nation ; and, at the
same time, to assist at the coronation of the Empress, our
very dear and well-beloved wife, and of our dear and well-
beloved son."

The ministers of Napoleon, no less than himself, were
indefatigable in his service. His Council of State, which
had been suppressed under the government of Louis,
having resumed its functions, they immediately published
the result of their deliberations ; and this, like every other
measure of Napoleon and his' ministry, held out the delu-
sive doctrine, thac the people were the only legitimate
source of power, and that his right was derived from
their choice, whilst that of the Bourbon family, having

only

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 495

only the prescriptive title derived from their ancestors,
could have no legal claim to the throne.

" The sovereignty," say they, *' resides in the people;
it is the only legitimate source of power.

" la 1789 the nation recovered its rights, long usurped
or misunderstood. The National Assembly abolished the
feudal monarchy, and established a constitutional mon-
archy and the representative government. The resist-
ance of the Bourbons to the wishes of the people occa-
sioned their downfal, and their banishment from the
French territory.

" Twice did the people sanction by its votes the new
form of government established by its representatives.

" In the year S, Buonaparte, already crowned by vic-
tory, was invested with the government by the national
consent; a constitution created the Consular office.

The senatus consultum of the 'iSth Thermidor, year
10, appointed Buonaparte Consul for Life.

" The senatus consultum of the 28th Floreal, year 12,
conferred on Napoleon the Imperial dignity, and rendered
it hereditary in his family.

*• These three solemn acts were submitted to the ap-
probation of the people, who sanctioned them with near
four millions of votes.

'• Thus for 22 years the Bourbons had ceased to reign
in France; they were forgotten there by their contem-
poraries; strangers to outlaws, our institutions, our man-
ners, and our glory ; the present generation knew them
not, but by the remembrance of the foreign wars which
they had excited against the country, and the intestine
dissensions which they had enkindled within it.

" In 1814, France was invaded by hostile armies, and
the capital occupied. Foreigners created, what they
styled, a provisional government. They assembled the
minority of the senators, and forced them, against their
will, to destroy the existing constitutions, to overthrow
the Imperial throne, and to recal the family of the
Bourbons.

*' The Senate, which had been instituted only to pre-
serve the constitutions of the empire, itself acknowledged
that it possessed not the power of .altering them. It
decreed, that the plan of the constitution which it had
prepared should be submilted to the acceptance of the peo-
ple.

4tj6 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

pie, and that Louis Stanislaus Xavier should be proclaimed
King of the French as soon as he should have accepted
the constitution^ and sworn to observe it, and cause it to
be observed.

" The abdication of the Emperor Napoleon was but
the result of the unfortunate situation to which France
and the Emperor were reduced by the events of the war,
by treason, and by the occupation of the capital ; his ab-
dication was signed solely to prevent civil war and the
shedding of French blood. Unsanctioned by the wish of
the people, this act could not destroy the solemn contract
concluded between it and the Emperor; and if Napo-
leon could have personally abdicated the crown, he
could not have sacrificed the rights of his son, called to
reign after him.

" Meanwhile, a Bourbon was appointed Lieutenant-
General of the kingdom, and assumed the reins of go-
vernment.

*' Louis Francis Xavier arrived in France ; he made
bis entry into the capital ; he took possession of the
throne, according to the manner established in the an-
cient feudal monarchy. He had not accepted the con-
stitution decreed by the Senate; he had not sworn to
observe it, and to cause it to be observed ; it had not
been submitted to the people for their acceptance; the
people, overawed by the presence of foreign armies,
could not even express its wish freely and in a valid
manner. Under their protection, after thanking a foreign
prince for having replaced him on the throne, Louis-
Stanislaus Xavier dated the first act of his authority in
the 19th year of his reign; thus declaring, that the acts
which had emanated from the authority of the people,
were but the offspring of a long rebellion. He granted
voluntarily, and by the free exercise of his royal authority,
a constitutional charter, styled Ordinance of Reformation;
and, as its only sanction, he caused it to be read before
a new body which he had just created, and an assembly
of the deputies which was not free, which did accept ir,
none of whom was invested with such a character as to
be authorized to consent to this change, and two-fifths of
whom had not even the character of representatives.

•' All these acts, therefore, were illegal. Done in the
presence of the enemy's arnaies, and under foreign autlio-

rity,

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 497

rity, they were merely the work of violence, they are
essentially null, and inimical to the honour, the libert}',
and the rights of the people.

" Adhesions, given by undelegated persons and func-
tionaries, have neither been capable of cancelling nor
supplying the consent of the people, expressed by votes,
formally obtained and legally given. If these adhesions,
as well as the oaths, could ever have been obligatory on
those who gave them, they would have ceased to be so,
the moment the government which received them has
ceased to exist.

" The conduct of the citizens who served the state
under that government cannot be censured. They have
even deserved praise — those men who have availed them-
selves of their situations only to defend the national inte-
rests, and to oppose the spirit of re-action and counter-
revolution which desolated France.

'* The Bourbons themselves had constantly violated
their promises: they favoured the claims of the faithful
nobility; they disturbed the sales of the national pro-
perty of all kinds; they paved the way to the re-esta-
blishment of feudal rights and tythes; they threatened
all new existences; they declared war against all liber;il
opinions; they attacked all the institutions which France
had acquired at the price of her blood, choosing rather to
humble the nation than to identify themselves with its
glory ; they stripped the Legion of Honour of its endow-
ments and its political rights; they lavished its insignia
for the purpose of degrading it; they took from their
army and the brave soldiers their pay, their rank, their
honours, to give them to emigrants, to rebel chiefs; in
short, they wished to reign, and to oppress the people, by
emigrants.

" Deeply affected with her humiliation and her mis-
fortunes, France called with all her wishes upon her na-
tional government, the dynasty connected witli her new
interests and her new institutions.

*• When the Emperor approached the capital, the
Bourbons in vain endeavoured to repair, by hasty laws
and tardy oaths, the outrages committed against the na-
tion and the army. The time of illusion was past — con-
fidence was alienated for ever. No arm was raised for

VOL. II. 3 E their

498 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

their defence : the nation and the army flew to meet their
deliverer.

*' The Emperor, then, in re-ascending the throne, to
■which the people raised him, reinstates the people in its
most sacred rights. He enforces them solely by the de-
crees of the Representative .Assemblies, sanctioned by
the nation ; he returns to reign by the sole principle of
legitimacy which France has acknowledged and sanc-
tioned for twenty-five years, and to which all the autho-
rities bound themselves, by oaths, from which the will of
the people alone can release them.

*• The Emperor is called to guarantee anew, by insti-
tutions, (and he has engaged to do so in his proclamations
to the nation and army) all liberal principles; individual
liberty, and equality of rights ; the liberty of the press,
and the abolition of the censorship ; liberty of conscience ;
the voting of the contributions and laws by the represen-
tatives of the nation, legally selected, the national pro-
perty of all kinds; the independence and irremoveablity
of the tribunals; the responsibility of the ministers, and
all the agents of the government. '

** For the better establishment of the rights and obliga-
tions of the people and of the monarch, the national in-
stitutions are to be reviewed in a great assembly of the
representatives, already announced by the Emperor.

" Till the meeting of this great representative assem-
bly, the Emperor will exercise, and cause to be exer-
cised, agreeably to the constitutions and existing laws,
the power which they have delegated to him, which
could not be taken from him, which he could not abdi-
cate without the consent of the nation, which the general
■wish and interest of the French people make it his duty
to resume."

The day after the publication of this result of the deli-
beration of the Council of State, Napoleon's ministers
presented to him a warm and flattering address, in which
, the same principles were inculcated, and the same defe-
rence to popular opinion was artfully and carefully up-
heU!. Oi) Sunday, March the 26th, before mass, the
Prince Arch-Chan .ellor, in the name of the ministers,
addressed him as follows: —

" Sire! — Your Majesty's ministers offer you their
respectful congratulations. Since all hearts feel a desire

to

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 499

to manifest their admiration and their joy, we liave felt it
our duty to deposit our opinions and the expression of
our sentiments in the address which I have the honour to
present to you.

" May it please your Majesty to accept the homage
of your faithful servants, of those servants so cruelly
tried, but so amply recompensed by your presence, and
by the hopes attached to it.

" Sire! — Providence, which watches over our desti-
nies, has opened to your Majesty the path to the throne,
to which you were elevated by the free choice of the
people and the national gratitude. The country raises
again her majestic head. She salutes, for the second
time, the Prince who dethroned anarchy, and whose ex-
istence can alone consolidate our liberal institutions.

** The most just of revolutions, that which restored to
man his dignity and political rights, has hurled Irom the
throne the race of the Bourbons. After twenty-five
years of the calamities of war, all the efforts of the fo-
reigner have not been able to re-awaken affections which
were either extinguished or utterly unknown. The in-
terests of a few were sacrificed to those of the nation.
The decrees of fate are accomplished. The cause of the
people, the only legitimate right, has triumphed. Your
Majesty is restored to the wishes of the French; you
have resumed the reins of government, amidst the bless-
ings of your people and your army. France, Sire, has
for its guarantee, its will, and its dearest interests.
She has also the expressions of your Majesty uttered
amidst the assemblies that crowded around you on your
journey.

" The Bourbons have not forgotten any thing. Their
promises have been broken — those of your Majesty will
he kept inviolate. Your Majesty will only remember
the services rendered to the nation, and will prove that
in your eyes and in your heart, whatever may have been
the opinions and exasperation of parties, all citizens are
the same before you, as they are before the law. Your
Majesty will also forget that we have been the masters of
the nations that surround us. This noble sentiment adds
to the weight of glory already acquired. Your Majesty
has prescribed to your ministers the path they should
follow. You have announced to the nation the maxims
3 R 2 by

^00 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

by which you desire that it should be governed for the
• future. We are to have no foreign war, unless it be to
repulse unjust aggression, no internal re-action, no arbi-
trary acts. Personal safety, protection of property, the
free utterance of thought, such are the principles which
your Majesty has pledged to us. Happy, Sire, are those
who are called upon to co-operate in such sublime acts.
Such benefactions will acquire for you in posterity,
when adulation shall be no more, the title of the Father
of the People. They will be guaranteed to our chil-
dren by the august heir of your Majesty, who will
speedily be crowned."
To tins address Napoleon replied—.
" The sentiments you express are my own. * All fop
the nation, all for Frrfnce :' that is my motto. Myself and
family, whom this great people have raised to the throne
of the French, and whom they have maintained there,
notwithstanding political storms and viscisitudes, we de-
sire, we deserve, we claim no other titles."

During the transactions which we have thus concisely
narrated, and which raised Napoleon once more to
Imperial eminence, that formidable confederacy which
bad hurled him from his throne was now again actively
employed against him. No sooner had the Congress of
Vienna received intelligence of his landing on the French
shore, than the allied powers immediately published the
following declaration: —

" The powers who have signed the Treaty of Paris,
assembled at the Congress at Vienna, being informed
of the escape of Napoleon Buonaparte, and of his en-
trance into France w;th an armed force, owe it to their
own dignity and the interest of social order, to make a
solemn declaration of the sentiments which this event
excited in them.

" By thus breaking the convention which has csta* .
blisbed him in the Island of Elba, Buonaparte destroys^
the only legal title, on which his existence depended; bvLr
appearnig again in France, with projects of confusion an3,oi
disorder, he has deprived himself of the protection of the r
law, and has manifested to the universe that there can be '
neither peace nor truce with him.

The powers consequently declare, that Napoleon
Buonaparte has placed himself without the pale of civil

and

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 501

and social relations; and that, as an enemy and disturber
of the tranquillity of the world, he has rendered himself
liable to public vengeance.

" They declare, at the same time, that, firmly resolved
to maintain entire the Treaty of Paris, of 30th May 1S14,
and the dispositions sanctioned by that Treaty, and those
which they have resolved on, or shall hereafter resolve
on, to complete and to consolidate it, they w\{\ employ
all their means, and will unite all their efforts, that the
general peace, the object of the wishes of Europe, and
the constant purpose of their labours, may not again be
troubled, and to guarantee against every attempt which
shall threaten to replunge the world into the disorders
and miseries of revolutions.

" xA.nd, although entirely persuaded that all France,
rallying round its legitimate sovereign, will immediately
annihilate this last attempt of a criminal and impotent
delirium ; all the sovereigns of Europe, animated by the
same sentiments, and guided by the same principles, de-
clare, that if, contrary to all calculations, there should
result from this event any real danger, they wiil be ready
to give the King of France and to the French nation, or
to any other government that shall be attacked, as soon
as they shall be called upon, all the assistance requisite
to restore public tranquillity, and to make a common
cause against all those who shall undertake to com-
promise it.

" The present declaration, inserted in the Register of
the Congress assembled at Vienna on the 13th of March
1815, shall be made public.

" Done and attested by the Plenipotentiaries of the
High Powers who signed the treaty of Paris,
Vienna, 13th of March 1815."

In order to give effect to this solemn act, four of the
principal powers bound themselves, by a new treaty, to
bring each of them into the field 150,000 men; and they
invited all the powers of Europe to join them against so
formidable a confederacy. Napoleon, besides organizing
his immense means, and preparing for their attack,
thought it important, before he involved France in the
calamities of a foreign war, to justify his reason for re-
entering that country and claiming the crown ; measures

which

502 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

which alone were the cause which threatened her with
so many calamities. This defence stated' —

** 1. The Empress Maria Louisa and her son were to
obtain passports, and an escort, to repair to the Emperor;
but, far from performing their promise, the husband and
wife, father and son, were separated under painful cir-
cumstances, when the firmest mind has occasion to seek
consolation and support in family and domestic affec-
tions.

" 2. The security of Napoleon, of his Imperial fa-
mily, and their suite, were guaranteed (Art. 14 of the
Treaty) by all the Powers; yet bands of assassins were
organized in France under the eyes of the French go-
vernment, and even by its orders, as will soon be proved
by the solemn proceedings against Sieur Demonbreuil,
for attacking the Emperor, his brothers, and their wives.
In default of the success hoped for from the first branch
of the plot, an insurrection was prepared at Orgon, on
the Emperor's route, in order that an attempt might be
made on his life by some brigands. The Sieur Brulart,
an associate of Georges, had been sent as Governor to
Corsica, in order to prepare and make sure of the crime;
and, in fact, several detached assassins have attempted,
in the Isle of Elba, to gain, by the murder of the Em-
peror, the base reward which was promised them.

** 3. The duchies of Parma and Placentia were given
in full property to Maria Louisa, for herself, her son,
and their descendants. After a long refusal to put her
in possession, the injustice was completed by an entire
spoliation, under the illusory pretext of an exchange,
without valuation, proposition, or sovereignty, and with-
out her consent. And the documents in the office for
foreign affairs prove that it was on the solicitations, and
by the intrigues, of the Prince of Benevente, that Maria
Louisa antl her son were despoiled.

" 4. Eugene, the adopted son of Napoleon, was to
have obtained a suitable establishment out of France;
but he has had nothing.

" 5. The Emperor had stipulated for the army, the
preservation of their rewards, given them on Monte Na-
poleon He had reserved to himself first, to recompense
his faithful followers. Every thing has been taken away,

but

NAPOLEON BUONAPAllTE. ^03^

but reserved by the ministers of the Bourbons. M.
Bresson, an agent from the army, was dispatched to
Vienna to assert their claims, but in vain.

*' 6. The preservation of the property, moveable and
immoveable, belonging to the Emperor's family, was
provided for; but all was robbed — in France, by com-
missioned brigands — in Italy, by the violence of the mi-
litary chiefs.

" 7. Napoleon was to have received 2,000,000, and
his family 2,500,000 franks per annum. The French
government has constantly refused to discharge its en-
gagements ; and Napoleon would have soon been obliged
to disband his faithful guards for want of the means of
paying them, had he not found an honourable resource
in the conduct of some bankers and merchants of Genoa
and Italy, who advanced twelve millions, which they had
offered to him.

" 8. In fine, it was not without a cause that it was
desirable by every means to remove from Napoleon the
companions of his glory, unshaken sureties of his safety
and of his existence. The island of Elba was assigned
to him ia perpetuity; but the resolution of robbing him
of it was, at the instigation of the Bourbons, fixed upon
by the Congress. Had not Providence prevented it, Eu-
rope would have sv^en an attempt made on the person
and liberty of Napoleon, left hereafter at the mercy of
his enemies, and transported far from his friends and
followers, either to St. Lucie or St. Helena, which had
been pointed out as his prison,

" And when the Allied Powers, yielding to the im-
prudent wishes, to the cruel instigations of the House of
Bourbon, condescended to violate the solemn contract,
on the faith of which Napoleon liberated the French na-
tion from its oaths; when he himself, and all the mem-
bers of his family, saw themselves menaced, attacked in
their persons, in their properties, in their affections, in
all the rights stipulated in their favour as Princes, in
those even secured by the laws to private citizens — what
was Napoleon to do ?

" Was he, after enduring so many offences, support-
ing so many acts of injustice, to consent to the complete
violation of the engagements entered into with him, and
resigning himself personally to the fate prepared for him,

to

504 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

to abattdoii also his spouse, his son, his family, his faith-
ful servants, to their frightful destiny?

" Such a resolution seems beyond the endurance of
human nature; and yet Napoleon would have embraced
it, if the peace and happiness of France had been the
price of this new sacrifice. He would have devoted
himself for the French people; from whom, as he will
declare in the face of Europe, it is his glory to hold
every thing, whose good shall be the object of all his
endeavours, and to whom alone he will be answerable
for his actions, and devote his life.

" It was for France alone, and that it might avoid the
evils of intestine war, that he abdicated the crown ia
1814. He restored to the French people the rights
which he held fpom them ; he left them at liberty to
seek a new master, and to found their liberty and their
happiness on institutions for the protection of both.

•' He hoped for the nation the preservation of all that
it had acquired in 25 years of combats and glory, the
exercise of its sovereignty in the choice of a dynasty,
and in tlie stipulations of the conditions on which that
dynasty would be called to reign.

" He expected from the new government the respect
for the glory of the armies, the rights of the brave, the
guarantee of all the new interests which have been in
existence and supported for half a century, resulting
from all the political and civil laws observed and revered
during that time, because they are identified with the
manners, the habits, and the wants of the nation.

" Far from this, every idea of the sovereignty of the
people was set aside.

" The principle on which the whole political and
moral legislation has rested since the Revolution, hag
equally been set aside.

" France has been treated by the Bourbons as a re-
volted country, re-conquered by the arms of its ancient
masters, and subjected anew to a feudal domination.

" Louis Stanislaus Xavier has misunderstood the
treaty which alone rendered the throne of France va-
cant, and the abdication of which alone entitled him
to ascend it.

•• He pretended to have reigned 19 years; insulting
in this manner the goveruraents established since that

time.

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. ^05

time, the people who consecrated them by their suffrages,
the army which defended them, and even the sovereigns
who acknowledged them in their numerous treaties.

" A Charter drawn up by the Senate, imperfect as it
was, has been consigned to oblivion.

" They imposed on France a pretended Constitutional
Law, as easy to be eluded as to be revoked, and in the
form of simple Royal Ordonnances, without consulting
the nation, without even listening to those illegal bodies,
the phantoms of the national representation.

" And as the Bourbons have issued Ordonnances
without rights, and promises without any guarantee,
they h^ve eluded them without sincerity, and executed
them without fidelity.

" The violation of that pretended Charter was re-
strained only by the timidity of the government ; the
extent of the abuse of authority was only limited by its
weakness.

" The dislocation of the army — the dispersion of its
officers, the exile of several — the degradation of the
soldiers, the suppression of their endowments, the de-
priving them of their pay or their pensions, the reduction
of the allowances to the Legion of Honour, the spoil of
their honours — the pre-eminence of the decorations of the
feudal monarchy — the contempt for the citizens, de-
signated of new under the name of the Tiers-Etat — the
spoliation prepared and already commenced of the pur-
chasers of the national estates, the actual depreciation of
the value of those which were brought to the market —
the reinstatement of feudality into its titles, its privileges,
its available rights — the re-establishment of ultramontane
principles — the abolition of the liberties of the Gallicau
church — the annihilation of the Concordat — the re-esta-
blishment of tythes' — the reviving intolerance of an ex-
clusive worship — the domination of a handful of nobles
over a people accustomed to equality — this is what the
Bourbons have done, or wished to do, for France.

** It was under such circumstances that the Emperor
Napoleon quitted the Island of Elba; such are the mo-
tives of the determination taken by him, and not the con-
sideration of his personal interests, which weigh little
with him, compared to the interests of the nation to
whom he has consecrated his existence.

VOL. II. 3 s "He

506 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

" He has not carried war into the bosom of France ;
he has, on the contrary, extinguished the war which the
proprietors of national estates, forming four-fifths of
the French proprietors, would have been forced to carry-
on with their spoliators — the war which the citizens, op-
pressed, degraded, and humiliated by the nobles, would
have been forced to declare against their oppressors — the
war which the Protestants, Jews, and men of different
religious professions, would have been forced to maintain
against their persecutors.

" He has come to deliver France, and as a deliverer he
has been every where received.

" He arrived almostalone; headvanced for 220 leagues
without obstacles, without combats ; and has resumed,
without resistance, in the midst of the capital, and of
the acclamations of the immense majority of the citizens,
the throne abdicated by the Bourbons, who, in the army,
in their household, in the National Guards, in the peo-
ple, could not arm a single person to endeavour to main-
tain them in it.

" And now, replaced at the head of the nation which
had thrice already made choice of him, and which has a
fourth time designated him by the reception which it has
given him, in his rapid and triumphant march and arrival;
what does Napoieon wish from this nation — by which, and
for the interest of which, he wishes to reign ? — what the
French people wishes — the independence of France,
internal peace, peace with all nations, the execution of
the treaty of Paris, of the 30tlt of May 1814.

•• What is the change, then, which has taken place in
the state of Europe, and in the hope of repose which was
promised to it? What voice is raised to demand assist-
ance, wliich, according to the declaration, ought only to be
given when called for?

" Nothmg has been changed — if the Allied Powers
return, as it is expected they will do, to just and mo-
derate sentimen's; if they acknowledge that the ex-
istence of France in a respectab e a^d independent state,
as far from conquering as bi iug conquered, from domi-
nating as from being subju^iated, is necessary to the
balance of great kiugtioms, and to the guarantee of small
states.

" ISTothing has been changed — if, respecting the rights

of

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 507

of a great nation, which wishes to respect the rights of all
others, which, high minded and generous, has been low-
ered and never degraded, they allow it to retake a mon-
arch, and give itself a constitution and laws suitable
to its manners, its interests, its habits, and its new
wants.

" Nothing has been changed — if they do not endea-
vour to constrain France to submit again to a dynasty
which she dislikes, to the feudal chains which slip has
thrown ofJ", to the signorial or ecclesiastical priistrations
from which she has liberated herself; if they do not wish
to impose laws on her, to interfere with her internal
alFairs, to assign a form of government to her, to give
masters to her, to satisfy the pleasure or the passions of
her neighbours.

** Nothing has been changed— if, when France is oc-
cupied with preparing the new social pact which shall
guarantee the liberty of her citizens, the triumph of the
generous ideas which prevail in Europe, and which can
no longer be suppressed, they do not force her to with-
draw herself for hostilities from those pacific thoughts
and means of internal prosperity, to which the people
and the chief wish to consecrate themselves in a happy
accordance.

" Nothing has been changed — if, when the French
nation only demands to remain at peace with all Europe,
an unjust coalition does not enforce it to defend, as it did
in 1792, its will, and its rights, its independence, and
the Sovereign of its choice."

We will here close, for the present, the Life of Napo-
leon Buonaparte; and shall reserve the remainder of this
volume for the purpose of hereafter continuing it, under
the impression, that, by the termination of this Work,
the formidable coalition against him will either have ac-
complished its avowed object — his dethronement, or its
failure will have confirmed him in the full possession of
his Imperial title.

In the mean time, to attempt a faithful delineation of
his character would indeed be an arduous task; ana its
accomplishment, we are afraid, would afford but little
pleasure to any of his contemporaries. There are few so
indifferent to the politics and passing events of the day.

508 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

as not to have imbibed a strong tincture of prejudice and
partiality; and to these any other colouring than what is
suited to their taste would be extremely unwelcome. It
must therefore be left to posterity to execute the task of
pourtraying with fidelity the character of this extra-
ordinary personage, when calumny and adulation, friend-
ship and hostility, will alike cease to operate. But, al-
though we might in vain look for any thing like impar-
tiality amidst that mass of abuse which is constantly di-
rected against him, it cannot be denied, by even his most
inveterate enemies, that he possesses qualities which emi-
nently fit him for a throne. Many of those actions which
throw so great a shade upon his character, and which
will unquestionably blacken his memory, may be fairly
imputed to the necessity of his situation, and are such
as, placed in other circumstances, he would have hesi-
tated in adopting ; and many rest upon such doubtful
authority, that we should be extremely cautious in re-
ceiving them, coming as they do from persons evidently
biassed against him. With regard to his genius and ca-
pacity, it may fairly be conceded, that he stands pre-
eminent; and had his talents been directed to nobler
objects than his own personal aggrandisement, he would
undoubtedly have ranked among the most illustrious
characters of ancient or modern history.

SUPPLEMENT

SUPPLEMENT

LIFE OF NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE,

TITAVING at length brought these Memoirs to a con*
-*--■- elusion, we shall, according to our promise, resume
our account of Napoleon Buonaparte from the period
we brought it down to, to his present political annihila-
tion : these latter events of his life are unquestionably
more important than any we have yet had to describe,
and are doubly interesting to Englishmen, from the share
they have had in them, and from the never-fading laurels
which, under their renowned commander, they have
again acquired.

Besides the public defence in his declaration to the
French people, with which we closed the former part of
his Memoirs, Napoleon left no means untried, of not only
justifying his own ambitious projects, but also of ex-
citing in his favour the enthusiasm of the French people.
For this purpose he gave a grand national /eie in the
Champ de Mai. On this occasion every art, united to
flattery and adulation, was made use of to inspire the
warmest attachment of the country to his cause. In the
presence of a vast concourse of spectators, M. Duboys
d'Angers addressed Napoleon in the following flattering
address : —

" Sire — The French people had decreed the crown to,
you; you deposed it without their consent; its suffrages
have just imposed upon you the duty of resuming it.

" A new contract is formed between the nation and
your Majesty.

•* Collected from all points of the empire around the
tables of the law, on which we are about to inscribe the
wish of the people, in this v/ish, which is the only legiti-
mate source of power, it is impossible for us not to utter
the voice of France, of which we are the immediate

VOL, J I. 3 T organs,

^10 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

organs, not to say in the presence of Europe, to the august
chief of the nation, what it expects from him, and what
he is to expect from it.

" What is the object of the league of allied Uings, with
that warlike preparation by which they alarm Europe,
and afflict humanity ? By what act, what violation, have
we prx)voked their vengeance, or given cause for their
aggression? Have we, since peace was concluded, en-
deavoured to give them laws ? We merely wish to make
and to follow those which are adapted to our manners.

" W"e will not have the chief whom our enemies would
give us, and we will have him whom they wish us not to
have. '

" They dare to proscribe you personally — ypu. Sire,
who, so often master of their capitals, generously consoli-
dated their tottering thrones. This hatred of our ene-
inies adds to our love for you. Were they to proscribe
the most obscure of our citizens, it would be our duty
to defend him with the same energy. He would be,
Hke you, under the aegis of French law and French
power.

** They menace us with invasion! And yet, con-
tracted within frontiers which Nature has not imposed
upon us, and which, long before your reign, victory, and
even peace, had extended, we have not, from respect
to treaties, which you had not signed, but which you
had offered to observe, sought to pass the narrow
boundary.

" Do they ask for guarantees? They have them all
in our institutions, and in the will of the French people
henceforth united to your's.

" Do they not dread to remind us of times, of a state
of things, lately so different, but which may still be re-
produced ! It would not be the first time that we have
conquered all Europe armed against us.

" Because France wishes to be France, must she be
dt^graded, torn, dismembered? and must the fate of Poland
be reserved for us?

'* It is in vain to conceal insidious designs under the
sole pretence of separating you from us, in order to give
us masters with whom we have nothing in common.
Their presence destroyed all the illusions attached to
their names. They could not believe their oaths, neithex

could

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. S I !

could we tlieir promises. Tithes, feudal rights, privi-
leges, every thing that was odious to us was too evidently
the tond object of their thoughts, when one of them, to
console the impatience of the present, assured his con-
fidants that he would answer to them for the future.

•* Every thing shall be attempted, every thing exe-
cuted, to repel so ignominious a yoke. We declare it to
nations; may their chiefs hear us! If they accept your
offers of peace, the French people will look to your
vigorous, liberal, and paternal administration for ground
of consolation, for the sacrifices made to obtain peace:
but if we are left no choice but between war and disgrace,
the whole country will rise for war. The nation is pre-
pared to relieve you from the too moderate otfers you
have perhaps made, in order to save Europe from a new
convulsion. Every Frenchman is a soldier: Victory
will follow your eagles; and our enemies, who rely on our
divisions, will soon regret having provoked us."

After this speech, and a few ceremonies having taken
place, Napoleon spoke as follows : —

" Gentlemen, Electors of the Colleges of the Depart-
ments and Districts — Gentlemen, Deputies of the Army
and Navij, at the Champ de Mai — t)mperor, Consul,
Soldier, I derive all from the people: in prosperity, in
adversity, on the field of battle, in council, on the throne,
and in exile, France has been the sole and constant object
of my thoughts and actions. Like the King of Athens,
I sacrificed myself for my people, in the hope of realizing
the promise given to preserve to France her natural in-
tegrity, her honours, and her rights.

*' Indignation at seeing these sacred rights, acquired
by twenty years of victory, disavowed' and lost forever —
the cry of French honour tarnished — and the wishes of
the nation, have replaced me upon that throne which is
dear to me, because it is the palladium of the independ-
ence, the honour, and the rights of the people.

*« Frenchmen, in traversing amidst the public joy the
different provinces of the empire to reach my capital, I
had reason to rely on a lasting peace. Nations are bound
by treaties concluded by their governments, whatever
they may be. My thoughts were then all occupied with
the means of establishing our liberty by a constitution
conformable to the will and interests of a people. I con-
3 T 2 voked

312 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

voked the Champ de Mai. I soon learned that the
Princes, who have disregarded all principles, who have
trampled on the sentiments and dearest interests of so
many nations, wish to make war against us. They me-
ditate the increasing the kingdom of the Netherlands by
giving it as barriers all our northern frontier places, and
the conciliation of the differences which still exists among
them by dividing Lorraine and Alsace.

" It was necessary to provide for war. But, before
personally encountering the hazards of battles, my first
care has been to constitute the nation without delay.
The people have accepted the act which I have presented
to them.

*• Frenchmen, when we shall have repelled these un-
just aggressions, and Europe shall be convinced of what
is due to the rights and independence of twenty-eight
millions of people, a solemn law drawn up in the forms
required by the Constitutional act shall combine together
the different dispositions of our constitutions now dis-
persed.

" Frenchmen, you are about to return to your depart-
ments. Inform the citizens, that circumstances are grand ;
that with union, energy, and perseverance, we shall re-
turn victorious from a contest of a great people against
their oppressors; that future generations- will severely
scrutinize our conduct; and that a nation has lost all
when she has lost her independence. Tell them that
foreign kings, whom I have raised to the throne, or who
owe to me the preservation of their crowns, who all
during my prosperity sought my alliance and the protec-
tion of the French people, now direct their blows against
my person. Did I not perceive that it is the country
they wish to injure, I would place at their mercy this
existence against which they shew themselves so much
incensed. But tell the citizens, that while the French
people preserve towards me the sentiments of love, of
■which they have given me so many proofs, the rage of
our enemies will be powerless.

" Frenchmen, my wish is that of the people; my
rights are their's; my honour, my glory, my happiness,
can be no other than the honour, the glory, and the hap-
piness of France."
After these speeches were concluded, the different

orders

NAPOLtON BUONAPARTE. ^13

orders of the state solemnly took their oaths of allegiance
to the Emperor.

However imposing the fete in the Champ de Mai, might
appear, it unquestionably failed in the effect it was in-
tended to produce. The energies of France, which when
duly roused have been able to dissipate the most formi-
dable confederacies, were no longer at the disjiosal of this
once idol of the French people. In vain did he pioinise
to govern by the maxims and institutions of a limited
monarchy. France, either worn out, or tired wirli .ong
and bloody wars, appeared indifferent to his cause, and
left him to brave the mighty force of his eneuiies with
the only resources which iiis situation commanded. A
short time before he left Paris to command his army, he
assembled the Legislature, and addressed them in the
following speech : —

*' Messieurs of the Chamber of Peers, and Messieurs of
the Chamber of Representatives — For the last thr^e
months, existing circumstances and the confidence of the
nation have invested me with unlimited authority. The
present day will behold the fuHilment of the wish dearest
to my heart: I now commence a constitutional mon-
archy.

" Mortals are too weak to insure future events; it is
solely the legal institutions which determine the destinies
of nations. Monarchy is necessary to France, to guaran-
tee the liberty, the independence, and the rigiits of the
people. Our constitution and laws are scattered ; one of
our most important occupations will be, to collect them
into a solid body, and to bring the whole within the
reach of every mind. This work will recommend the
present age to the gratitude of future generation?. It is
my wish that France should enjoy all possible liberty :
I say possible, because anarchy always resolves itself into
absolute government.

*' A formidable coalition of kings threaten our inde-
pendence; their armies are approaching our frontiers.
The frigate La Melpomene has been attacked and captured
in the Mediterranean, after a sanguinary action witli an
English ship of 74 guns. Blood has been shed in time
of peace! Our enemies reckon on our internal divisions.
They excite and foment a civil war. Assemblages have
been formed, and communications are carried on with

Glitnt,

514 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

Ghent, in the same manner as with Coblentz in 1792.
Legislative measures are therefore become indispensably
necessary; and I place my confidence, without reserve,
in your patriotism, your wisdom, and your attachment to
my person.

" The liberty of the press is inherent in our present
constitution; nor can any change be made in it without
altering our whole political system : but it must be sub-
ject to legal restrictions, more especially in the present
state of the nation. I therefore recommend this import-
ant matter to your serious consideration.

" My ministers will inform you of the situation of our
affairs. The finances would be in a satisfactory state,
except from the increase of expence which the present
circumstances render necessary; yet we might face every
thing, if the receipts contained in the budget were all
realizable within the year. It is to the means of arriving
at this result that my Minister of Finances will direct
your attention.

'* It is possible that the first duty of a Prince may soon
call me to the head of the sons of the nation, to fight for
the country : the army and myself will do our duly.

" You, Peers and Representatives, give to the nation
an example of confidence, energy, and patriotism; and,
like the Senate of the great' people of antiquity, swear to
die rather than survive the dishonour and degradation
of France. The sacred cause of the country shall
triumph!"

But it was not by speeches, however soothing and
flattering they might be, that his power and sovereignty
were to be established : the sword alone was to decide
the awful alternative; and the time was now arrived,
when the dreadful appeal was to be made. Having com-
pleted his preparations, and chosen his own time for
commencing the war. Napoleon left Paris a few days
alter the meeting of the legislature, which took place on
the 8th of June. On the 14th we find him at the head
of his army; when he issued an order of the day to his
soldiers, appealing to their passions, by reminding them
that that day was the anniversary of Marengo and of
Friedland. He then put his army in motion, and attacked
at day-light on the morning of the 15th the Prussian posts
established on the Sambre. In the course of the day he

drove

NA.POLEON BUONAPARTE. 515

drove them from that river, and made himself master of
the ground from Thuin to Fleurus, a distance of about 16
miles, on the Namur road; whilst on the Brussels road
he forced back a Belgian brigade to Quatre Bras, about
12 miles from the river. The Belgians, however, being
afterwards reinforced, were enabled to regain part of the
ground they had lost; but at the close of the day the
advantage clearly rested with Napoleon, who established
his head-quarters at Charleroi. The result of these con-
tests, according to Napoleon's account, was a loss of
2000 men to the Prussians, and of only 10 men killed,
and SO wounded, to the Frencli! Advice of these events
was not brought to the Duke of Wellington, at Brussels,
till the evening, when he instantly put his troops m
march. Sir Thomas Picton's division, the corps of the
Duke of Brunswick, and the Nassau contingent, reached
Quatre Bras about half-past two in the afternoon of the
l()th, when they were attacked by the corps of D'Erlon
and Reille, and a cavalry corps under Kellermann. The
Prussians at the same time were attacked in their posi-
tion near Ligny. Both the Prussians and English repulsed
the French, after a severe contest which lasted till night;
but as neither of them had collected their whole force,
they thought it proper to fall back on their reinforce-
ments; the former about 14 miles to Wavre, the latter
about the same distance to*Waterloo; thus keeping up
their communication, and being ready either to support
each other in case of renewed attack, or to move forward
together in pursuit.

The 17th passed without any very remarkable occur-
rence. Still the plan of Napoleon had failed. He had
not been able to separate the British from the Prussians,
s-till less to penetrate between them to Brussels.

On the 18th, therefore, he made his grand attack upon
the British arniy, commanded by the illustrious Welling-
ton, whose dispatches furnish the best account of this
riwful but glorious atfair. He says—

•' The position which I took up in front of Waterloo
crossed the high roads fiom Charleroi and Nivelle, and
had its right thrown back to a ravine uear Merke Braine,
which was occupied, and its left extended to a height
above the hamlet Ter la Haye, which was likewise occu-
pied. In front of the right centre, and near the Nivelle

road.

516 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

road, we occupied the house and garden of Hougoumont,
which covered the return of that flank ; and in front of
the left centre, we occupied the farm of La Haye Sainte.
By our left we communicated with Marshal Prince Blu-
cher, at Wavre through Ohaim : and the Marshal had
promised me, that in case we should be attacked, he
would support me with one or more corps, as might be
necessary.

" The enemy collected his army, with the exception
of the third corps, which had been sent to observe Mar-
shal Blucher, on a range of heights in our front, in the
night of the 17th and yesterday morning; and, at about
ten o'clock, he commenced a furious attack upon our
post at Hougoumont. I had occupied that post with a
detachment from General Byng's brigade of Guards,
which was in position in its rear; and it was for some
time under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Mac--
donel, and afterwards of Colonel Home; and I am happy
to addj that it was maintained throughout the day with
the utmost gallantry by these brave troops, notwithstand-
ing the repeated efforts of large bodies of the enemy to
obtain possession of it.

" This attack upon the right of our centre was accom-
panied by a very heavy cannonade upon our whole line,
which was destined to support the repeated attacks of
cavalry and infantry occasionally mixed, but sometimes
separate, which were made upon it. In one of these
the enemy carried the farm-house of La Haye Sainte,
as the detachment of the light battalion of the Legion
which occupied it had expended all its ammunition, and
the enemy occupied the only communication there wa»
with them.

" The enemy repeatedly charged our infantry with
his cavalry : but these attacks were uniformly unsuccess-
ful ; and they afforded opportunities to our cavalry to
charge, in one of which Lord E. Somerset's brigade,
consisting of the Life-Guards, Royal Horse-Guards, and
1st Dragoon Guards, highly distinguished themselves, as
did that of Major-General Sir W. Ponsonby, having
taken many prisoners and an eagle.

** These attacks were repeated till about seven in the
evening, when the enemy made a desperate effort with
the cavalry and infantry, supported by the fire of artil-
lery.

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. .517

Jery, to force our left centre near the farm of La Haye
Sainte, which, after a severe contest, was defeated; and
havinf^ observed that the troops retired from the attack
in great confusion, and that the march of General Bu-
low's corps by Euschermont upon Planchenorte and
La Belle Alliance had begun to take effect, and as I
could perceive the fire of his cannon, and as Marshal
Prince Blucher had joined in person with a corps of his
army to the left of our line by Ohaim, I determined to
attack the enemy, and immediately advanced the whole
line of infantry, supported by the cavalry and artillery.
The attack succeeded in every point; the enemy was
forced from his position on the heights, and fled in the
utmost confusion, leaving behind liim, as far as I could
judge, 150 pieces of cannon, with their ammunition,
which fell into our hands. I continued the pursuit till
long after dark, and then discontinued it only on ac-
count of the fatigue of our troops, who had been en-
gaged during twelve hours, and because I found myself
on the same road with Marshal Blucher, who assured
me of his intention to follow the enemy throughout the
night. He has sent me word this morning, that he had
taken sixty pieces of cannon belonging to the Imperial
Guard, and several carriages, baggage, &c. belonging to
Buonaparte, in Genappe.

** 1 propose to move, this morning, upon Nivelles, and
not to discontinue my operations."

In this dreadful battle two aides-de-camp of the Duke
of Wellington were killed at his side. Of twenty-tour
British generals, eleven were either killed or wounded:
every commander exposed himself throughout the whole
conflict; and never was tiring more direct or deadly.
The French cuirassiers, in particular, committed dread-
ful havoc by their first attack; but when they came
to close quarters, the sabre was found to be more effec-
tual than the long spear. On all sides was seen a total
disregard of personal danger; the leaders were mingled
in the heat of the battle, like the meanest soldiers. As
to Napoleon, he was more than once inclosed among
the British troops, and disentangled, as it were, by mi-
racle. He led on the Guard himself to the charge, and
seemed to feel there could be no hope for his power but
in the absolute jeopardy of his life.

VOL II. 3 u On

^IS NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

On the termination of this fatal day, Napoleon saw,
with all the madness of disappointed ambition, that his
hopes were at an end; and he immediately quitted the
■wreck of his army, conquered, disgraced, and con-
founded!

On his arrival at Paris, he summoned his ministei^,
and stated to them explicitly that his army was no more,
and that he required their assistance in the formation of
another. A second edition of the Moniteur was pub-
lished, a measure deemed absolutely necessary in order
to satisfy the impatient curiosity of the people as to the
fate of the army. The Chambers were immediately
convened; and this fatal news being officially communi-
cated to them, they resolved, " that the independence of
the nation was menaced;" voted themselves " perma-
nent;" declared that" the army had merited well of the
country;" invited " the Minister of the Interior to con-
sult for the arming of the National Guard;" and also
invited " the Minister of War and Foreign Affairs to
attend the sittings of the Chambers, to answer relative
to the state of France." On the following day Regnault
de St. Jean d'Angely informed Napoleon that an imme-
diate abdication of the throne of France was expected by
the Legislative Bodies. He prayed for a few hours to
consider the proposal, but only one was granted ; and
after holding a council of his ministers, Caulaincourt
and Fouche, Regnault de St. Jean d'Angely, and others,
he finally signed his abdication in favour of his son,
whom he proclaimed under the name and title of Napo-
leon the Second. He particularly impressed upon the
two Chambers this condition, repeating it to the Cham-
ber of Peers, through Cambaceres, the President — " Re-
member, I abdicate only in favour of my son!" The
following is the form of his abdication : —

" Frenchmen!— In commencing war for maintaining
the national independence, I relied on the union of all
efforts, of all wills, and the concurrence of all the na-
tional authorities, I had reason to hope for success;
and I braved nil the declarations of the powers against me.

" Circumstances appear to me changed.''

** I offer myself as a sacrifice to the hatred of the ene-
mies of France-^may they prove sincere in their decla-
rations, and have really directed them only against my

power I

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. aigr

power! My political life is terminated ; and J proclaim
my son under the title of Napoleon the Second, Empe-
ror of the French.

" rtie present ministers will provisionally form the
council of the government. The interest I take in my
son induces me to invite the Chambers to form, without
delay, the regency by a law.

(Signed) " Napoleon."

From this period little is known. In the tumultuous
debates which followed in the two Chambers, the Empe-
ror was but occasionally njentioned; all that could be
gathered res[)ecting him existing in a number of contra*
dictory or improbable reports. It is certain, however;^
that from this time he meditated an escape from France,
and obtained from his partisans two frigates with tha^
view.

The persons who had attached themselves to his for-
tunes conducted their movements with the greatest se-
crecy: the efforts they made use of for his concealment
render nugatory any attempt to trace his footsteps; and
therefore all that we can state with certainty is, that,
he left Paris, and arrived at Rochefort on the 3d of July.
From this period to the 15th, when he surrendered him-,
self to the British flag, he resided at the house of the.
•Prefect, actively engaged in preparing for his flight to
North America. During this interval, with that autho-
rity which had now become a shadow, he demanded
what he considered might be useful to him from the
public establishments, and inclosed in massy packages a
quantity of spoil. He appears, notwithstanding, to hav^
lingered at Rochefort much longer than maght have been
expected — probably with the hope that Fortune, on whom
he had so often relied, would again bring round some
changes in his favour; and he is even said to have ex-
pressed his expectations that the Chambers would recall
him. At length, having been informed of the changes
which had taken place at Paris, and of the King's entry,
he began to make serious preparations to embark, and
took measures to ascertain the precise situation of the
blockading squadron.

During this interval, the eyes of the whole world were

fixed upon Rochefort with impatient anxiety. The Bri-

3 u 2 lish

S70 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

tish squadron before that port had taken such effectual
means to prevent his escape, that nothing less than a
miracle could prevent his falling into their hands.

At length, having in vain endeavoured to escape the
vigilance of the British cruisers, Buonaparte surrendered
himself to his Majesty's ship Bellerophon, commanded
by Captain Maitland.

It is impossible to describe the public feeling at this
important event, in which the British people seemed to
receive a reward for all their efforts, and a solace for
their long-continued privations.

The intelligence of so important an event was at first
received wrth gr^at doubt; and, owing to adverse winds,
four days had passed, during which no accounts were
received from the British squadron; and in this short
interval of official silence, reports were multiplied ; some
stating the letters from Rochefort which conveyed the
tiewsrto be a contrivance, in order to divert the attention
of the naval officers, and more completely to favour his
escape; others, that a person had actually gone on board
the Bellerophon, personating Buonaparte, and had de-
ceived its commander. At length, however, doubts
and reports alike gave way; for, on the 24th of July,
Captain Sartorius arrived in London from the Slaney
frigate, which had been sent forward by Captain Mait-
land with his dispatches, and the following official ex-
tract was immediately published :^-

" For the information of my Lords Commissioners of
the Admiralty, I have to acquaint you, that the Count
Las Casses, and General L'Allemand, this day came on
board his Majesty's ship under my command, with a
proposal for me to receive on board Napoleon Buona-
parte, for the purpose of throwing himself on the gene-
rosity of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent.

*• Conceiving myself authorized by their Lordships*
secret order, I have acceded to the proposal; and he is
to embark on board this ship to-morrow morning.

** That no misunderstanding might arise, I have ex-
plicitly and clearly explained to the Count Las Casses,
that I have no authority whatever for granting terms of
any sort; but that all I can do is, to convey him and his
suite to England, to be received in such a manner as his
.Royal Highness may deem expedient."

One

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. S9l

One account now quickly succeeded another; and
the arrival of the Bellerophon in Torbay, together with
the following interesting details, were immediately confi-
municated : —

Extract from the official correspondence of the Maritime
Prefect of Rochefort.

" Rochefort, July 17, 1815.

•* My Lord — I have the honour to inform your Ex-
cellency, that the vessel of his Britannic Majesty, the
Bellerophon, on board of which Napoleon Buonaparte
embarked the 15th of the month, set sail for England
yesterday, the 16th, at one o'clock in the afternoon.

*• The ship carries, besides that personage, all the
persons who have attached themselves to his fortunes.
The list is here added: they were at first divided among
the frigates La Saale and La Meduse; they afterwards
passed on the 14th, in the evening, to the brig L'Eper-
vier, whence they were conveyed in the boats of the
English division, commanded by Admiral Sir Henry
Hotham.

** List of the principal personages embarked on hoard the
Bellerophon with Napoleon Buonaparte.

" Lieutenant-General Count Bertrand, Grand Marshal
of the Palace.

*• The Countess Bertrand, and three children.

" Lieutenant-General the Duke of Rovigo.

** Lieutenant-General L'Allemand.

" The Marshal-de-Camp Baron Gourgaud, Aide-de-
Camp to Napoleon.

** The Marshal-de-Camp Moutholon-Semonville, ditto,

" The Countess Moutholon-Semonville, and a child.

" The Count Las Casses, counsellor of state, and hi»
son.

" M. Resigny, chief of a squadron, orderly officer.

" M. Planat, chief of a squadron, orderly officer.

" M.Autrie, lieutenant, ditto.

" M. Schulz, chief of a squadron.

** M. Pointkorski, captain.

" M. Mercher, captain.

*' M. Maingault, surgeon of Napoleon."

[i/ere follow the names of fortij individuals, composing

the^

igS NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

the suite of Napoleon, and of the other passengers em-
barked with him.']

(Signed) " Baron Bonnefoux.

" To his Excellency the Minister of
the Marine and Colonies."

Report made to his Excellency the Minister of Marine

and Colonies, by the Captain of a Frigate, De Rigny,

specially sent to Rochefort.

*' My Lord — I have the honour to send to your Ex-
cellency a detail of the information which I have col-
lected, relative to the mission with which I was charged
to Rochefort.

" Arriving at this port on the morning of the 18th, I
learned that Napoleon Buonaparte had sailed for Eng-
land, in the ship of his Britannic Majesty the Bellero-
phon. Captain Maitland, on the 16th of July, at half-past
one o'clock in the afternoon.

" My instructions directing me to have official com-
munications on this subject with Admiral Hotham, com-
manding the English station, I immediately wrote to
him, sending at the same time the dispatches of Mr.
Croker, Secretary of the Admiralty of England, of which
I was the bearer. These letters were conveyed to th»
Admiral by the Lieutenant de Vaisseau Fleurian, whom
your Excellency had joined with me,

•' It results from the different communications which
I have had with the English Admiral and the Maritime
Prefect, that Napoleon, on arriving at Rochefort the 3d
of July, resided at the Prefect's house till the Sth.
Urged by General Becker, who was charged to escort
him to his going on board, and by Baron Bonnefoux, the
Maritime Prefect, to avail himself of every opportunity
offered by wind and tide, he at last resolved to embark
in the boats which waited for him every tide, and went
on board the Saale at ten at night, dividing his retinue
between that frigate and the Medusa.

Next day, the" 9th, he landed on the Isle of Aix, and
visited the fortifications.

" On the 10th the winds were favourable for putting
to sea ; but the English cruizers and the moonlight left
the frigates but little hope of escape.

** From the 10th to the lltb, Napoleon sent in a flasr

oi;

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 593

of truce on board the English vessel the Bellerophon,
Messrs. General Savary and Las Casses. This flag of
truce returned on the 11th.

From the 11th to the l^th Napoleon learned from his
brother Joseph the dissolution of the Chambers, and the
King's entrance into Paris. Up to this last moment Buo-
naparte had often expressed an opinion, that the Cham-
bers would recall him, whether he wished thus to impose
upon the authorities around him, or really cherished that
hope.

On the 19th, he landed on the Isle of Aix, with his
suite and baggage; and on the night of the 12th two
half-decked boats arrived there from Rochelle. It would
appear that Napoleon had purchased them with a design
of embarking in tliem, and attempting, under cover of
night, to reach a Danish smack, with which it is sup-
posed he had bargained, and which was to wait for him
at the distance of thirty or forty leagues. Why he
did not avail himself of these arrangements is un-
known; probably because they appeared to him too
hazardous.

On the night of the 13th he went on board the French
brig Epervier; and on the evening of the I4th General
Becker, who had been parleying on board the English
cruisers, having returned. Napoleon caused his suite and
baggage to be put on board the Epervier.

On the morning of the loth this vessel was perceived
making sail as a flag of truce towards the Admiral's
ship; the state of the sea not permitting it to approach
rapidly, some English boats came to meet them, and
conveyed the passengers on board the Bellerophon. On
this occasion Lieutenant Jourdan, commandant of the
Epervier, thought it his duty to ask, and accordingly
obtained from the Captain of the Bellerophon, a written
certificate of the transfer of Buonaparte on board that
vessel.

On the same day a frigate on the station weighed and
made sail for England.

" On the 16th the Bellerophon set sail, at half-pastone
in the afternoon. The little wind there has since been,
together with its direction, do not permit the supposition
that he could arrive in England before the night of
the 19th.

" On

524 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

" On the 17th, the Maritime Prefect of Rochefort
issued to the troops and seamen under his orders a pro-
clamation, which, while it announced the re-entrance of
his Majesty into Paris, amidst the acclamations of all the
inhabitants, ordered them at the same time to assume the
while cockade. The white flag was hoisted on the forts,
and on board the vessels in the roads, on the 17th at noon,
and saluted by artillery.

*• From the 15th, Baron Bonnefoux had intimated his
intention to the troops under his command, of causing
these colours to be mounted; but the chief of battalion,
commandant of the place, not having then received the
orders addressed to the Generals, his superior officers,
M. Bonnefoux thought it right to delay till he could act
in concert with this superior officer, who speedily re-
ceived from Major-General Bertraud, commandant of
the Lower Charente, orders to imitate the movement of
the navy.

** I must not omit informing your Excellency, that the
prudent measures taken by the Maritime Prefect, and by
Major-General Bertrand, would have prevented the
designs of the ill-affected, if such had existed.

" Rochefort and Rochelle are animated with the best
spirit; and these ports, though the last under the influence
of Buonaparte, were not the least forward in manifesting
their attachment to the person of the King, and their
joy on learning the arrival of our august monarch in
his capital.

" Your Excellency will find hereto subjoined the
copy of a letter, addressed by Napoleon to the Prince
Regent of England, and which must have reached his
Royal Highness by means of the English cruisers.

*' I beg your Excellency to accept the homage of my
profound respect.

" H. De Rigny, Captain of Frigate,**

Buonaparte's Letter to the Prince Regent.

" Royal Highness — Exposed to the factions which
divide my country, and to the enmity of the great powers
of Europe, I have terminated my political career; and I
come, like Themistocles, to throw myself upon the hos-
pitality of the British people. I claim from your Royal
Highness the protection of the laws, and throw myself

upon

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 595

upon the most powerful, the most constant, and the most
generous of my enemies.

(Signed) " Napoleon.

*' Rochefort, 18th July."

As soon as the arrival of the Bellerophon at Torbay
was publicly announced, it became the centre of attrac-
tion; and every one manifested an anxiety to behold the
man who had devastated so large a portion of the world,
and survived such strange reverses. In consequence,
numerous parties repaired in boats; and although they
were not permitted to come alongside, their number, not-
withstanding, so increased, that it was calculated not less
than one thousand put off daily.

The situation even of a foe deprived of power seldom
fails to excite a feeling of tenderness; and the British
warrior loses his ferocity the moment an enemy appeals
to his compassion. By the multitudes which were now
around him, Buonaparte was beheld with feelings of a
very opposite tendency. Some persons and writers de-
sired his instant destruction, without inquiring into those
principles of justice which should always guide the deeds
of nations ; whilst by others he was deemed so corrected
by experience, as scarcely to need a restraint — as if a
vague oblivious feeling of generosity might wholly pass
over the greatest enormities, compromise the most im-
portant interests of mankind, and confound those im-
mutable distinctions of right and wrong, which form the
basis of society. With a wise moderation, therefore, and
yet with becoming firmness, the British government de-
termined on placing Buonaparte in a situation where he
might enjoy his own existence, without again endanger-
ing that of others; and for this purpose they selected the
island of St. Helena.

During the time necessarily occupied by official dis-
cussion, and due preparation, Buonaparte continued to
reside on board the Bellerophon, around which a proper
guard was established. The number and eagerness of
spectators continued unabated during the whole of this
period ; and, as every one saw with his own eyes, and
formed his own conclusions, the accounts thus furnished
were interesting, though extremely various.

From whatever motive, the British government deter-
mined that another vessel should convey him to the place

V0I4 II. 3 X of

526 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

of his destination; and accordingly the Northumberland
received orders to prepare for that service. Every pos-
sible precaution was deemed necessary to prevent the
recurrence of those crafty contrivances which have so
frequently been exhibited. The vessels employed were
therefore instructed to sail off the Start, and to transfer the
person of Buonaparte from one ship to the other, at a
distance from the shore.

On the 6th, Sir Henry Bunbury, accompanied by the
Honourable Mr. Bathurst, charged with the communica-
tion of the result of the government to Buonaparte, were
conveyed on board the Bellerophon by Lord Keith's
yacht. Sir Henry was introduced to the Ex-Emperor ;
and, after mutual salutations, he read to him the resolu-
tion of the cabinet, by which he was informed of his in-
tented transportation to the Island of St. Helena, with
four of his friends, to be chosen by himself, and twelve
domestics. He received this intimation without any
mark of surprise, as he said he had been apprised of the
determination ; but he protested against it in the most
emphatic manner, and, in a speech of three quarters of an
hour, delivered with great coolness, self-possession, and
ability, reasoned against the proceeding. He recapi-
tulated the circumstances under which he had been
forced, he said, by the breach of the treaty made with
him by the sovereigns of Europe, to quit the Island of
Eba — that he had exerted himself to prevent the renewal
of hostilities — but that, when they became unavoidable,
and that the fortune of war decided against him, he
yielded to the voice of his enemies, and as they had de-
clared in the face of the world that it was against him
only that they had taken up arms, he abdicated the
Imperial crown of France, in the full confidence that the
Allies would be faithful to their solemn declaration, and
leave his country to the settlement of their own affairs ;
then, unarmed, and with a view of seeking an asylum as a
private individual in England, he had first sought to be
received under the King's allegiance, and under the pro-
tection of our laws, and had finally voluntarily put him-
self into the British power. In this predicament, he felt
himself entitled to protest against the measure now an-
nounced to him; and, in a long argument, in which he
shewed himself to be well versed in the English laws, he

reasoned

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 5'^

reasoned against the act. During this interview he pre-
sented the following protest, in which, according to his
usual manner, he endeavoured to make a virtue of
necessity by laying a stress on his voluntary sOr«
render!!!

Protest of Buonaparte.

" I here solemnly protest, in the face of heaven and of
men, against the violation of my most sacred rights, in dis«
posing of my person and liberty by force. I came volun-
tarily on board the Bellerophon ; 1 am not a prisoner— I
am the guest of England.

" As soon as I put my foot on board the Bellerophon,
I was at the tire-side of the British people. If the go-
vernment, in giving orders to the captain of the Bellero**
phon to receive me and my suite, meant only to draw me.
into an ambush, it has forfeited its honour, and tarnished
its flag.

*' If this act should be carried into execution, it will
be in vain for the English to affect to talk to Europe of
their good faith — of their laws and liberty. British
faith will be lost in the hospitality of the Bellerophon.

" I appeal for this to history: it will say, that an
enemy, who for twenty years made war on the English
people, went freely in his misfortune to seek an asyluni
under its laws — what more shining proof could he give
both of his esteem and of his conlidence? But how did
they reply in England to so much magnanimity? They
pretended to hold out a hospitable hand to this enemy;
and when he delivered himself up to their good faith, they
immolated him. " Napqleon,

" On board the Bellerophon, at sea, August 4th, 1815."

It is said by Sir Henry Bunbury and Mr. Bathurst, that
his manner was temperate, his language eloquent, and
that he conducted himself throughout in the most pre-
possessing wny. Sir Henry answered to his discoursei^
that he had no commission but to make known to him
the resolution of his Majesty's ministers; but said that
he should faithfully report the reasons that he had stated
against the proceeding.

The Bellerophon and Tonnant having put to sea from
Plymouth Sound, it will be proper to explain the state-
ment that they sailed to avoid the service of a writ of Ha-
bea$ Corpus. The facts of the case are, that the concourse
3x2 ' of

^28 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

of boats in Plymouth Sound, and the loss of some livea
which had already taken place, induced the government
to remove the Bellerophon to a a greater distance; and
the writ which is spoken of was a subpoena from the
court of King's Bench, obtained by Mr. Mackenrot, who
had a cause pending in that court, in which' he desired
the evidence of Napoleon and Jerome Buonaparte, and
"Admiral Villaumez. The officer arrived with this sub-
poena at the house of Sir John Duckworth a few minutes
after the Bellerophon had sailed.

The Northumberland sailed from Portsmouth on
Friday, August the 4th ; and, on nearing Torbay on Sun-
day, perceived two line-of-battle ships approaching her,
which proved to be the Bellerophon, with Buonaparte on
board, and the Tonnant, with Lord Keith. In a few
hours the Northumberland hailed them, and asked after
Buonaparte, who, she was informed, had not come out
of his cabin for some days. The ships eame to an anchor
off Torbay.

General Bertrand went first on board the Tonnant,
where he dined with Lord Keith and Sir George Cock-
burn. At dinner Sir George gave him a general expla-
nation of his instructions with respect to Buonaparte;
one of which was, that his baggage must be inspected
before it was received on board the Northumberland.
Bertrand expressed his opinion strongly against the mea-
sure of sending the Emperor (as he and all his suite
constantly styled him) to St. Helena, when his wish and
expectation were to live quietly in England under the
protection of the English laws. Lord Keith and Sir
George Cockburn did not enter into any discussion upon
the subject.

After dinner. Lord Keith and Sir George Cockburn,
accompanied by Bertrand, went in the Admiral's yacht
toward the Bellerophon. Previously to their arrival,
Buonaparte's arms and pistols had been taken away from
him — not without considerable altercation and objections
on the part of the French officers. Those who were not
to accompany him were sent on board the Eurotas frigate.
They expressed great reluctance at the separation, par-
ticularly the Polish officers. Buonaparte took leave of
them individually. A Colonel Pistowski, a Pole, was
peculiarly desirous of accompanying him : he had re-
V, ceived

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. J59.

ceived seventeen wounds in the service of Buonaparte,
and said he would serve in any capacity, however
menial, if he could be allowed to go with hinrj to St,
Helena. The orders for sending off tlie Polish officers
were peremptory, and he was removed to the Eurotas.
Savary and L'Allemaud, however, were not amongst
those sent on board the frigate; they were left in the
Bellerophon.

When Lord Keith and Sir George Cockburn went on
board the Bellerophon, Buonaparte was upon deck to
receive them, dres^sed in a green coat with red facings,
two epaulets, white waistcoat and breeches, silk stock-
ings, the star of the Legion of Honour, and a chapeau
bras with the three-coloured cockade. After the usual
salutations. Lord Keith, addressing himself to Napoleon,
acquainted him with his intended transfer from the Bellero-
phon to the Northumberland. He immediately protested
with great vehemence against this act of the British go-
vernment— he did not expect it — he not conceive that any
possible objection could be made to his residing in Eng-
land quietly for the rest of his life. No answer was re-
turned by either Lord Keith or Sir George Cockburn.
A British officer who stood near him observed to him,
that if he had not been sent to St. Helena, he would have
been delivered up to the Emperor of Russia.

Buonaparte.—*' Dieu me garde des Russes /'* (God
keep me from the Russians!) In making this reply he
looked at General Bertrand, and shrugged up hi»
shoulders.

Sir George CocJcburne. — " At what hour to-morrow
morning shall I come, General, and receive you on board
the Northumberland?"

Buonaparte ficith some surprise at being styled merely
General 'j "At ten o'clock."

Bertrand, Madame Bertrand, Savary, L'AUemand,
Count and Countess Moulholon, were standing near Buo-
naparte.

Sir George Cockburn asked him if he wanted any
thing more before they put to sea. Bertrand replied, 50
packs of cards, a backgammon and a domino table ; and
Madame Bertrand desired to have some necessary ar-^
tides of furniture; which, it was said, should bej[urnished
forthwith.

One.

530 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

One of Buonaparte's officers, the nephew of Josephine
Beauharnois, his first wife, complained that faith had
not been kept vvith the Emperor, who expected to reside
with his suite in Great Britain.

Buonaparte asked Lord Keith's advice. His Lordship
merely replied, that he had to obey the orders he had
received from his government. Buonaparte then de-
sired another interview with his Lordship. Lord Keith
declined it, alleging that it could not but be unsatisfac-
tory— he had no discretion — his fate could not be altered.

An officer who stood near him said, " You would have
been taken if you had remained at Rochefort another
hour, and sent off to Paris."

Buonaparte turned his eye upon the speaker, but did
not speak a word. He next addressed himself to Sir
G. Cockburne, and asked several questions about St. He-
lena. " Is there any hunting or shooting there? — Where
am I to reside ?" He then abruptly changed the sub-
ject, and burst into more invectives against the govern-
ment; to which no answer was returned. He then ex*
pressed some indignation at being styled General, saying,
" You have sent ambassadors to me as a Sovereign Poten-
tate— you have acknowledged me as First Consul." He
took a great deal of snuff whilst speaking.

After reminding him that the Northumberland's barge
would come for him at ten on Monday morning. Lord
Keith and Sir George Cockburn retired.

Early on Monday morning Sir George Cockburn went
on board the Bellerophon to superintend the inspection
of his baggage: it consisted of two services of plate,
several articles in gold, a superb toilet of plate, books,
beds, &c. They found but 4000 gold Napoleons ; and
these were sealed up and detained. They were all sent
on board the Northumberland about eleven o'clock.

Buonaparte had brought with him from France about
forty servants, amongst whom were a groom, postilion,
and lamplighter. Two-thirds of these were sent on board
the Eu rotas-.

At half-past eleven o'clock. Lord Keith, in the barge
of the Tonnant, went on board the Bellerophon to re-
ceive Buonaparte and those who were to accompany hinu
Buonaparte, before their arrival and afterwards, ad-
dressed himself to Captain Maitland and the officers of

the

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 53 1

the Bellerophon. After descending the ladder into the
barge, he pulled off his hat to them again. In the barge
the following personages were received :
. Buonaparte.

General Bertrand and Madame Bertrand, with their
children.

Count and Countess Moutholon, and child.

Count Las Casses.

General Gorgaud.

Nine men and three women servants.

Buonaparte's surgeon refused to accompany him;
upon which the surgeon of the Bellerophon offered to
supply his place.

Buonaparte was dressed in a cocked hat, much worn,
with a tri-coloured cockade; his coat was buttoned close
round him — a plain green one with a red collar: he had
three orders, two crosses, and a large silver star, with the
inscription Honneur et Patrie; white breeches, silk stock-
ings, gold buckles.

Savary and L'AUemand were left behind in the Bel-
lerophon. Savary seemed in great dread of being given
up to the French government, repeatedly asserting that
the honour of England would not allow, him to be landed
again on the shores of France,

About twelve o'clock the Tonnant's barge reached the
Northumberland. Bertrand stepped first upon deck;
Buonaparte next, mounting the side of the ship with
the activity of a seaman. The marines were drawn out
and received him, but merely as a General, presenting
arms to him. He pulled off his hat. As soon as he
was upon deck, he said to Sir George Cockburne, *' Je
suis a vos ordres." (I obey your orders.) He bowed to
Lord Lowther and Mr. Lyttleton, who were near the
Admiral, and spoke to them a few words, to which they
replied. To an officer he said, " Dans quel corps servez
nous?" (In what corps do you serve?) The officer re-
plied •' In the artillery." Buonaparte immediately re-
joined, ** Jesors de cette service moi-meme" (I was ori-
ginally in that service myseU.) After taking leave of
the officers who had accompanied him from the Belle-
rophon, and embracing the nephew of Josephine, wlio
was not going to St. Helena, he went into the after-cabin,
where, besides his principal companions, were assemblet<

Lord

532 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

Lord Keith, Sir G. Cockburne, Lord Lowther, and the
Hon. Mr.Lyttleton.

Bertrand said, " I never gave in my adheeion to Louis
XVIIL It is therefore palpably unjust to proscribe me.
However, I shall return in a year or two to superintend
the education of my children."

Madame Bertrand appeared much distressed; said,
she was obliged to leave Paris in a hurry, without clothes
or any necessary. She had lived in the house now oc-
cupied by the Due de Berri. She spoke most flatter-
ingly of her husband ; said the flmperor was too great
a man to be depressed by circumstances, and concluded
by expressing a wish for some Paris papers.

Count Moutholon spoke of the improvements made
by Buonaparte in Paris; alluded to his bilious com-
plaint, which required much exercise.

The Countess Moutholon said little.

Bertrand asked, what we should have done had we
taken Buonaparte at sea? " As we are doing now," was
the reply.

Lord Keith took leave in the afternoon, and returned
on board the Tonnant.

Lord Lowther and the Hon. Mr. Lyttleton now en-
tered into very earnest conversation with him, which
continued for two hours. As he was very communica-
tive, and seemed desirous of a free conversation with
these two young gentlemen, they availed themselves of
the opportunity, and entered into a review of much of
his conduct. It is understood that they asked him how
he came to commit the impolicy of attacking Spain— the
motives for the Berlin and Milan Decrees — the' war
against Russia — the refusal of the terms of peace offered
him before the first capture of Paris, &c. To all these
questions he gave full answers, not avoiding, but rather
encouraging the discussion. At the expiration of two
hours Lord Lowther and Mr. Lyttleton took leave of
him and went ashore.

His cabin was titted up with great elegance. His bed
was peculiarly handsome, and the linen upon it very fine.
His toilet was of silver. Among other articles upon it
was a magnificent snuff-box, upon which was embossed
in gold an eagle with a crown flying from Elba to the
coast of France — the eagle just seeing the coast of

France,

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 535

France, and the respective distances admirably ex-
ecuted.

The Bellerophon, Tonnant, and Eurotas, returned to
Plymouth Sound on Tuesday, leaving the Northumber-
land lying-to off Plymouth on that day, though the wind
vsras fair, waiting for the Weymouth store-ship, which
was taking in stores, &c. and was to complete them by
the next day. The British vessels finally sailed on the
11th of August, with the objects of their charge, for the
island to which they were consigned.

The following were the government instructions rela-
tive to the manner in which Buonaparte was to be
treated.

Letter from Earl Bathurst, Secretary of State, to the
Lords of the Admiralty.

" Downing Street, July 30, 1815,

" My Lords — I wish your Lordships to have the
goodness to communicate to Rear-Admiral Sir George
Cockburn a copy of the following Memorial, which is
to serve him by way of instruction, to direct his conduct
while General Buonaparte remains under his care. The
Prince Regent, in confiding to English officers a mission
of such importance, feels that it is unnecessary to ex-
press to thera his earnest desire that no greater personal
restraint may be employed than what shall be found
necessary faithfully to perform the duties, of which
the Admiral, as well as the Governor of St. Helena, must
never lose sight — namely, the perfectly secure detention
of the person of General Buonaparte. Every thing
which, without opposing the grand object, can be granted
as an indulgence will, his Royal Highness is convinced,
be allowed the General. The Prince Regent depends
further on the well-known zeal and resolute character
of Sir George Cockburn, that he will not suffer himself
to be misled, imprudently to deviate from the perform-
ance of his duty. " Bathurst."
" Memorial.

" When General Buonaparte leaves the Bellerophon
to go on board the Northumberland, it will be the pro-
perest moment for Admiral Cockburn to have the effects
examined which General Buonaparte may have brougfht
with him.

" The Admiral will allow all the baggage, wine, and
provisions, which the General may have brought with

VOL. II. ^ Y him.

v534 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

him, to be taken on board the Northumberland. Among
the baggage, his table-service is to be understood as in-
cluded, unless it be so considerable as to seem rather
an article to be converted into ready money than for real
use.

** His money, his diamonds, and his saleable effects,
consequently bills of exchange also, of whatever kind
they may be, must be delivered up. The Admiral will
declare to the General, that the British government by
no means intends to confiscate his property, but merely
to take upon itself the administration of his effects, to
hinder him from using them as a means to promote his
flight.

** The examination shall be made in the presence of a
person named by Buonaparte: the inventory of the ef-
fects to be retained shall be signed by this person, as
well as by the Rear-Admiral, or by the person whom he
shall appoint to draw up the inventory.

'• The interest or the principal (according as his pro-
perty is more or less considerr ble) shall be applied to his
support, and in this respect the principal arrangements
to be left to him.

'• For this reason he can, from time to time, signify
his wishes to the Admiral till the arrival of the new Go-
vernor of St. Helena, and afterwards to the latter; and if
no objection is to be made to his proposal, the Admiral
or the Governor can give the necessary orders, and the
disbursement will be paid by bills on his Majesty's trea-
sury.

** In case of death, he can dispose of his property by
a last will, and be assured that the contents of his tes-
tament shall be faithfully executed.

" As an attempt might be made to make a part of his
property pass for the property of the persons of his
suite, it must be signified, that the property of his at-
tendants is subject to the same regulations.

*' The disposal of the troops left to guard him must
be left to the Governor. The latter, however, has re*
ceived a notice, in the case which will be hereafter
mentioned, to act according to the desire of the Ad-
miral.

" I'he General must constantly be attended by aft
ofTirer appointed by the Admiral, or, if the case occurs,
by the Governor. If the General is allowed to go out of

the

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 535

the bounds where the sentinels are placed, an orderly
man, at lejist, must accompany the oflicer.

" When ships arrive, at)(l as long as they are in sight,
the General remains, contined to the limits where the
sentinels are placed. During, this time all communica-
tion with the inhabitants is forbidden. His companions
in St. Helena are subject, during this time, to the same
rules, and must remain with him. At other times, it is
left to the judgment of the Admiral or Governor to
make the necessary regulations concerning them. It
must be signified to tlie General, that if he makes any
attempt to fly, he will then be put under close confine-
ment; and it must be notified to his attendants, that if it
should be found that they are plotting to prepare the
General's flight, they shall be separated from him, and
put under close confinement,

" All letters addressed to the General, or to persons
in his suite, must be delivered to the Admiral or Go-
vernor, who will read them before he suffers them to be
delivered to those to whom they are addressed. Letters
writteu by the General, or his suite, are subject to the
same rule.

" No letter, that does not come, to St. Helena through
the Secretary of State, must be communicated to the Ge-
neral or his attendants, if it is written by a person not
living in the island. All their letters, addressed to per-
sons not living in the island, must go under cover of the
Secretary of State.

" It will be clearly expressed to the General, that the
Governor .and Admiral have precise orders to. inform his
Majesty's governnjent of all the wishes and representa-
tions which the General may desire to address to it; in
this respect they need not use any precaution.: But the
paper on which such request or representation is written
must be communicated to them open, that they may
both read it, and, when they send it, accompany it witU
such observations as they may judge necessary.

** Till the arrival of the new Governor, the Admiral
must be considered as entirely responsible for the person
of General Buoriaparte; and his Majesty has no doubt of
the inclination of the present Governor to concur with
the Admiral for this purpose. The Admiral has full
power to retain the General on board his ship, or to
3 Y 2 convey

^^36 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

convey him on board again, when, in his opinion, secure
detention of his person cannot be otherwise effected.
, " When the Adnniral arrives at St. Helena, the Gover-
nor will, upon his representation, adopt measures for
sending immediately to England, the Cape of Good
Hope, or the East Indies, such officers, or other persons,
in the military corps of St. Helena, as the Admiral,
either because they are foreigners, or on account of their
(character or disposition, shall think it adviseable to dis-
miss from the military service in St. Helena.

•* If there are strangers in the island whose residence
in the country shall seem to be with a view of becoming
instrumental to the flight of General Buonaparte, he
tnust take measures to remove them. The whole coast
of the island, and all ships and boats that visit it, are
placed under the surveillance of the Admiral. He fixes
the places which the boats may visit, and the Govern-
ment will send a sufficient guard to the points where
the Admiral shall consider this precaution as necessary.

" The Admiral will adopt the most vigorous measures
io watch over the arrival and departure of every ship,
and to prevent all i:ommunication with the coast except
such as he shall allow.

" Orders will be issued to prevent, after a certain ne-
cessary interval, any foreign or mercantile vessel to gg
in future to St. Helena.

*' If the General should be seized with serious illness,
the Admiral and the Governor will each name a physi-
cian who enjoys their confidence, in order to attend the
General in common with his own physician: they will
give them strict orders to give in every day a report on
the state of his health. In case of his death, the Ad^
miral will give orders to convey his body to England,

" Given at the War-Office, July 30, 1815."

The last official notice is contained in the London
Gazette, Saturday, August 26th, as follows: —

« Foreign Office, August 26th, 1315,

** Lord Bathurst, one of his Majesty's principal Secre-
taries of State, has this day notified, by command of his
Royal Highness the Prince Regent, to the ministers of
friendly powers residing at this court, that, in conse-
quence of events which have happened in Europe, it has
been deemed expedient and determined, in conjunction
with the Allied Sovereigns, that the Island of St. Helena

shall

NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 53f

shall be the place allotted for the future residence of Ge*
neral Napoleon Buonaparte, under such regulations as
may be necessary for the perfect security of his person;
and for that purpose it has been resolved, that all foreign
$hips and vessels vphatever shall be excluded from all
connmunication with, or approach to that island, so long
as the said island shall continue to be the place of re-
sidence of the said Napoleon Buonaparte."

A DESCRIPTION

ISLAJyD OF ST. HELEJVA,

TN the heart of the Atlantic Ocean, 1200 miles from
■*- the coast of Africa, and 2400 miles from that of South
America, rises, to the first appearance a vast and rugged
rock, promising very little of that refreshment to the navi-
gator, or comfort to the resident, which has been afforded
for nearly two centuries, under British management, by
the Island of St. Helena. Its greatest length is about
ten miles three furlongs; its breadth, six miles two fur-
longs; containing about 30,000 acres of pasturage and
garden ground. Its circumference is 28 miles.

The general appearance of the country, on a nearer
approach, is tine and cheering. The mountains, as the
eye gradually distinguishes them, being verdant to the
top; and even the immense cliffs, having been made sub-
servient to the security of the island, by fortifications
pretty extensively disposed on them, contribute to the
interest and respect excited b}'^ the plainer view. The
anchorage is remarkably safe and commodious: from the
south-east the approach is particularly smooth; and
though the surfs have sometimes been dangerous in the
immediate neighbourhood of so steep a shore, yet the in-
convenience has been greatly remedied by the construc-
tion of a secure and extended landing-place. On the
sides of the mountains that surround the town, run the
roads into the country ; and branches of these ridges of
hills divide the island. The highest part of them is said
to rise 2690 feet above the level of the sea. The
whole country bears marks of volcanic origin ; though,
with one slight exception in the middle of the last

century.

^3S DESCRIPTION OF THE

century, the inhabitants have been undisturbed by any
remarkable convulsions of nature ever since the discovery
of the island in 1501.

St. James's Valley, in which the town is situated, lies
on the N.W. or leeward side of the island. The stranger
feels, on landing, a continuation of the respect inspired by
the military appearance of the place ; being cond ucted be-
tween a line of heavy guns and through an arched way
into the town, the rampart or terrace of which is edged by
a double row of evergreens, and the whole forms a fine
parade. A handsome residence for the governor and
officers, called the Castle, now meets the eye, and is sur-
rounded with a strong wall. The church is in front; and
three streets of decent, commodious looking houses
form the town. They give the heart of the returning
voyager a truly English feeling, wearing all the conve-
nience and cleanliness in their aspect he can possibly ex-
pect in so remote a quarter.

The population of the island has been pretty sta-
tionary at 2000 for the last ten years, exclusive of the
East India Company's establishment, civil and military.
Of this population, 1100 are slaves, about 300 free
blacks, and the rest settlers, principally from England.
Since the prohibition of any further importation of slaves^
and their kinder treatment, their numbers have beert
slowly increasing.

A rich mould, to nearly ten inches deep, form the ge*
neral soil of the country, and nourishes avariety of plants
of^very clime and origin; but the cabbage-tree, gum-tree^
and red wood, are said to be peculiar to the island. Ve-
getation increases, as you remove from the shore, to per-
fect luxuriance in the heart of the island. The lands
are aln^ost wholly devoted to pasturage (as connected
with the large demand for live stock), and the gardens to
culinary roots and vegetables. The vegetables and cli-
mate have been said to be peculiarly adapted to scorbutic
complaints.

The hills abound with springs, which are so widely
apart, however, as to furnish no large stream of any kind
to the island, and many of them dry up in the long
absence of rain. Two of them are said to be a happy
exception to this, and rather to enlarge than diminish in
the dry season — that at the Briars and in Fisher's Valley.
A botanical garden at the couatry-house of the goverpor

ISLAND OF ST. HELENA. ^39

is watered by one of the richest of these sprin^^s; and a
scientific gardener is constantly resident, at the expence
of the Company. The water thus yielded becomes more
valuable at times than a literal stream of silver would
be; for once in about seven or eight years severe
drought has visited the island. In 17()0, 6\, and 62, an
extensive mortality ensued amongst the cattle from this
cause, preceded by the most dreadful madness. Every
expedient that the skill or anxiety of the inhabitants
could suggest to arrest the progress of this fearful ma-
lady was in vain; nearly all the cattle perished.

The climate of this island is so unusually mild and
free from storms, that the most common thunder-clouds
are rarely seen. Perhaps there is not a spot upon the
earth more nearly suited to the ordinary feelings of our
nature, nor a sky at once so serene and temperate. The
neighbourhood of the sea always furnishes a refreshing
breeze to the island ; nor are we to suppose the charac-
teristic mildness and shelter of its harbour renders its
numerous visitants likely to be becalmed here. One in-
stance only has occurred of any ship being weather-
bound: the wind was at N.N.W. for three weeks early
in the last century, and being accompanied with great
drought, produced much disease amongst the inhabitants,
particularly the blacks. Fogs and damps are found in
the mountainous parts of the island, it is but fair to add,
and have become, the apology for a considerable con-
sumption of spirituous liquors, particularly in wet
seasons.

Small quantities of the ore of various metals have oc-
casionally been discovered at St. Helena ; but none have
yet been worked to any success. A lime-stone quarry,
of a very superior kind, was discovered in 1709 at Sandy
Bay, and the red wood was used as a substitute lor coal
in burning it. It has been constantly worked since, and
is still abundant.

Excellent fish, to the extent of upwards of seventy
different species, are taken on the coast. The lobster,
raackarel, oyster, as well as turtle, an<l a fish called the
coal-fish, much like the salmon in flavour, are found in
different quantities : the two latter, indeed, possess the
very superior relish of being exceedingly scarce; the
others abound. Sea-fowl deposit immense quantities of
ftggs around the island, which are collected in the fall of

the

-140 DESCRIPTION OF ST. HELENA.

the year, and form an agreeable article of food. There
is said to be a fantastic assemblage of *thera -generally
on a rock at some distance from the shore, that has been
mistaken for a ship under sail.

The cattle are of English origin. Sheep and beasts
are seen grazing in every direction, and in no respect
degenerated by their change of climate. Their increase
has sometimes been too abundant; and the sheep, in
particular, were once ordered to be destroyed for a period
of ten years, allowing an intermediate two years for the
reduction of the flocks. Goats also had at this time
(1730) so increased upon the island as to become wild
animals, and a sort of common property. The hunting
of them was allowed for a certain period ; they were
then appropriated in flocks, under license from the go-
vernor and council, and are now maintained on what are
called the Goat Ranges, vested in different persons, as
*• certain parts of the Company's waste lands," upon
which they have " the right of keeping goats.'*

The origin of the Island of St. Helena has been the
subject of occasional speculation among philosophical
visitants, and of apprehension to its inhabitants. Prac-
tically, we have seen that little fear can be entertained
for the future fate of this interesting spot, from its past
experience. But various volcanic productions and ap-
pearances every where found on it certainly aff'ord strong
reason to suppose that some eruption of a volcanic cha-
racter gave it birth. A philosophical description of the
island has professedly entered into the question, and maybe
found in the Phil. Trans. Lond. 1805. But how the present
appearances of any part of the ^lobe can furnish certain
data of itshistory,must be very difficult to determine, when
we consider the extent to which appearances the most
contradictory to all known history, and to other appear-
ances, are every where multiplied. Who could not
readily imagine, from the heights at Dover, a separation
between the cliffs of that shore and those of Calais to
have almost recently taken place? What Englishman
of this generation who does not feel, at his fire-side, a
liappy proof of this being mere speculation,

END OF THE SECOND VOLUME.

Printed by Macdoaald aad Soa, 46, Cloth Fair, West Sinitbfield> Xiondotl.

Gay R. Brown

IV>i>Kbinder

2U3u Suulti im su

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